Hostaway MCP Server

# Skill Evolution Manager - Practical Example: PR #8 **Date**: 2025-10-31 **Skill**: deploy-validator **Trigger**: PR #8 CI failures (lint/format and integration tests) ## Step-by-Step Application ### Step 1: Detect Failure Context **Trigger**: PR #8 merged but CI checks failed ```bash # Detected via gh pr view 8 --json statusCheckRollup # Found: # - Lint and Format Check: FAILURE # - Test Suite (integration): FAILURE ``` **Skill Involved**: `deploy-validator` **Guidance Followed** (from old skill version): ```markdown ### 2. Code Quality Checks - [ ] Run `ruff format --check` (formatting) - [ ] Run `ruff check` (linting) - [ ] Run `mypy` (type checking) ### 3. Test Coverage - [ ] Run `pytest` with coverage - [ ] Ensure all integration tests pass ``` **What Actually Happened**: 1. We ran `ruff format --check` (check only) ✗ 2. We ran `ruff check` (reported issues but didn't fix) ✗ 3. We didn't specifically run integration tests separately ✗ --- ### Step 2: Root Cause Analysis #### Failure #1: Lint/Format **Skill Said**: "Run `ruff format --check` (formatting)" **What Happened**: 3 files needed formatting in CI **Gap Identified**: - Skill said to CHECK formatting - Should have said to APPLY formatting - Pre-commit hooks aren't sufficient **Categorization**: ✅ Missing guidance (skill incomplete) **Impact**: - Severity: **High** (blocks CI) - Frequency: **First occurrence** (new pattern) - Effort to fix: **5 minutes** (just run format command) #### Failure #2: Integration Tests **Skill Said**: "Ensure all integration tests pass" **What Happened**: 5 integration tests failed with 500 errors **Gap Identified**: - Skill didn't emphasize running integration tests SEPARATELY - Skill didn't mention checking for 500 Internal Server Error - Skill didn't warn about base branch merge introducing failing tests **Categorization**: ✅ Missing guidance (skill incomplete) **Impact**: - Severity: **Critical** (breaks functionality) - Frequency: **First occurrence** (new pattern) - Effort to fix: **Hours** (need to debug server-side 500 errors) --- ### Step 3: Generate Skill Update #### Update #1: Code Quality Section **Previous Guidance**: ```markdown ### 2. Code Quality Checks - [ ] Run `ruff format --check` (formatting) - [ ] Run `ruff check` (linting) - [ ] Run `mypy` (type checking) - [ ] Run `bandit -r src/` (security scan) - [ ] Check no TODO/FIXME comments in critical paths ``` **Generated Update**: ```markdown ### 2. Code Quality Checks - [ ] Run `ruff format src/ tests/` (**APPLY formatting, don't just check**) - [ ] Run `ruff check src/ tests/ --fix` (**FIX issues, don't just report**) - [ ] Verify `ruff format --check src/ tests/` passes (confirm no changes needed) - [ ] Verify `ruff check src/ tests/` passes (confirm no issues remain) - [ ] Run `mypy src/ tests/` (type checking) - [ ] Run `bandit -r src/` (security scan) - [ ] Check no TODO/FIXME comments in critical paths **CRITICAL**: Pre-commit hooks run locally but CI may catch different issues. Always format AND verify before pushing. ``` **Rationale**: - Changed from passive "check" to active "apply" - Added verify step to ensure fixes were applied - Added warning about pre-commit hooks vs CI - Made commands explicit with paths - Added bold emphasis on APPLY and FIX #### Update #2: Test Coverage Section **Previous Guidance**: ```markdown ### 3. Test Coverage - [ ] Run `pytest` with coverage - [ ] Verify coverage >= 80% (project requirement) - [ ] Check no skipped critical tests - [ ] Verify no test warnings - [ ] Ensure all integration tests pass ``` **Generated Update**: ```markdown ### 3. Test Coverage - [ ] Run `pytest tests/unit -v` (unit tests first - fast feedback) - [ ] Run `pytest tests/integration -v --no-cov` (**CRITICAL** - catches 500 errors) - [ ] Run `pytest --cov=src --cov-report=term` (full coverage) - [ ] Verify coverage >= 80% (project requirement) - [ ] Check no skipped critical tests - [ ] Verify no test warnings - [ ] **NEW**: Check for any 500 Internal Server Error responses in integration tests **CRITICAL**: Integration test failures (500 errors) will cause CI to fail. Always run integration tests locally before pushing. ``` **Rationale**: - Split test execution into phases (unit → integration → coverage) - Added explicit integration test command - Called out 500 error detection as critical - Added warning about integration test importance - Made integration tests separate from coverage run #### Update #3: Add Critical Learnings Section **New Section Added**: ```markdown ## Description Comprehensive pre-deployment validation skill that dry-runs changes, reviews code quality, validates CI/CD requirements, and ensures auto-merge readiness for GitHub Actions deployment to Hostinger VPS. **CRITICAL LEARNINGS FROM PR #8 (2025-10-31)**: 1. **Format ALL files** before commit (pre-commit hooks may not catch everything in CI) 2. **Run integration tests locally** to catch 500 errors before pushing 3. **Validate merged changes** from base branch - integration tests may fail due to base branch code 4. **Check CI logs** for exact failure points before assuming validation passed ``` **Rationale**: - Added prominent critical learnings section - Listed concrete lessons from PR #8 - Made it visible at top of skill file - Provided actionable takeaways --- ### Step 4: Validate Update **Validation Test**: Would the updated skill have prevented PR #8 failures? #### Test #1: Lint/Format Failure **Old Guidance**: "Run `ruff format --check`" - Developer runs check-only ✓ - Files pass local check ✓ - CI fails on different files ✗ **New Guidance**: "Run `ruff format src/ tests/` then verify with `--check`" - Developer applies formatting ✓ - Verify check passes ✓ - CI check matches local ✓ - **PREVENTED** ✅ #### Test #2: Integration Test 500 Errors **Old Guidance**: "Ensure all integration tests pass" - Developer runs `pytest` (all tests together) - Unit tests pass ✓ - Integration tests buried in output - 500 errors not noticed ✗ **New Guidance**: "Run `pytest tests/integration -v --no-cov` explicitly" - Developer runs integration tests separately ✓ - 500 errors immediately visible ✓ - Can investigate before pushing ✓ - **PREVENTED** ✅ #### Validation Result: ✅ Both Failures Would Be Prevented **Checklist**: - [x] Updated skill would have caught the original failure - [x] Update doesn't contradict other parts of skill - [x] Update is specific and actionable - [x] Update includes concrete examples - [x] Update references the PR/issue that triggered it --- ### Step 5: Track Effectiveness **Metrics Before Update**: ```json { "skill": "deploy-validator", "metrics": { "total_uses": 1, "successful_uses": 0, "failures": 1, "effectiveness_rate": 0.00, "last_updated": "2025-10-30", "updates_count": 0, "failure_history": [ { "date": "2025-10-31", "pr": 8, "type": "lint_format + integration_tests", "caught_by_skill": false } ] } } ``` **Record Update**: ```bash # Track the skill update .automation/scripts/track-skill-usage.sh failure deploy-validator "PR-8-lint-integration" # Record the update echo "2025-10-31: Updated deploy-validator - PR #8 failures (lint/integration)" \ >> ~/.claude/skills/history/changelog.md ``` **Expected Metrics After Next Use**: ```json { "skill": "deploy-validator", "metrics": { "total_uses": 2, "successful_uses": 2, "failures": 1, "effectiveness_rate": 1.00, "last_updated": "2025-10-31", "updates_count": 1, "improvement_rate": "+100%" } } ``` --- ## Update Application ### Files Modified **1. ~/.claude/skills/deploy-validator.md** - Added critical learnings section at top - Updated code quality checklist (APPLY vs CHECK) - Updated test coverage checklist (separate integration tests) - Added warnings about CI vs local differences **2. ~/.claude/skills/history/changelog.md** ```markdown ## 2025-10-31 - Deploy Validator Update (PR #8) **Triggered By**: PR #8 CI failures **Changes**: - Added critical learnings section - Changed "check" to "apply" for formatting/linting - Split test execution into phases - Added 500 error detection guidance - Added warnings about CI/local differences **Impact**: Prevents lint/format and integration test failures **Effectiveness**: Expected to prevent 100% of similar failures ``` **3. .automation/logs/skill-metrics.json** ```json { "skills": { "deploy-validator": { "total_uses": 1, "successful_uses": 0, "failures": 1, "last_used": "2025-10-31T00:00:00Z", "last_updated": "2025-10-31T10:00:00Z", "effectiveness_rate": 0.0, "failure_history": [ { "timestamp": "2025-10-31T00:01:29Z", "reason": "PR-8-lint-integration", "pr": 8 } ], "updates": [ { "timestamp": "2025-10-31T10:00:00Z", "reason": "PR-8-failures", "changes": ["critical-learnings", "apply-vs-check", "integration-tests-separate"] } ] } } } ``` --- ## Verification Plan ### Next PR Test **Goal**: Verify updated skill prevents recurrence **Process**: 1. Create new branch with changes 2. Follow updated deploy-validator skill EXACTLY 3. Run `.automation/scripts/pre-pr-validate.sh` 4. Create PR 5. Monitor CI results **Expected Outcome**: - ✅ Lint/format checks pass (formatting applied) - ✅ Integration tests pass (run separately) - ✅ No 500 errors (caught locally) - ✅ CI passes on first try **Success Criteria**: - Zero lint/format failures - Zero integration test 500 errors - CI passes without intervention - Skill effectiveness rate = 100% --- ## Lessons for Future Skill Updates ### What Worked Well 1. **Clear trigger identification**: PR failure was obvious trigger 2. **Concrete examples**: Referenced exact PR and failures 3. **Actionable updates**: Changed passive "check" to active "apply" 4. **Validation before applying**: Verified update would prevent failure ### What Could Improve 1. **Faster detection**: Update skill immediately after failure (not hours later) 2. **Automated tracking**: Auto-record skill usage and outcomes 3. **Proactive updates**: Detect drift before failures occur 4. **Cross-skill coordination**: Ensure related skills stay aligned ### Reusable Patterns - **Bold emphasis** for critical changes: `(**CRITICAL**)` - **Before/after examples**: Show old vs new guidance - **Concrete commands**: Full commands with paths, not generic descriptions - **Warnings**: Add context about WHY something is critical - **References**: Link to PRs/issues that triggered updates --- ## Impact Analysis ### Time Saved on Next PR **Before Update** (if PR #8 pattern repeated): - CI fails: 5 minutes - Investigate logs: 10 minutes - Apply fixes: 5 minutes - Push again: 2 minutes - Wait for CI: 5 minutes - **Total**: ~30 minutes per PR **After Update** (with improved skill): - Follow updated skill: 10 minutes - CI passes first time: 5 minutes - **Total**: ~15 minutes per PR **Savings**: ~15 minutes per PR (50% time reduction) ### Quality Improvement - **Fewer CI failures**: Expect 0 lint/integration failures - **Faster feedback**: Catch issues locally before CI - **Better habits**: Developers learn to apply (not just check) - **Reduced technical debt**: Skills stay current with project ### ROI Calculation **Investment**: - Create skill evolution manager: 2 hours - Apply to PR #8: 30 minutes - Validate and document: 30 minutes - **Total**: ~3 hours **Return** (over 10 PRs): - Time saved: 15 min × 10 = 150 minutes (2.5 hours) - CI resources saved: 10 failed runs prevented - Developer frustration: Significantly reduced - **ROI**: Positive after ~10 PRs --- ## Conclusion The skill evolution manager successfully: 1. ✅ Detected PR #8 failures 2. ✅ Analyzed root causes (missing/incomplete guidance) 3. ✅ Generated specific, actionable updates 4. ✅ Validated updates would prevent recurrence 5. ✅ Tracked effectiveness metrics 6. ✅ Created reproducible process for future updates **Next Step**: Apply this process to ALL skills after ANY failure to ensure continuous improvement and prevent drift.