angreal-patterns

Guide angreal task design and validation across testing, development, and documentation.

12|6|Updated Jun 19, 2018
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/angreal/angreal --skill angreal-patterns
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: angreal-patterns
Source: https://github.com/angreal/angreal/tree/main/plugin/skills/angreal-patterns
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/angreal/angreal --skill angreal-patterns

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

This skill should be used when the user asks to "test angreal tasks", "mock angreal", "document tasks", "angreal best practices", "error handling in tasks", "subprocess patterns", "dry run mode", "verbose mode", or needs guidance on testing patterns, development workflows, documentation strategies, or common implementation patterns for angreal tasks.

Core Features & Use Cases

Testing Patterns

Unit Testing Task Functions

# tests/test_build.py
import sys
sys.path.insert(0, ".angreal")
from task_build import build

def test_build_debug_mode():
    result = build(release=False)
    assert result == 0

def test_build_release_mode():
    result = build(release=True)
    assert result == 0

Mocking External Commands

from unittest.mock import patch, MagicMock

def test_run_tests_success():
    with patch("subprocess.run") as mock_run:
        mock_run.return_value = MagicMock(returncode=0)
        from task_test import run_tests
        result = run_tests()
        assert result == 0

Mocking angreal.get_root()

# tests/conftest.py
import pytest
from pathlib import Path

@pytest.fixture
def temp_project(tmp_path):
    """Create temporary project structure."""
    angreal_dir = tmp_path / ".angreal"
    angreal_dir.mkdir()
    (tmp_path / "src").mkdir()
    return tmp_path

@pytest.fixture
def mock_root(temp_project, monkeypatch):
    """Mock get_root() to return .angreal/ directory."""
    import angreal
    angreal_dir = temp_project / ".angreal"
    monkeypatch.setattr(angreal, "get_root", lambda: angreal_dir)
    return temp_project  # Return project root for assertions

Testing Output

def test_task_output(capsys):
    from task_status import status
    status()
    captured = capsys.readouterr()
    assert "Project Status" in captured.out

Development Patterns

Verbose Mode

import angreal

@angreal.command(name="build", about="Build project")
@angreal.argument(name="verbose", short="v", long="verbose",
                  is_flag=True, takes_value=False)
def build(verbose=False):
    if verbose:
        print("Starting build...")

    do_build()

    if verbose:
        print("Build complete!")

Quiet Mode

@angreal.command(name="check", about="Run checks")
@angreal.argument(name="quiet", short="q", long="quiet",
                  is_flag=True, takes_value=False)
def check(quiet=False):
    issues = run_checks()

    if not issues:
        if not quiet:
            print("All checks passed!")
        return 0

    if not quiet:
        for issue in issues:
            print(f"  - {issue}")
    return 1

Dry Run Mode

import angreal
import shutil
import os

@angreal.command(name="clean", about="Clean build artifacts")
@angreal.argument(name="dry_run", short="n", long="dry-run",
                  is_flag=True, takes_value=False)
def clean(dry_run=False):
    project_root = angreal.get_root().parent
    targets = ["dist/", "build/", ".cache/"]

    for target in targets:
        path = project_root / target
        if path.exists():
            if dry_run:
                print(f"Would remove: {path}")
            else:
                print(f"Removing: {path}")
                shutil.rmtree(path)

    if dry_run:
        print("\nDry run - no changes made.")

Progress Indicators

@angreal.command(name="test", about="Run tests")
def test():
    tests = discover_tests()
    for i, test in enumerate(tests, 1):
        print(f"[{i}/{len(tests)}] Running {test}...")
        run_test(test)
    print("All tests complete!")

Subprocess Patterns

Running Commands in Project Root

import subprocess
import angreal

def run_in_project(cmd, **kwargs):
    """Run command in project root."""
    project_root = angreal.get_root().parent
    defaults = {
        "cwd": project_root,
        "capture_output": True,
        "text": True
    }
    defaults.update(kwargs)
    return subprocess.run(cmd, **defaults)

Streaming Output

@angreal.command(name="test", about="Run tests")
def test():
    project_root = angreal.get_root().parent

    process = subprocess.Popen(
        ["pytest", "-v"],
        cwd=project_root,
        stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
        stderr=subprocess.STDOUT,
        text=True
    )

    for line in process.stdout:
        print(line, end="")

    return process.wait()

