@soleur/opencode 0.0.0-stage → 3.354.2

package/skills/skill-creator/references/common-patterns.md

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+<overview>
+This reference documents common patterns for skill authoring, including templates, examples, terminology consistency, and anti-patterns. Skill bodies are structured with markdown headings; the XML tags shown inside examples are optional wrappers around one block within a section.
+</overview>
+
+<template_pattern>
+<description>
+Provide templates for output format. Match the level of strictness to your needs.
+</description>
+
+<strict_requirements>
+Use when output format must be exact and consistent:
+
+```markdown
+## Report Structure
+
+ALWAYS use this exact template structure:
+
+```markdown
+# [Analysis Title]
+
+## Executive summary
+[One-paragraph overview of key findings]
+
+## Key findings
+- Finding 1 with supporting data
+- Finding 2 with supporting data
+- Finding 3 with supporting data
+
+## Recommendations
+1. Specific actionable recommendation
+2. Specific actionable recommendation
+```
+
+```
+
+**When to use**: Compliance reports, standardized formats, automated processing
+</strict_requirements>
+
+<flexible_guidance>
+Use when Claude should adapt the format based on context:
+
+```markdown
+## Report Structure
+
+Here is a sensible default format, but use your best judgment:
+
+```markdown
+# [Analysis Title]
+
+## Executive summary
+[Overview]
+
+## Key findings
+[Adapt sections based on what you discover]
+
+## Recommendations
+[Tailor to the specific context]
+```
+
+Adjust sections as needed for the specific analysis type.
+
+```
+
+**When to use**: Exploratory analysis, context-dependent formatting, creative tasks
+</flexible_guidance>
+</template_pattern>
+
+<examples_pattern>
+<description>
+For skills where output quality depends on seeing examples, provide input/output pairs.
+</description>
+
+<commit_messages_example>
+```markdown
+## Objective
+
+Generate commit messages following conventional commit format.
+
+## Commit Message Format
+
+Generate commit messages following these examples:
+
+<example number="1">
+<input>Added user authentication with JWT tokens</input>
+
+### Output
+
+```
+
+feat(auth): implement JWT-based authentication
+
+Add login endpoint and token validation middleware
+
+```
+</output>
+</example>
+
+<example number="2">
+<input>Fixed bug where dates displayed incorrectly in reports</input>
+<output>
+```
+
+fix(reports): correct date formatting in timezone conversion
+
+Use UTC timestamps consistently across report generation
+
+```
+</output>
+</example>
+
+Follow this style: type(scope): brief description, then detailed explanation.
+</commit_message_format>
+```
+
+</commit_messages_example>
+
+<when_to_use>
+
+- Output format has nuances that text explanations can't capture
+- Pattern recognition is easier than rule following
+- Examples demonstrate edge cases
+- Multi-shot learning improves quality
+</when_to_use>
+</examples_pattern>
+
+<consistent_terminology>
+<principle>
+Choose one term and use it throughout the skill. Inconsistent terminology confuses Claude and reduces execution quality.
+</principle>
+
+<good_example>
+Consistent usage:
+
+- Always "API endpoint" (not mixing with "URL", "API route", "path")
+- Always "field" (not mixing with "box", "element", "control")
+- Always "extract" (not mixing with "pull", "get", "retrieve")
+
+```markdown
+## Objective
+
+Extract data from API endpoints using field mappings.
+
+## Quick Start
+
+1. Identify the API endpoint
+2. Map response fields to your schema
+3. Extract field values
+
+```
+
+</good_example>
+
+<bad_example>
+Inconsistent usage creates confusion:
+
+```markdown
+## Objective
+
+Pull data from API routes using element mappings.
+
+## Quick Start
+
+1. Identify the URL
+2. Map response boxes to your schema
+3. Retrieve control values
+
+```
+
+Claude must now interpret: Are "API routes" and "URLs" the same? Are "fields", "boxes", "elements", and "controls" the same?
