adding-dependencies - SKILL.md Agent Skill

name: adding-dependencies description: "Adding or updating crate dependencies in the Golem workspace. Use when adding a new Rust dependency, changing dependency versions, or configuring dependency features."

Adding Dependencies

All crate dependencies in the Golem workspace are centrally managed. Versions and default features are specified once in the root Cargo.toml under [workspace.dependencies], and workspace members reference them with { workspace = true }.

Adding a New Dependency

Step 1: Add to root workspace Cargo.toml

Add the dependency under [workspace.dependencies] in the root Cargo.toml, specifying the version and any default features:

# Simple version
my-crate = "1.2.3"

# With features
my-crate = { version = "1.2.3", features = ["feature1", "feature2"] }

# With default-features disabled
my-crate = { version = "1.2.3", default-features = false }

Keep entries alphabetically sorted within the section. Internal workspace crates are listed first (with path), followed by external dependencies.

Step 2: Reference from workspace member

In the member crate's Cargo.toml, add the dependency using workspace = true:

[dependencies]
my-crate = { workspace = true }

# To add extra features beyond what the workspace specifies
my-crate = { workspace = true, features = ["extra-feature"] }

# To make it optional
my-crate = { workspace = true, optional = true }

Never specify a version directly in a member crate's Cargo.toml. Always use { workspace = true }.

The same pattern applies to [dev-dependencies] and [build-dependencies].

Step 3: Verify

cargo build -p <crate>   # Build the specific crate
cargo make build          # Full workspace build

Updating a Dependency Version

Change the version only in the root Cargo.toml under [workspace.dependencies]. All workspace members automatically pick up the new version.

Pinned and Patched Dependencies

Some dependencies use exact versions (=x.y.z) to ensure compatibility. Check the [patch.crates-io] section in the root Cargo.toml for git-overridden crates (e.g., wasmtime). When updating patched dependencies, both the version under [workspace.dependencies] and the corresponding [patch.crates-io] entry must be updated together.

Checklist

Version specified in root Cargo.toml under [workspace.dependencies]
Member crate references it with { workspace = true }
No version numbers in member crate Cargo.toml files
Entry is alphabetically sorted in the workspace dependencies list
cargo make build succeeds