version: "1.0.1" name: validation-gates description: "Defines 10 sequential validation gates: secret scanning, lint/test/build checks, blast radius analysis, dependency auditing, browser testing, cache management, regression checks, smoke tests. Use when running pre-deploy validation or CI checks, CI/CD pipelines, deployment pipeline validation, pre-merge checks, continuous integration, or pull request validation."

Validation Gates

Gate 1: Secret Scanning

Secret scan (Constitution rule 1). Block on any token, key, password, or connection string in code, logs, commits, or terminal output.

Scan for: AWS keys (AKIA...), API tokens (sk-..., ghp_...), private keys, database URIs, hardcoded password/secret/api_key/token assignments (assignments, not references), .env contents pasted into source, and base64-encoded secrets.

On a hit: block, name the file and line, and re-delegate with an instruction to use an environment variable. Already committed? Rotate it - git history is permanent.

Not a hit: obviously fake test fixtures (sk-test-1234567890), documentation placeholders (YOUR_API_KEY_HERE), and pattern matches inside explanatory comments.

Scan every diff before any other gate: gitleaks detect --source . --verbosity warn (or CI equivalent) — fail on any findings.

Gate 2: Deterministic Checks

Run for every affected project (resolve exact commands via codebase-tool skill): lint (with auto-fix), test, build. All must pass with zero errors.

npm run lint && npm test --silent && npm run build

Gate 3: Blast Radius Check

• Normal — proceed
• Warning — log; investigate partition drift
• Escalate — STOP; verify partition; split or revert; no auto-PASS

Sensitive files (always Warning): **/auth/**, DB migrations, next.config.*, .env*, .github/workflows/**, lockfiles — also triggers Gate 4.

Gate 4: Dependency Audit

Runs only when package.json, yarn.lock, package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, or similar lockfiles are modified.

• Vulnerability: npm audit --audit-level=high — no new high/critical, else BLOCK (patched version or alternative).
• Bundle size: frontend pkgs ≤50KB gzipped (project policy) — SHOULD-FIX; blocking if >200KB.

Full checklist (license, duplicates, maintenance, peer deps, type coverage) with commands: REFERENCE.md.

Gate 5: Fast Review

Spawn reviewer sub-agent (load fast-review skill). PASS → proceed; FAIL → re-delegate (max 2); 3× FAIL → Gate 9. Auto-PASS rules: see fast-review skill.

Gate 6: Cache Clearing

rm -rf node_modules/.cache .next/cache .astro/ dist/

Gate 7: Browser Testing

UI changes require Chrome screenshots. Start dev server → verify ACs → responsive breakpoints → capture screenshots. Load browser-testing skill.

{ "tool": "browser-testing/take_screenshot", "url": "http://localhost:3000", "viewports": ["mobile", "desktop"] }

Additional options: see REFERENCE.md.

Gate 8: Regression Testing

1. Full test suite for all affected projects (resolve the command via the codebase-tool slot)
2. Browser-test adjacent pages (navigation, routing, back-button) — find them via rg "href=\"/changed-path|import .*from '@/components/changed'".
3. Find consuming apps/packages via rg "from '@/components/PriceRange'|@my-org/ui-package"; run their tests or smoke builds.

Gate 9: Panel Review

Load panel-majority-vote skill — spawns 3 isolated reviewers, majority (2/3) wins. Use for: security-sensitive changes, DB migrations, architecture decisions.

Gate 10: Final Smoke Test

Runs once after ALL tasks are Done.

npm run build && npm test && npx playwright test

Full build + test from clean state → E2E browser walkthrough → cross-task integration check → responsive sweep (if UI). On failure: re-delegate specific failing integration only.