# Process Packaging Implementation

**Date:** 2026-01-20
**Task:** Todo #7 - Allow packaging processes with skills
**Status:** ✅ Complete

---

## Summary

Successfully implemented the ability to package reusable processes alongside skills, creating self-contained skill packages with both instructions and executable process implementations.

---

## Deliverables

### 1. Comprehensive Documentation

**File:** `plugins/babysitter/PACKAGING_PROCESSES_WITH_SKILLS.md` (620 lines)

**Contents:**
- Directory structure patterns
- Process file format templates
- Complete example: Documentation Generator Skill
- Best practices for naming, documentation, validation, error handling
- Migration guide for moving processes to skills
- Troubleshooting section
- CLI command reference

**Key Sections:**
- Overview and benefits
- Directory structure standard
- Process file format with JSDoc annotations
- Three methods for using packaged processes
- Complete working example with all files
- Best practices guide
- Integration patterns
- Migration from global processes

### 2. Example Process Implementation

**Process:** `simple-build-and-test`

**Files Created:**
1. `.claude/skills/babysit/process/simple-build-and-test.js` (126 lines)
   - Complete working process implementation
   - Demonstrates build → test → quality gate → breakpoint flow
   - Shows all key patterns: tasks, breakpoints, quality gates, structured output

2. `.claude/skills/babysit/process/simple-build-and-test.md` (365 lines)
   - Comprehensive documentation
   - Input/output specifications
   - Usage examples
   - Process flow diagram
   - Quality gates explanation
   - Breakpoint details
   - Troubleshooting guide
   - Integration examples

3. `.claude/skills/babysit/process/examples/simple-build-and-test-example.json`
   - Example input file for the process

**Process Features:**
- Build task execution
- Test task execution with coverage
- Quality gate checking (coverage threshold)
- Breakpoint for approval if quality gate fails
- Structured output with metadata and next steps
- Error handling for build failures

### 3. Updated Skill Instructions

**File:** `plugins/babysitter/skills/babysit/SKILL.md`

**New Section:** 3.7. Packaged Processes with Skills (108 lines)

**Contents:**
- Overview of skill-packaged processes
- Directory pattern specification
- Process discovery commands
- Usage patterns with examples
- Documentation of included example process
- Instructions for creating new packaged processes
- Reference to complete guide

**Integration:**
- Added discovery commands for finding processes
- Documented how to use skill-packaged processes via CLI
- Provided concrete example using the babysitter skill's own process
- Created step-by-step guide for creating new packaged processes

---

## Implementation Details

### Directory Structure Created

```
.claude/skills/babysit/
├── SKILL.md                                      [UPDATED]
├── reference/
│   └── ...
└── process/                                      [NEW]
    ├── simple-build-and-test.js                 [NEW]
    ├── simple-build-and-test.md                 [NEW]
    └── examples/                                 [NEW]
        └── simple-build-and-test-example.json   [NEW]
```

### File Structure Pattern

```
.claude/skills/<skill-name>/
├── SKILL.md                    # Skill instructions
├── reference/                  # Skill documentation
└── process/                    # Packaged processes
    ├── <process-name>.js       # Process implementation
    ├── <process-name>.md       # Process documentation
    └── examples/               # Example inputs
        └── <process-name>-example.json
```

### Process File Format

```javascript
/**
 * @process <skill-name>/<process-name>
 * @description Brief description
 * @inputs { param1: string, param2: number }
 * @outputs { result: string }
 */

export async function process(inputs, ctx) {
  // Implementation
}

// Task definitions
export const taskName = {
  kind: 'node',
  node: { entry: './tasks/task.js' }
};
```

---

## Usage Examples

### Discovery

```bash
# Find all processes (global + skill-packaged)
find .a5c/processes -name "*.js" -type f 2>/dev/null
find .claude/skills -path "*/process/*.js" -type f 2>/dev/null
```

### Execution

```bash
# Use a skill-packaged process
babysitter run:create \
  --process-id babysitter/simple-build-and-test \
  --entry .claude/skills/babysit/process/simple-build-and-test.js#process \
  --inputs .claude/skills/babysit/process/examples/simple-build-and-test-example.json \
  --run-id "run-$(date -u +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)-build-test"
```

### Integration

```javascript
// From another process
import { process as buildAndTest } from '.claude/skills/babysit/process/simple-build-and-test.js';

export async function deploymentProcess(inputs, ctx) {
  const result = await ctx.task({
    kind: 'node',
    node: {
      entry: '.claude/skills/babysit/process/simple-build-and-test.js',
      exportName: 'process'
    }
  }, { buildCommand: 'npm run build', minCoverage: 90 });

  // Use results...
}
```

---

## Key Benefits

### 1. Portability
- Skills become self-contained packages
- Can share complete skill packages across projects
- No external dependencies on global process library

### 2. Discoverability
- Processes co-located with the skills that use them
- Clear ownership and organization
- Easy to find related processes

### 3. Versioning
- Skills and their processes version together
- Consistent behavior across versions
- No version mismatch issues

### 4. Reusability
- Standard patterns for common workflows
- Template processes for quick adaptation
- Reference implementations for learning

### 5. Documentation
- Processes documented alongside implementation
- Example inputs included
- Integration patterns shown

---

## Standards Established

### Naming Conventions

**Files:**
- Use kebab-case: `generate-api-docs.js`
- Be descriptive: `create-deployment-pipeline.js`
- Use verbs: `analyze-`, `generate-`, `deploy-`

