Verification Before Completion
Quick Reference
Before claiming ANYTHING is done: run the verification commands, read the output, confirm success. Evidence before assertions. Always.
When to Use
- About to say "done", "fixed", "works now", "tests pass"
- About to commit, push, or create a PR
- About to hand off work to the user
- After ANY implementation, no matter how small
When NOT to Use
- Never. This skill is a gate. It always applies when claiming completion.
Core Process
Step 1: Identify verification commands
Based on the project and the work done, determine the right verification:
| Work Type | Commands |
|---|---|
| Rust code | cargo build --workspace, cargo clippy --workspace -- -D warnings, cargo test --workspace, cargo fmt --all -- --check |
| TypeScript | npm run build, npm run lint, npm run test |
| Python | python -m pytest, mypy ., ruff check . |
| Any code | Project-specific commands from CLAUDE.md |
| Bug fix | The exact reproduction steps that demonstrated the bug |
| Config | Restart/reload and verify the change took effect |
Always check the project's CLAUDE.md for project-specific verification commands.
Step 2: Run the commands
Run each verification command. Do not skip any.
Step 3: Read the output
Read ALL output. Not just the exit code. Look for:
- Warnings treated as errors
- Skipped tests
- Partial failures
- Deprecation notices that indicate future breakage
Step 4: Confirm or fix
- All pass: Proceed to claim completion. Chain to
syntaxninja-dojo:self-review. - Any fail: Fix the issue. Return to Step 2. Do not claim completion.
Anti-Patterns
| Anti-Pattern | Why It's Wrong |
|---|---|
| "Tests should pass" | Run them. Know they pass. |
| "I didn't change anything that would break tests" | Butterfly effect. Run them. |
| "The build succeeded so it's fine" | Build != lint != test != format. Run all. |
| Claiming "fixed" after editing but before verifying | The edit might have introduced new issues. |
| Skipping verification for "trivial" changes | Trivial changes cause production incidents. |
The Rule
Evidence before assertions. Always.
If you cannot run verification commands (no test suite, no build), explicitly state: "I cannot verify this because [reason]. Here's what I'd check: [list]."
Chaining
REQUIRED: syntaxninja-dojo:self-review (after verification passes)