phx-verify

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Verify Elixir/Phoenix changes — compile, format, and test in one loop. Use after implementation, before PRs, or after fixing bugs.

oliver-kriska By oliver-kriska schedule Updated 6/4/2026

name: phx:verify description: Verify Elixir/Phoenix changes — compile, format, and test in one loop. Use after implementation, before PRs, or after fixing bugs. effort: low

Verification Loop

Project-aware verification for Elixir/Phoenix. Reads mix.exs and .check.exs to discover tools, test commands, and custom aliases before running anything.

Iron Laws

  1. Discover before running — Read mix.exs first; never run mix credo if credo isn't a dependency
  2. Prefer ex_check — If :ex_check + .check.exs exists, mix check replaces individual steps
  3. Prefer project aliases — If mix ci or composite alias exists, use it over individual steps
  4. Run in order — Later steps assume earlier ones pass
  5. Ask before E2E tests — Unit tests run automatically; E2E/integration tests need user confirmation
  6. NEVER report success without showing actual command output — "should work" is not verification

Step 0: Project Discovery (ALWAYS FIRST)

Read mix.exs — extract deps/0, aliases/0, and cli/0 (for preferred_envs). Also check for .check.exs. See ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/references/project-discovery.md for full patterns.

Discover tools (deps): :credo, :dialyxir, :sobelow, :ex_check, :excoveralls, :boundary

Discover test commands (aliases + deps):

  • Unit: mix test (always), or custom alias like mix test.with_coverage
  • E2E: mix playwright.test, mix cypress.run, or similar (check preferred_envs for MIX_ENV)
  • Fast E2E: mix playwright.run (skips setup — for re-runs)

Discover composite runner: If .check.exs exists, read it — mix check may handle compile, format, credo, test, dialyzer, sobelow, and more.

Report discovery:

Project tools: compile ✓ | format ✓ | credo ✓ | dialyzer ✓ | sobelow ✓ | ex_check ✓
Test commands: mix test (unit) | mix playwright.test (E2E, MIX_ENV=int_test)
Composite runner: mix check (.check.exs covers: compiler, formatter, credo, dialyzer, sobelow, tests)
Strategy: Running `mix check` then asking about E2E

Verification Sequence

CRITICAL: Before using ANY discovered alias or composite command, verify it works:

  1. Check the dependency is in mix.lock (not just mix.exs) — deps may not be fetched
  2. Run the command — if it fails with "command not found" or dependency error, fall back to individual steps
  3. Log the fallback: "mix check failed (ex_check not installed?), falling back to individual steps"

If ex_check installed + .check.exs exists: Try mix check. If it fails, fall back to individual steps.

If composite alias found (e.g., mix ci, mix precommit): Try it. If it fails, fall back to individual steps.

Otherwise (or after fallback): Run individual steps, skipping unavailable tools.

Step 1: Compile

mix compile --warnings-as-errors — always

Elixir 1.20+ (OTP 27+): the compiler's built-in type checker emits type violations / verified bugs as warnings, so --warnings-as-errors now fails the build on them — no Dialyzer needed. If a previously-green build fails after a 1.20 bump, suspect a newly-detected type violation, not a regression. Read the message literally (accepted vs supplied type); it is almost always a real bug. See elixir-idioms/references/elixir-120-type-system.md.

Step 2: Format

mix format --check-formatted — always (auto-fix with mix format if fails)

Step 3: Credo

mix credo --strict — if :credo in deps, else skip

Step 4: Test

mix test --trace — use project test alias if available

Step 5: Dialyzer

mix dialyzer — if :dialyxir in deps, pre-PR only

Step 6: Sobelow

mix sobelow --config — if :sobelow in deps

Skip unavailable tools with: "Credo: ⏭ Not installed"

Step 7: Additional Test Offer

After core verification passes, check if project has additional test commands (E2E, integration, coverage). Ask the user:

Core verification passed. Additional test commands available:
1. mix playwright.test (E2E, MIX_ENV=int_test) — ~5min
2. mix test.with_coverage (unit + coverage report)
Run any of these? [1/2/both/skip]

Respect preferred_envs / cli/0 for correct MIX_ENV on each command.

Quick Reference

Step Command Condition
Discovery Read mix.exs + .check.exs Always first
Composite mix check If :ex_check installed
Compile mix compile --warnings-as-errors Always
Format mix format --check-formatted Always
Credo mix credo --strict :credo in deps
Test mix test --trace Always (use alias if exists)
Dialyzer mix dialyzer :dialyxir in deps, pre-PR
Sobelow mix sobelow --config :sobelow in deps
E2E/Extra Ask user If additional test commands found

Usage

  1. Run /phx:verify — discovery happens automatically
  2. Core checks run in order, adapted to project
  3. After pass, offered additional test commands (E2E, coverage)
  4. Commit only after all chosen checks pass
Install via CLI
npx skills add https://github.com/oliver-kriska/claude-elixir-phoenix --skill phx-verify
Repository Details
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article Path SKILL.md
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