Loading...
Loading...
Bidirectional integration validation where two repositories validate each other before release. TRIGGERS - symmetric dogfooding, bidirectional testing, cross-repo validation, reciprocal testing, polyrepo integration.
npx skill4agent add terrylica/cc-skills symmetric-dogfooding┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ SYMMETRIC DOGFOODING │
│ │
│ Repo A ◄─────── mutual validation ───────► Repo B │
│ │
│ EXPORTS: EXPORTS: │
│ - Library/API - Library/API │
│ - Data structures - Data structures │
│ │
│ VALIDATES WITH: VALIDATES WITH: │
│ - Repo B real outputs - Repo A real outputs │
│ - Production-like data - Production-like data │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘1. Identify integration surface (exports from A consumed by B and vice versa)
2. Document data formats, schemas, API signatures at boundary
3. Configure cross-repo dev dependencies in both repos
4. Pin versions explicitly (tags or SHAs, never main)
5. Create integration/ test directory in both repos
6. Write bidirectional validation tests (A validates with B outputs, B validates with A outputs)
7. Add validation tasks to mise.toml or Makefile
8. Document pre-release protocol in both CLAUDE.md files
9. Run full symmetric validation to verify setup
10. Verify against Symmetric Dogfooding Checklist below1. Run validate:symmetric task in releasing repo
2. Check if other repo has pending changes affecting integration
3. If yes, test against other repo's feature branch
4. Document any failures in validation log
5. Fix integration issues before release
6. Update version pins after successful validation
7. Coordinate if breaking changes require simultaneous release
8. Verify against Symmetric Dogfooding Checklist below1. Identify new export/import being added
2. Update integration surface documentation
3. Add tests in both repos for new integration point
4. Run symmetric validation in both directions
5. Update version pins if needed
6. Verify against Symmetric Dogfooding Checklist below# Repo A pyproject.toml
[project.optional-dependencies]
validation = ["repo-b"]
[tool.uv.sources]
repo-b = { git = "https://github.com/org/repo-b", tag = "<tag>" } # SSoT-OK# Repo B pyproject.toml
[project.optional-dependencies]
validation = ["repo-a"]
[tool.uv.sources]
repo-a = { git = "https://github.com/org/repo-a", tag = "<tag>" } # SSoT-OK[dev-dependencies]
repo-b = { git = "https://github.com/org/repo-b", tag = "<tag>" } # SSoT-OK{
"devDependencies": {
"repo-b": "github:org/repo-b#<tag>"
}
}repo-a/
└── tests/
├── unit/ # Internal tests
└── integration/ # Tests using repo-b real outputs
└── test_with_repo_b.py
repo-b/
└── tests/
├── unit/ # Internal tests
└── integration/ # Tests using repo-a real outputs
└── test_with_repo_a.py# repo-a/tests/integration/test_with_repo_b.py
"""Validate Repo A outputs work correctly with Repo B inputs."""
def test_a_output_consumed_by_b():
# Generate output using Repo A
a_output = repo_a.generate_data()
# Feed to Repo B - should work without errors
b_result = repo_b.process(a_output)
# Validate the round-trip
assert b_result.is_valid()[tasks."validate:symmetric"]
description = "Validate against partner repo"
run = """
uv sync --extra validation
uv run pytest tests/integration/ -v
"""
[tasks."validate:pre-release"]
description = "Full validation before release"
depends = ["test:unit", "validate:symmetric"]validate:symmetricvalidate:symmetric| Anti-Pattern | Problem | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| One-direction only | Misses half the bugs | Always test both directions |
| Using main branch | Unstable, breaks randomly | Pin to tags or SHAs |
| Skipping for small changes | Small changes cause big breaks | Always run full validation |
| Mocking partner repo | Defeats the purpose | Use real imports |
| Ignoring version matrix | Silent production failures | Maintain compatibility matrix |
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Dependency resolution fails | Version pin outdated | Update tag/SHA pin to latest stable version |
| Tests pass locally fail CI | Different partner repo version | Pin exact same version in both environments |
| Breaking change not caught | One-direction testing only | Run validate:symmetric in BOTH repos |
| Integration surface unclear | Undocumented exports | Map all imports/exports before setting up tests |
| Too many parts moving | Uncoordinated releases | Coordinate breaking changes, test branches first |
| Mock data hiding bugs | Using stubs instead of real | Always import real partner repo for integration |
| Version matrix explosion | Too many combinations | Limit support to N-1 versions, document clearly |
| Circular dependency | Both repos require each other | Use optional-dependencies for validation only |