Skip to content
Get packs

RDD Defect Workflow

Guides an agent through a strict, evidence-based process for fixing defects in public repositories

Source Download skill
Repository
Gentleman-Programming/gentle-ai
Stars
8,181
Licence
MIT
Files
1 file

What it does

When installed, this skill makes an AI agent follow a structured defect-fixing process modeled on what the author calls receipt-driven development. Before writing code, the agent checks whether a kill switch allows the process, confirms the issue is approved and reproducible on the current main branch, checks existing pull requests for conflicts, and forecasts the size of its changes. It then works in a separate worktree, writes failing tests first, and reports results in a fixed format listing tests, rollback steps, and unresolved maintainer decisions. The skill explicitly grants the agent no approval, labeling, review, or merge authority.

Great for

  • Maintainers of open-source repositories who want contributors or agents to follow a disciplined defect process
  • Developers who already use the gentle-ai/RDD conventions and need an agent to apply them consistently

Skip it if

  • Users who simply want a quick bug fix; the process adds many gates (approval, reproduction, 400-line budget, read-only validation) that will slow down ordinary work
  • Projects without an approval and issue-labeling workflow, since many rules reference statuses and kill switches that will not exist there

Try asking

  • “Use the RDD defect workflow to fix issue #123 on this repo, starting with the approval and reproduction checks”
  • “Before editing, forecast the line changes for this bug fix and tell me if it exceeds the 400-line limit”
  • “Audit the open PRs for this defect and tell me which ones are superseded or conflicting”
Step-by-step guide: how to use RDD Defect WorkflowInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs

Install in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Download the skill

    The ZIP contains the 1 original files, the MIT licence and an attribution note.

    rdd-defect-workflow.zip
  2. 2

    Add it to your agent

    Claude Code (all projects)

    mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && unzip rdd-defect-workflow.zip -d ~/.claude/skills/

    Claude Code / Agent SDK (this project only)

    mkdir -p .claude/skills && unzip rdd-defect-workflow.zip -d .claude/skills/

    Claude apps (web/desktop): Settings → Capabilities → Skills → Upload skill, and choose the ZIP.

  3. 3

    Ask for the task

    No special command needed — the agent reads the skill's description and loads it when your request matches. Try one of the prompts above.

Get better results

  • Set up the user-owned RDD kill switch explicitly, since the skill defers to it and reports disabled/unmanaged when it is off
  • Read the repository's current policy, which the skill says remains authoritative over the skill itself
  • Ask for the output contract fields directly so you can check each flow, negative control, and test result

What's inside

  • SKILL.md

Redistributed unmodified from Gentleman-Programming/gentle-ai under the MIT licence. The assessment was drafted with AI from the skill's files on 2026-10-29. Skills can instruct your agent to run code — read SKILL.md and any scripts before installing.