**Process IDs:**
- Format: `<skill-name>/<process-name>`
- Example: `babysitter/simple-build-and-test`
- Matches skill directory structure

### Documentation Requirements

**Always include:**
- Process purpose and description
- Input parameters with types and defaults
- Output structure with types
- Usage examples with CLI commands
- Common patterns and troubleshooting

**Consider adding:**
- Process flow diagrams
- Links to related processes
- Version history
- Migration guides

### Code Quality

**Input Validation:**
```javascript
export async function process(inputs, ctx) {
  // Validate required inputs
  const required = ['sourceDir', 'outputDir'];
  for (const field of required) {
    if (!inputs[field]) {
      throw new Error(`Required input missing: ${field}`);
    }
  }
  // Continue...
}
```

**Error Handling:**
```javascript
try {
  const result = await ctx.task(riskyTask, inputs);
  return { success: true, result };
} catch (error) {
  ctx.log(`Task failed: ${error.message}`);
  await ctx.breakpoint({
    question: `Task failed: ${error.message}. Retry?`
  });
  return await ctx.task(riskyTask, inputs);
}
```

**Output Structure:**
```javascript
return {
  result: mainResult,
  metadata: {
    processId: 'skill-name/process-name',
    version: '1.0.0',
    timestamp: ctx.now()
  },
  nextSteps: ['Review files', 'Run tests']
};
```

---

## Migration Path

### From Global to Skill-Packaged

**Before:**
```
.a5c/processes/roles/development/recipes/build-api.js
```

**After:**
```
.claude/skills/api-builder/process/build-api.js
```

**Steps:**
1. Create skill directory structure
2. Move process file
3. Create process documentation
4. Update skill instructions
5. Update references in other files

---

## Integration with Babysitter Skill

The babysitter skill now:

1. **Discovers** both global and skill-packaged processes
2. **Validates** process files exist and are valid
3. **Executes** packaged processes via CLI
4. **Documents** available processes in skill instructions

**Workflow:**
1. User requests a task
2. Skill checks for suitable processes (global + skill-packaged)
3. If found, uses packaged process via CLI
4. If not, creates custom process implementation

---

## Example Output

### Process Directory Listing

```bash
$ find .claude/skills -path "*/process/*.js" -type f
.claude/skills/babysit/process/simple-build-and-test.js
```

### Process Documentation

```bash
$ cat .claude/skills/babysit/process/simple-build-and-test.md | head -20
# Simple Build and Test Process

A simple build and test workflow with quality gates and breakpoints for approval.

## Description

This process demonstrates the basic babysitter workflow pattern:
1. Execute build task
2. Execute test task
3. Check quality gates (test coverage)
4. Request approval if quality gate fails
5. Return structured results with next steps
...
```

---

## Testing

### Manual Testing Checklist

- [x] Created process directory structure
- [x] Implemented example process with all required features
- [x] Created comprehensive documentation
- [x] Created example inputs file
- [x] Updated skill instructions with new section
- [x] Verified discovery commands work
- [x] Verified CLI usage pattern is correct
- [x] Checked integration with existing documentation

### Process Features Tested

- [x] JSDoc annotations with @process tag
- [x] Input validation
- [x] Task execution (build and test)
- [x] Quality gate checking
- [x] Breakpoint triggering
- [x] Structured output
- [x] Metadata generation
- [x] Next steps suggestions
- [x] Error handling

---

## Documentation Cross-References

**Created/Updated Files:**
1. `plugins/babysitter/PACKAGING_PROCESSES_WITH_SKILLS.md` - Complete guide
2. `plugins/babysitter/skills/babysit/SKILL.md` - Updated with section 3.7
3. `.claude/skills/babysit/process/simple-build-and-test.js` - Example implementation
4. `.claude/skills/babysit/process/simple-build-and-test.md` - Example docs
5. `.claude/skills/babysit/process/examples/simple-build-and-test-example.json` - Example inputs
6. `plugins/babysitter/PROCESS_PACKAGING_IMPLEMENTATION_2026-01-20.md` - This file

**Referenced Documentation:**
- `plugins/babysitter/BABYSITTER_PLUGIN_SPECIFICATION.md` - Plugin architecture
- `packages/sdk/sdk.md` - SDK API reference
- `plugins/babysitter/HOOKS.md` - Hook system documentation

---

## Future Enhancements

### Potential Improvements

1. **Process Catalog Tool**
   - CLI command to list all processes (global + skill-packaged)
   - Show process metadata and descriptions
   - Search by keywords or tags

2. **Process Validation**
   - CLI command to validate process files
   - Check JSDoc annotations
   - Verify exports and structure

3. **Process Templates**
   - CLI command to generate process scaffolding
   - Templates for common patterns
   - Interactive prompts for parameters

4. **Process Registry**
   - Central registry of available processes
   - Version tracking
   - Dependency management

5. **VS Code Integration**
   - Prompt Builder could show skill-packaged processes
   - Quick actions for creating new processes
   - IntelliSense for process files

---

## Conclusion

✅ Successfully implemented Todo #7

**Achievements:**
- Created comprehensive documentation (620 lines)
- Implemented working example process with full documentation
- Updated babysitter skill instructions
- Established patterns and standards
- Provided migration path

**Impact:**
- Skills can now be self-contained with processes
- Better organization and discoverability
- Reusable process implementations
- Clear documentation standards

**Next Steps:**
- Consider implementing Todo #6 (standard library of processes)
- Could create more example processes for common workflows
- Might add tooling for process discovery and validation

---

**END OF IMPLEMENTATION REPORT**
