---
name: verification-before-completion
description: "Require fresh verification before any success claim."
version: 1.0.0
author: Hermes Agent (adapted from obra/superpowers)
license: MIT
platforms: [linux]
metadata:
  hermes:
    tags: [verification, testing, quality, evidence]
    related_skills: [test-driven-development, subagent-driven-development]
---

# Verification Before Completion

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

## The Iron Law

NO COMPLETION CLAIMS WITHOUT FRESH VERIFICATION EVIDENCE

If you haven't run the verification command in this message, you cannot claim it passes.

## The Gate Function

BEFORE claiming any status or expressing satisfaction:

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?
   - If NO: State actual status with evidence
   - If YES: State claim WITH evidence
5. ONLY THEN: Make the claim

Skip any step = lying, not verifying

## Common Failures

| Claim | Requires | Not Sufficient |
|-------|----------|----------------|
| Tests pass | Test command output: 0 failures | Previous run, "should pass" |
| Linter clean | Linter output: 0 errors | Partial check, extrapolation |
| Build succeeds | Build command: exit 0 | Linter passing, logs look good |
| Bug fixed | Test original symptom: passes | Code changed, assumed fixed |
| Regression test works | Red-green cycle verified | Test passes once |
| Agent completed | VCS diff shows changes | Agent reports "success" |
| Requirements met | Line-by-line checklist | Tests passing |

## Red Flags - STOP

- Using "should", "probably", "seems to"
- Expressing satisfaction before verification ("Great!", "Perfect!", "Done!")
- About to commit/push/PR without verification
- Trusting agent success reports
- Relying on partial verification
- Thinking "just this once"
- ANY wording implying success without having run verification

## Rationalization Prevention

| Excuse | Reality |
|--------|---------|
| "Should work now" | RUN the verification |
| "I'm confident" | Confidence ≠ evidence |
| "Just this once" | No exceptions |
| "Linter passed" | Linter ≠ compiler |
| "Agent said success" | Verify independently |
| "Partial check is enough" | Partial proves nothing |

## Key Patterns

**Tests:**
- Correct: [Run test command] [See: 34/34 pass] "All tests pass"
- Wrong: "Should pass now" / "Looks correct"

**Regression tests (TDD Red-Green):**
- Correct: Write → Run (pass) → Revert fix → Run (MUST FAIL) → Restore → Run (pass)
- Wrong: "I've written a regression test" (without red-green verification)

**Build:**
- Correct: [Run build] [See: exit 0] "Build passes"
- Wrong: "Linter passed" (linter doesn't check compilation)

**Requirements:**
- Correct: Re-read plan → Create checklist → Verify each → Report gaps or completion
- Wrong: "Tests pass, phase complete"

**Agent delegation:**
- Correct: Agent reports success → Check VCS diff → Verify changes → Report actual state
- Wrong: Trust agent report

## When To Apply

ALWAYS before:
- ANY variation of success/completion claims
- ANY expression of satisfaction
- ANY positive statement about work state
- Committing, PR creation, task completion
- Moving to next task
- Delegating to agents

Rule applies to exact phrases, paraphrases, synonyms, and implications of success.