inspec/dev-docs/enhanced-outcomes.md

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# Enhanced Outcomes
Enhanced Outcomes refers to the addition of new control outcomes to the InSpec vocabulary.
## Test Outcomes vs. Control Outcomes
It is essential to understand that Enhanced Outcomes refers to new **control outcomes**, the results of running a control.
The results of running a test, a `describe block` are determined by RSpec and are limited to `Pass`, `Fail`, and `Skip`.
Test outcomes are much more difficult to extend than control outcomes.
## New Control Outcomes
Enhanced Outcomes adds three new control outcomes to the existing `Pass`, `Fail`, and `Skip` outcomes.
### Error
In the first iteration of Enhanced Outcomes, the Error outcome is detected:
* if the message of any test includes the text "Control source error" OR
* the result of any test includes a backtrace
Then the entire control should be marked `Error`.
Additional means of detecting error may be developed in the future.
Error's abbreviation is `ERR`. Error's UI color assignment is `Indigo`.
### Not Applicable
If the control is not in `Error` and the impact of the control is `0.0`, then the control's outcome is `Not Applicable`.
Not Applicable's abbreviation is `N/A`. Not Applicable's UI color assignment is `Sky Blue`.
### Not Reviewed
If the control is not in `Error` or `Not Applicable`, and all test results are `Skipped`, then the control outcome is `Not Reviewed`.
Not Reviewed replaces `Skipped` as a control outcome.
Not Reviewed's abbreviation is `N/R`. Not Reviewed's UI color assignment is `Amber`.
## The `--enhanced-outcomes` option
A new CLI option will be introduced for `inspec exec`, `inspec shell`, and `inspec schema` that controls the Enhanced Outcomes functionality.
### InSpec 5
In InSpec 5.x, a user must request the enhanced outcomes functionality explicitly by adding the `--enhanced-outcomes` option.
### InSpec 6
In InSpec 6.x, --enhanced-outcomes will default to `true`. A user may request disabling the enhanced outcomes functionality by adding the `--no-enhanced-outcomes` option.