Protocol 03Edge Case Logic
The Lurker Calculation
High-Signal Summary
Participation does not equal liability. A user who joins a bill but claims zero items is defined as a "Lurker." Their financial liability is hardcoded to $0.00. They are excluded from the denominator of all split calculations.
Why This Matters
In traditional "Split Evenly" apps, simply joining a group adds you to the divisor (Total / N+1), reducing everyone else's share but unfairly charging the person who just came to hang out.
HackBill protects the Lurker. You can join the bill to watch the live split without risking your wallet.
The Decision Logic
CHECK
User Claimed Items Count == 0
THEN
Status = "Lurker"
RESULT
Total Liability = 0.00
EXCLUDE
Remove User from Tip/Tax Distribution Algorithms