Handling Failures

def run_or_fail(cmd, error_msg):
    """Run command, exit on failure."""
    result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True)

    if result.returncode != 0:
        print(f"Error: {error_msg}")
        if result.stderr:
            print(result.stderr)
        return 1

    return 0

Error Handling Patterns

Fail Fast

@angreal.command(name="deploy", about="Deploy application")
def deploy():
    # Check all prerequisites first
    if not check_credentials():
        print("Error: Missing credentials")
        return 1

    if not check_build_exists():
        print("Error: No build. Run 'angreal build' first.")
        return 1

    # Only proceed if everything ready
    do_deploy()
    return 0

Informative Error Messages

def validate_env(env):
    valid = ["development", "staging", "production"]

    if env not in valid:
        print(f"Error: Invalid environment '{env}'")
        print(f"Valid options: {', '.join(valid)}")
        return False

    return True

Environment Variable Checking

import os

@angreal.command(name="deploy", about="Deploy")
def deploy():
    required = ["AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID", "AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY"]
    missing = [v for v in required if not os.environ.get(v)]

    if missing:
        print("Error: Missing environment variables:")
        for var in missing:
            print(f"  - {var}")
        return 1

    do_deploy()
    return 0

Documentation Patterns

Documentation Layers

| Layer | Audience | Location |
|-------|----------|----------|
| `about` | CLI users | `--help` output |
| `long_about` | CLI users | Detailed help |
| `help` (args) | CLI users | Argument help |
| `ToolDescription` | AI agents | `angreal tree --long` |
| Docstrings | Developers | Source code |

Consistent Structure

@angreal.command(
    name="deploy",
    about="Deploy to environment",  # Short for listings
    long_about="""
    Deploy the application to a specified environment.

    Handles: building, uploading, migrations, health checks.

    Supported environments: development, staging, production
    """,  # Detailed for --help
    tool=angreal.ToolDescription("""
        Deploy application to environment.

        ## When to use
        - After tests pass
        - When release is approved

        ## Examples
        ```
        angreal deploy --env staging
        ```
        """, risk_level="destructive")  # For AI agents
)
def deploy():
    """Deploy application. (For developers reading code)"""
    pass

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

Don't Hardcode Paths

# Bad
config = open("/Users/me/project/config.yaml")

# Good
project_root = angreal.get_root().parent
config = open(project_root / "config.yaml")

Don't Ignore Return Codes

# Bad
subprocess.run(["npm", "install"])
subprocess.run(["npm", "test"])  # Runs even if install failed

# Good
result = subprocess.run(["npm", "install"])
if result.returncode != 0:
    return 1
subprocess.run(["npm", "test"])

Don't Swallow Exceptions

# Bad
try:
    do_something()
except:
    pass

# Good
try:
    do_something()
except SpecificError as e:
    print(f"Error: {e}")
    return 1

Don't Require Interactive Input

# Bad - breaks CI/automation
name = input("Enter name: ")

# Good - use arguments
@angreal.argument(name="name", long="name", required=True)
def cmd(name):
    pass

Composing Tasks

...

pytest.ini Configuration

[pytest]
testpaths = tests
pythonpath = .angreal

markers =
    unit: Unit tests
    integration: Integration tests

The description continues with additional patterns and examples mirroring the original skill content to assist users in adopting Angreal task-patterns.

Quick Start

Use these patterns to implement unit tests, mocks, and documentation for angreal tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions about angreal-patterns

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I unit test angreal task functions and mock external commands?

To unit test angreal task functions, import tasks directly from the .angreal directory and use `unittest.mock.patch` to mock external commands like `subprocess.run`, verifying return codes and output without executing real system calls.

What is the best way to handle subprocess execution and stream output in angreal tasks?

The best way to handle subprocess execution in angreal tasks is using `subprocess.Popen` with `stdout=subprocess.PIPE` to stream live output line by line, ensuring commands run in the project root via `angreal.get_root().parent`.

How do I implement dry run and verbose modes for custom CLI commands?

Dry run and verbose modes are implemented by defining `is_flag=True` arguments in the `@angreal.command` decorator, then using conditional logic to print actions instead of executing them for dry runs, or print progress for verbose mode.

Why should I avoid hardcoding paths and interactive input in task automation scripts?

Hardcoded paths break portability and interactive input blocks CI/automation pipelines; instead, use `angreal.get_root().parent` for dynamic project paths and define required arguments via `@angreal.argument` for automated execution.

How do I configure pytest to discover and run tests for angreal project tasks?

Configure pytest by adding `pythonpath = .angreal` to your `pytest.ini` file, allowing the test suite to directly import and execute task functions located within the `.angreal` directory structure.

What documentation layers should I include when building angreal task patterns?

Angreal task documentation should include `about` for CLI listings, `long_about` for detailed help, `ToolDescription` for AI agents with risk levels, and standard docstrings for developers reading the source code.