---
issue: "025"
title: "All dispute socket events are commented-out TODO stubs — no real-time updates in dispute flow"
severity: major
domain: dispute
labels: [backend, missing-feature]
status: open
created: 2026-05-29
source: Doc vs Code Audit 2026-05-29
---

# 🟠 All dispute socket events are commented-out TODO stubs — no real-time updates in dispute flow

**Severity:** major
**Domain:** dispute
**Labels:** backend, missing-feature

## Description

Every `socket.io` emit block in `DisputeService` is currently commented out as a TODO. No real-time updates fire for any dispute lifecycle event:
- Dispute created
- Admin assigned
- Status changed
- Evidence uploaded
- Resolution posted

The dispute flow is CRUD-only. Any UI component that relies on socket events for real-time dispute state will never receive updates.

## Current Behavior

All dispute state changes are only visible after a manual page refresh.

## Expected Behavior

Implement the socket emit calls for key dispute events:
- `dispute-created` → to buyer, seller, and admin rooms
- `dispute-status-changed` → to involved parties
- `dispute-resolved` → to buyer and seller rooms

## Affected Files

- `backend/src/services/dispute/disputeService.ts` — all commented-out `io.to(...).emit(...)` blocks

## References

- [Doc vs Code Audit Report](../09%20-%20Audits/Doc%20vs%20Code%20Audit%20Report%20-%202026-05-29.md)