+</bad_example>
+
+<implementation>
+1. Choose terminology early in skill development
+2. Document key terms in the skill's opening section
+3. Use find/replace to enforce consistency
+4. Review reference files for consistent usage
+</implementation>
+</consistent_terminology>
+
+<provide_default_with_escape_hatch>
+<principle>
+Provide a default approach with an escape hatch for special cases, not a list of alternatives. Too many options paralyze decision-making.
+</principle>
+
+<good_example>
+Clear default with escape hatch:
+
+```markdown
+## Quick Start
+
+Use pdfplumber for text extraction:
+
+```python
+import pdfplumber
+with pdfplumber.open("file.pdf") as pdf:
+    text = pdf.pages[0].extract_text()
+```
+
+For scanned PDFs requiring OCR, use pdf2image with pytesseract instead.
+
+```
+</good_example>
+
+<bad_example>
+Too many options creates decision paralysis:
+
+```markdown
+## Quick Start
+
+You can use any of these libraries:
+
+- **pypdf**: Good for basic extraction
+- **pdfplumber**: Better for tables
+- **PyMuPDF**: Faster but more complex
+- **pdf2image**: For scanned documents
+- **pdfminer**: Low-level control
+- **tabula-py**: Table-focused
+
+Choose based on your needs.
+
+```
+
+Claude must now research and compare all options before starting. This wastes tokens and time.
+</bad_example>
+
+<implementation>
+1. Recommend ONE default approach
+2. Explain when to use the default (implied: most of the time)
+3. Add ONE escape hatch for edge cases
+4. Link to advanced reference if multiple alternatives truly needed
+</implementation>
+</provide_default_with_escape_hatch>
+
+<anti_patterns>
+<description>
+Common mistakes to avoid when authoring skills.
+</description>
+
+<pitfall name="tag_only_body">
+❌ **BAD**: A tag-only body with no headings, where top-level tags stand in for sections:
+
+```markdown
+## Objective
+
+PDF processing with text extraction, form filling, and merging capabilities.
+
+## Quick Start
+
+Extract text with pdfplumber...
+
+## Advanced Features
+
+Form filling requires additional setup...
+
+```
+
+✅ **GOOD**: Markdown headings structure the body:
+
+```markdown
+# PDF Processing
+
+PDF processing with text extraction, form filling, and merging capabilities.
+
+## Quick start
+Extract text with pdfplumber...
+
+## Advanced features
+Form filling requires additional setup...
+```
+
+**Why it matters**: Markdown headings structure a skill body; XML tags are optional semantic wrappers inside a section and never replace headings. Every shipped Soleur `SKILL.md` (102/102 measured) uses `#` headings, so a tag-only body is the odd one out for both readers and tooling.
+</pitfall>
+
+<pitfall name="vague_descriptions">
+❌ **BAD**:
+```yaml
+description: Helps with documents
+```
+
+✅ **GOOD**:
+
+```yaml
+description: Extract text and tables from PDF files, fill forms, merge documents. Use when working with PDF files or when the user mentions PDFs, forms, or document extraction.
+```
+
+**Why it matters**: Vague descriptions prevent Claude from discovering and using the skill appropriately.
+</pitfall>
+
+<pitfall name="inconsistent_pov">
+❌ **BAD**:
+```yaml
+description: I can help you process Excel files and generate reports
+```
+
+✅ **GOOD**:
+
+```yaml
+description: Processes Excel files and generates reports. Use when analyzing spreadsheets or .xlsx files.
+```
+
+**Why it matters**: Skills must use third person. First/second person breaks the skill metadata pattern.
+</pitfall>
+
+<pitfall name="wrong_naming_convention">
+❌ **BAD**: Directory name doesn't match skill name or verb-noun convention:
+- Directory: `facebook-ads`, Name: `facebook-ads-manager`
+- Directory: `stripe-integration`, Name: `stripe`
+- Directory: `helper-scripts`, Name: `helper`
+
+✅ **GOOD**: Consistent verb-noun convention:
+
+- Directory: `manage-facebook-ads`, Name: `manage-facebook-ads`
+- Directory: `setup-stripe-payments`, Name: `setup-stripe-payments`
+- Directory: `process-pdfs`, Name: `process-pdfs`
+
+**Why it matters**: Consistency in naming makes skills discoverable and predictable.
