---
name: waterbear-microscope
description: Prepare a free Waterbear Microscope observation request and submit it only after explicit user consent. Payment and live device control are unavailable.
---

# Waterbear Microscope

Waterbear Microscope currently accepts free observation requests for human review. It does not offer live device control, payment, checkout, booking, or public request lookup. `payment_supported` and `device_operation_available` are both `false`; those capabilities are planned but unavailable.

Read the current [agent instructions](https://waterbear-microscope.pages.dev/agents.md) and [OpenAPI contract](https://waterbear-microscope.pages.dev/openapi.json) before preparing a request.

## Workflow

1. Gather the sample, observation conditions, desired result, and budget from the user. Do not invent missing details; use `Not specified` for unknown required values.
2. Prepare a request for `POST https://waterbear-microscope.pages.dev/api/demands`. The request must include nonempty string values for `sample` (maximum 300 characters), `conditions` (2000), `desired_result` (2000), and `budget` (200). Keep the encoded JSON body at or below 8192 bytes.
3. Show the user the exact JSON body, the API destination, and any email address that will be shared. Obtain explicit consent to submit the request and share that email. If the user does not consent, stop without calling the API.
4. After consent, submit once with `Content-Type: application/json` and an `Idempotency-Key` of 8–100 allowed ASCII characters. Use a descriptive `User-Agent`.
5. If delivery is uncertain, retry with the same key and unchanged body. A changed body requires a separately approved request and a new key.
6. Report receipt only for `200` or `201` with `received: true`. Explain that `PENDING_REVIEW` means a person will review the request; it is not a booking, confirmed price, completed observation, or guaranteed reply.

## Optional fields

- `email`: include only if the user approved sharing it.
- `quote_requested`: set to `true` only when the user asks for a quote and has approved sharing a valid email. This does not create a quote.
- `interest`: use only a value listed in the OpenAPI contract.

Omit `website`; it is a spam honeypot. Do not send credentials, payment details, device commands, hazardous or clinical samples, or requests for live operation. Do not evade safety or rate-limit responses. On `409`, preserve the original body and explain the conflict. On `429`, wait. On `503`, receipt is unconfirmed; retry only with the original key and body. Do not call any payment, checkout, device, read, or status endpoint.