| name | gate |
| description | Verification before completion claims. Use when about to say "done", "fixed", or "complete". Runs checklist by workflow type with evidence requirements. |
gate
Verify before claiming completion.
Trigger
Before claiming: "done", "fixed", "complete", "working", "ready"
Workflow A: Build
□ Feature executes without errors (show output)
□ Edge cases tested (empty, null, boundary)
□ Rollback tested if Type 2B/1
□ Dependencies verified
Workflow B: Debug
□ Root cause identified with evidence
□ Fix tested and resolves symptom
□ Prevention added (test/automation/guard)
□ Related bugs checked (same class)
Workflow C: Refactor
□ Existing tests pass unchanged
□ Behavior identical (output comparison)
□ Deletion complete (no orphans)
□ No new abstraction without justification
Verification Types
| Type | Description | Sufficient for SHIP? |
|---|---|---|
execution output |
Ran command, showed result | ✓ Yes |
observation |
Screenshot, debugger session | ✓ Yes |
measurement |
Metrics, benchmark data | ✓ Yes |
code review |
Inspection only | ⚠️ Weak |
assumption |
Not verified | ✗ Blocks SHIP |
Require execution output, observation, or measurement before completion claims.
Anti-Patterns
| Claim | Problem | Required |
|---|---|---|
| "Should work" | Speculation | Actual output |
| "Looks good" | No verification | Test results |
| "Fixed the issue" | No proof | Before/after |
| "I think this resolves it" | No confidence % | X-Y% + basis |
Incomplete Work
When blocked, state:
- What's done (with evidence)
- What's blocking (specific)
- What's remaining
Type 2A Exception
Trivial changes (< 1 min rollback): completion allowed without full gate. Document undo command.
Common Rationalizations (All Wrong)
| Thought | Reality |
|---|---|
| "The tests passed" | Tests ≠ verification. Did you run the ACTUAL command? |
| "It should work" | "Should" = assumption. Show evidence. |
| "I already checked" | When? Show the output. |
| "The user is waiting" | Rushed verification = rework later. |
| "It's a simple change" | Simple changes break production too. |
| "I'm pretty sure it works" | Pretty sure ≠ evidence. Run it. |