+</pitfall>
+
+<pitfall name="too_many_options">
+❌ **BAD**:
+```markdown
+## Quick Start
+
+You can use pypdf, or pdfplumber, or PyMuPDF, or pdf2image, or pdfminer, or tabula-py...
+
+```
+
+✅ **GOOD**:
+
+```markdown
+## Quick Start
+
+Use pdfplumber for text extraction:
+
+```python
+import pdfplumber
+```
+
+For scanned PDFs requiring OCR, use pdf2image with pytesseract instead.
+
+```
+
+**Why it matters**: Decision paralysis. Provide one default approach with escape hatch for special cases.
+</pitfall>
+
+<pitfall name="deeply_nested_references">
+❌ **BAD**: References nested multiple levels:
+```
+
+SKILL.md → advanced.md → details.md → examples.md
+
+```
+
+✅ **GOOD**: References one level deep from SKILL.md:
+```
+
+SKILL.md → advanced.md
+SKILL.md → details.md
+SKILL.md → examples.md
+
+```
+
+**Why it matters**: Claude may only partially read deeply nested files. Keep references one level deep from SKILL.md.
+</pitfall>
+
+<pitfall name="windows_paths">
+❌ **BAD**:
+```markdown
+## Reference Guides
+
+See scripts\validate.py for validation
+
+```
+
+✅ **GOOD**:
+
+```markdown
+## Reference Guides
+
+See scripts/validate.py for validation
+
+```
+
+**Why it matters**: Always use forward slashes for cross-platform compatibility.
+</pitfall>
+
+<pitfall name="dynamic_context_and_file_reference_execution">
+**Problem**: When showing examples of dynamic context syntax (exclamation mark + backticks) or file references (@ prefix), the skill loader executes these during skill loading.
+
+❌ **BAD** - These execute during skill load:
+
+```markdown
+## Examples
+
+Load current status with: !`git status`
+Review dependencies in: @package.json
+
+```
+
+✅ **GOOD** - Add space to prevent execution:
+
+```markdown
+## Examples
+
+Load current status with: ! `git status` (remove space before backtick in actual usage)
+Review dependencies in: @ package.json (remove space after @ in actual usage)
+
+```
+
+**When this applies**:
+
+- Skills that teach users about dynamic context (slash commands, prompts)
+- Any documentation showing the exclamation mark prefix syntax or @ file references
+- Skills with example commands or file paths that shouldn't execute during loading
+
+**Why it matters**: Without the space, these execute during skill load, causing errors or unwanted file reads.
+</pitfall>
+
+<pitfall name="missing_required_sections">
+❌ **BAD**: Missing required sections:
+```markdown
+## Quick start
+Use this tool for processing...
+```
+
+✅ **GOOD**: All required sections present:
+
+```markdown
+# Data Processing
+
+Process data files with validation and transformation.
+
+## Quick start
+Use this tool for processing...
+
+## Success criteria
+- Input file successfully processed
+- Output file validates without errors
+- Transformation applied correctly
+```
+
+**Why it matters**: Every skill needs a `#` title with its purpose, a `## Quick start` (or first phase), and a completion criterion.
+</pitfall>
+
+<pitfall name="tags_replacing_some_headings">
+❌ **BAD**: A top-level tag standing in for one section while the rest use headings:
+```markdown
+<objective>
+PDF processing capabilities
+</objective>
+
+## Quick start
+
+Extract text with pdfplumber...
+
+```
+
+✅ **GOOD**: Every section is a heading; a tag, if used, wraps one block inside a section:
+```markdown
+# PDF Processing
+
+PDF processing capabilities.
+
+## Quick start
+
+Extract text with pdfplumber...
+
+<example>
+pdfplumber.open("file.pdf").pages[0].extract_text()
+</example>
+```
+
+**Why it matters**: Headings carry the structure. A wrapper bounds a block the model must treat as one unit; it is never a section of its own.
