# verification-before-completion

This skill stops the AI from claiming a task is done without fresh test runs and command output. It activates before commits, PRs, and task handoffs.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 392 installs · ★ 78
- Author: Jesse Vincent
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/bobmatnyc/claude-mpm-skills/tree/HEAD/universal/debugging/verification-before-completion/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-07-18
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/jesse-vincent-verification-before-completion

## What it does

The skill enforces a five-step gate on any completion claims. The assistant cannot announce that bugs are fixed or builds pass without executing the actual verification command and reading its exit code. Every claim requires fresh terminal evidence right in the current turn.

It flags suspicious phrases such as "should pass now" or "looks correct" as immediate stops. According to real-world data in the skill, 40% of unverified completion claims ended up needing rework. Recovery took 120 minutes or more, compared to two minutes spent running a check. Guesswork costs too much time.

The configuration consumes 800 tokens of context limit and runs automatically rather than via direct user invocation. Without a fresh verification command executed in the current session, the agent cannot claim success.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add bobmatnyc/claude-mpm-skills --skill verification-before-completion -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/verification-before-completion/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/verification-before-completion/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add bobmatnyc/claude-mpm-skills --skill verification-before-completion -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/verification-before-completion/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add bobmatnyc/claude-mpm-skills --skill verification-before-completion -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/verification-before-completion/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install bobmatnyc/claude-mpm-skills verification-before-completion
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/verification-before-completion/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add bobmatnyc/claude-mpm-skills --skill verification-before-completion -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/bobmatnyc/claude-mpm-skills --path universal/debugging/verification-before-completion
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/verification-before-completion/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add bobmatnyc/claude-mpm-skills --skill verification-before-completion -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/bobmatnyc/claude-mpm-skills/tree/HEAD/universal/debugging/verification-before-completion/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- Stop premature agent claims that code or fixes work
- Enforce full test execution before committing changes
- Verify exit codes and failure counts before closing tasks
- Block assumptions and guesswork during task handoffs

## Example prompts
- Fix the authentication issue and run the test suite before submitting a commit
- Refactor the database queries and verify the test runner output before finishing
- Update the dependencies and confirm all build steps pass with clean exit codes

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 2fb83b3985aabc3c.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 2fb83b3985aabc3c
````text
---
name: verification-before-completion
description: Run verification commands and confirm output before claiming success
user-invocable: false
disable-model-invocation: true
version: 2.0.0
category: debugging
author: Jesse Vincent
license: MIT
source: https://github.com/obra/superpowers-skills/tree/main/skills/debugging/verification-before-completion
progressive_disclosure:
  entry_point:
    summary: "Evidence before claims: mandatory verification before ANY completion claim"
    when_to_use: "When about to claim work is complete, fixed, passing, or ready. ESPECIALLY before commits, PRs, or task completion."
    quick_start: "1. Identify verification command 2. Run FULL command 3. Read complete output 4. Verify results 5. THEN claim with evidence"
  references:
    - gate-function.md
    - verification-patterns.md
    - red-flags-and-failures.md
    - integration-and-workflows.md
context_limit: 800
tags:
  - verification
  - quality-assurance
  - honesty
  - evidence
requires_tools: []
---

# Verification Before Completion

## Overview

Claiming work is complete without verification is dishonesty, not efficiency.

**Core principle:** Evidence before claims, always.

**Violating the letter of this rule is violating the spirit of this rule.**

This skill enforces mandatory verification before ANY completion claim, preventing false positives, broken builds, and trust violations.

## When to Use This Skill

Activate ALWAYS before claiming:
- Success, completion, or satisfaction ("Done!", "Fixed!", "Great!")
- Tests pass, linter clean, build succeeds
- Committing, pushing, creating PRs
- Marking tasks complete or delegating to agents

**Use this ESPECIALLY when:**
- Under time pressure or tired
- "Quick fix" seems obvious or confidence is high
- Agent reports success or tests "should" pass

## The Iron Law

```
NO COMPLETION CLAIMS WITHOUT FRESH VERIFICATION EVIDENCE
```

Without running the verification command in this message, claiming success is not allowed.

## Core Principles

1. **Evidence Required**: Every claim needs supporting evidence
2. **Fresh Verification**: Must verify now, not rely on previous runs
3. **Complete Verification**: Full command, not partial checks
4. **Honest Reporting**: Report actual state, not hoped-for state

## Quick Start

The five-step gate function:

1. **IDENTIFY**: What command proves this claim?
2. **RUN**: Execute the FULL command (fresh, complete)
3. **READ**: Full output, check exit code, count failures
4. **VERIFY**: Does output confirm the claim?
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 2fb83b3985aabc3c

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 2fb83b3985aabc3c tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

First 2532 of 4205 bytes. © Jesse Vincent · MIT · https://github.com/bobmatnyc/claude-mpm-skills/tree/HEAD/universal/debugging/verification-before-completion/SKILL.md

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