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feat: add working-with-devenv skill for Nix/devenv environments (#17)
Add comprehensive skill for working with Nix and devenv to prevent
common anti-patterns and teach proper development workflows.
**Skill Features:**
- Quick reference table for common operations
- Patterns for interactive dev, scripts, and automation
- direnv setup for automatic environment activation
- Anti-patterns prevented: manual PATH modification, global installs,
nested shells, assuming commands available
- Troubleshooting guide
**Development Process:**
- Created using TDD for documentation (RED-GREEN-REFACTOR)
- Tested with multiple pressure scenarios
- Verified agents follow proper patterns after skill deployment
- Condensed from 928 to 597 words for token efficiency
The skill is installable via: cp -r skills/working-with-devenv ~/.claude/skills/
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CLAUDE.md
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CLAUDE.md
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These are pre-existing issues that need to be resolved. Until fixed, use `--no-verify` when committing or temporarily disable the typecheck command in `.lefthook.yml`.
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## Testing Standards
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**CRITICAL: Always run tests before committing code or requesting code review.**
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skills/README.md
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skills/README.md
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# Claude Code Skills
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This directory contains Claude Code skills developed for this project. These skills help AI agents work effectively with our development environment and tooling.
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## Available Skills
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### working-with-devenv
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A comprehensive guide for working with Nix and devenv environments. Prevents common anti-patterns like manual PATH modification and teaches proper patterns for:
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- Environment detection and verification
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- Interactive development workflows
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- Script automation with devenv
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- Automatic activation using direnv
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- Common mistakes to avoid
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**Use this skill when:** Working with projects that use Nix/devenv, encountering command not found errors, or writing automation scripts.
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## Installing Skills
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To use these skills in your local Claude Code environment:
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```sh
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# Copy skill to your personal skills directory
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cp -r skills/working-with-devenv ~/.claude/skills/
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```
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Skills in `~/.claude/skills/` are automatically discovered by Claude Code agents.
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## Skill Development
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These skills follow Test-Driven Development principles for documentation:
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1. **RED Phase** - Test agents without skill, document anti-patterns
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2. **GREEN Phase** - Write skill addressing specific violations
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3. **REFACTOR Phase** - Close loopholes, optimize for clarity
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See individual skill directories for testing scenarios and baseline findings.
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## Contributing
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Skills that are broadly useful beyond this project can be contributed back to the Superpowers Marketplace. Project-specific conventions should go in `CLAUDE.md` instead.
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skills/working-with-devenv/SKILL.md
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skills/working-with-devenv/SKILL.md
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---
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name: working-with-devenv
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description: Use when working with projects that use Nix and devenv for dependency management, before running package manager commands (pnpm, npm, turbo), or when encountering command not found errors in devenv projects
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---
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# Working with Devenv
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## Overview
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**devenv** manages project dependencies through Nix. Commands like `pnpm`, `node`, `turbo` live in `.devenv/profile/bin/` and are only available inside a devenv shell.
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**Core principle:** Verify you're in devenv before running managed commands. Never manually modify PATH.
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## Quick Reference
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| Task | Command | When |
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|------|---------|------|
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| Check if in devenv | `echo $DEVENV_STATE` | Shows path if active, empty if not |
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| Enter interactive shell | `devenv shell` | For multiple commands, development work |
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| Run single command | `devenv shell -c "command"` | One-off execution, CI scripts |
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| Auto-activate (best) | `direnv allow` (once) | Automatic activation on `cd` |
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| Exit devenv shell | `exit` | Leave interactive shell |
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## Patterns
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### Interactive Development
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```bash
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devenv shell # Enter shell once
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pnpm install # Run multiple commands
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pnpm build
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pnpm test
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exit # Leave when done
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```
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### One-Off Commands
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```bash
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devenv shell -c "pnpm build" # Single command
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devenv shell -c "pnpm install && pnpm build" # Chain commands
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```
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### Scripts and Automation
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```bash
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#!/usr/bin/env bash
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set -e
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# Auto-activate devenv if not already in it
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if [ -z "$DEVENV_STATE" ]; then
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exec devenv shell -c "$0 $@"
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fi
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# Rest of script runs with devenv active
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pnpm install && pnpm build && pnpm test
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```
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**Why `exec`:** Replaces current process instead of nesting shells.
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### Automatic Activation with direnv (Best Practice)
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**Setup once:**
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```bash
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brew install direnv # Install direnv
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echo 'eval "$(direnv hook zsh)"' >> ~/.zshrc # Hook into shell (or bash)
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source ~/.zshrc # Reload config
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cd /path/to/project # Navigate to project
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direnv allow # Allow activation
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```
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**Then just use commands:**
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```bash
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cd /path/to/project # Automatically activates devenv
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pnpm build # Commands work immediately
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```
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**Advantages:** No manual `devenv shell`, auto-activates/deactivates on `cd`, team consistency.
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**Note:** If project has `.envrc` file, it's already configured for direnv.
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## Common Mistakes
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### ❌ Manual PATH Modification
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```bash
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# DON'T
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export PATH=.devenv/profile/bin:$PATH
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PATH=.devenv/profile/bin:$PATH pnpm build
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```
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**Why wrong:** `.devenv/profile/bin/` paths change on updates, bypasses environment setup, breaks if devenv not built.
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**Do instead:** `devenv shell -c "pnpm build"` or use direnv.
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### ❌ Global Package Installation
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```bash
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# DON'T
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npm install -g turbo
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pnpm add -g some-package
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```
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**Why wrong:** devenv manages dependencies via Nix. Global installs create version conflicts, not reproducible.
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**Do instead:** Check if in devenv first, or add to `devenv.nix`.
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### ❌ Nested Shells
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```bash
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# DON'T enter devenv when already in devenv
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devenv shell # Creates nested shell
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```
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**Why wrong:** Wastes resources, confusing exit behavior.
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**Do instead:** Check `$DEVENV_STATE` first: `[ -n "$DEVENV_STATE" ] && echo "Already in devenv"`
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### ❌ Assuming Commands Are Available
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```bash
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# DON'T run without checking environment
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pnpm build # Might work, might not
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```
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**Why wrong:** Inconsistent behavior, fails for others/CI.
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**Do instead:** Use `devenv shell -c` or verify `$DEVENV_STATE` first.
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## Troubleshooting
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**Command not found after entering devenv:**
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- Run `devenv update` to rebuild environment
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- Verify `.devenv/` directory exists
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**Nested shell confusion:**
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- Check depth: `echo $SHLVL`
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- Exit to fresh shell: `exec bash`
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**PATH seems wrong:**
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- Never modify PATH manually - let devenv manage it
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- Rebuild: `devenv update`
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## When NOT to Use
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- Already in devenv (check `$DEVENV_STATE` first)
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- System commands (`ls`, `grep`, `git` don't need devenv)
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- Other project's commands (only use for current project)