+</pitfall>
+
+<pitfall name="unclosed_xml_tags">
+❌ **BAD**: Forgetting to close XML tags:
+```markdown
+## Objective
+
+Process PDF files
+
+### Quick Start
+
+Use pdfplumber...
+
+```
+
+✅ **GOOD**: Properly closed tags:
+```markdown
+## Objective
+
+Process PDF files
+
+## Quick Start
+
+Use pdfplumber...
+
+```
+
+**Why it matters**: Unclosed tags break XML parsing and create ambiguous boundaries.
+</pitfall>
+</anti_patterns>
+
+<progressive_disclosure_pattern>
+<description>
+Keep SKILL.md concise by linking to detailed reference files. Claude loads reference files only when needed.
+</description>
+
+<implementation>
+```markdown
+## Objective
+
+Manage Facebook Ads campaigns, ad sets, and ads via the Marketing API.
+
+## Quick Start
+
+### Basic Operations
+
+See [basic-operations.md](basic-operations.md) for campaign creation and management.
+
+## Advanced Features
+
+**Custom audiences**: See [audiences.md](audiences.md)
+**Conversion tracking**: See [conversions.md](conversions.md)
+**Budget optimization**: See [budgets.md](budgets.md)
+**API reference**: See [api-reference.md](api-reference.md)
+
+```
+
+**Benefits**:
+- SKILL.md stays under 500 lines
+- Claude only reads relevant reference files
+- Token usage scales with task complexity
+- Easier to maintain and update
+</implementation>
+</progressive_disclosure_pattern>
+
+<validation_pattern>
+<description>
+For skills with validation steps, make validation scripts verbose and specific.
+</description>
+
+<implementation>
+```markdown
+## Validation
+
+After making changes, validate immediately:
+
+```bash
+python scripts/validate.py output_dir/
+```
+
+If validation fails, fix errors before continuing. Validation errors include:
+
+- **Field not found**: "Field 'signature_date' not found. Available fields: customer_name, order_total, signature_date_signed"
+- **Type mismatch**: "Field 'order_total' expects number, got string"
+- **Missing required field**: "Required field 'customer_name' is missing"
+
+Only proceed when validation passes with zero errors.
+
+```
+
+**Why verbose errors help**:
+- Claude can fix issues without guessing
+- Specific error messages reduce iteration cycles
+- Available options shown in error messages
+</implementation>
+</validation_pattern>
+
+<checklist_pattern>
+<description>
+For complex multi-step workflows, provide a checklist Claude can copy and track progress.
+</description>
+
+<implementation>
+```markdown
+## Workflow
+
+Copy this checklist and check off items as you complete them:
+
+```
+
+Task Progress:
+
+- [ ] Step 1: Analyze the form (run analyze_form.py)
+- [ ] Step 2: Create field mapping (edit fields.json)
+- [ ] Step 3: Validate mapping (run validate_fields.py)
+- [ ] Step 4: Fill the form (run fill_form.py)
+- [ ] Step 5: Verify output (run verify_output.py)
+
+```
+
+<step_1>
+**Analyze the form**
+
+Run: `python scripts/analyze_form.py input.pdf`
+
+This extracts form fields and their locations, saving to `fields.json`.
+</step_1>
+
+<step_2>
+**Create field mapping**
+
+Edit `fields.json` to add values for each field.
+</step_2>
+
+<step_3>
+**Validate mapping**
+
+Run: `python scripts/validate_fields.py fields.json`
+
+Fix any validation errors before continuing.
+</step_3>
+
+<step_4>
+**Fill the form**
+
+Run: `python scripts/fill_form.py input.pdf fields.json output.pdf`
+</step_4>
+
+<step_5>
+**Verify output**
+
+Run: `python scripts/verify_output.py output.pdf`
+
+If verification fails, return to Step 2.
+</step_5>
+</workflow>
+```
+
+**Benefits**:
+
+- Clear progress tracking
+- Prevents skipping steps
+- Easy to resume after interruption
+</implementation>
+
+</checklist_pattern>