Install
npx skillscat add amnadtaowsoam/cerebraskills/validation Install via the SkillsCat registry.
SKILL.md
Validation
Skill Profile
(Select at least one profile to enable specific modules)
- DevOps
- Backend
- Frontend
- AI-RAG
- Security Critical
Overview
API Request Validation is process of validating incoming API requests before processing request body, query parameters, path parameters, and headers to ensure data integrity, security, and business logic enforcement.
API Request Validation consists of:
- Schema Validation: Define validation schemas for request/response data
- Type Safety: Type-safe validation with TypeScript/Python type hints
- Middleware: Middleware to validate incoming requests
- Sanitization: Clean and sanitize user inputs to prevent attacks
- Error Handling: Return appropriate error responses for invalid data
Why This Matters
- Data Consistency: Reduces invalid data by up to 90%
- Security: Input validation helps prevent SQL injection and XSS attacks
- User Experience: Clear error messages reduce support tickets and improve user satisfaction
- Development Efficiency: Reusable validation schemas reduce boilerplate code
- Business Logic: Enforces business rules at the API level
Core Concepts & Rules
1. Core Principles
- Follow established patterns and conventions
- Maintain consistency across codebase
- Document decisions and trade-offs
2. Implementation Guidelines
- Start with the simplest viable solution
- Iterate based on feedback and requirements
- Test thoroughly before deployment
Inputs / Outputs / Contracts
- Inputs:
- Validation requirements
- Schema definitions
- Security requirements
- Business logic rules
- Entry Conditions:
- Backend framework is set up
- Validation library is installed
- TypeScript/Python is configured
- Validation requirements are defined
- Outputs:
- Validation schemas
- Validation middleware
- Error handlers
- Sanitization utilities
- Artifacts Required (Deliverables):
- Validation schemas
- Middleware implementations
- Error handlers
- Custom validators
- Sanitization utilities
- Acceptance Evidence:
- Validation works correctly
- Invalid data is rejected
- Error messages are clear
- Security is enforced
- Success Criteria:
- Validation is robust
- Security is enforced
- Error messages are clear
- Performance is acceptable
Skill Composition
- Depends on: error-handling
- Compatible with: express-rest, fastapi-patterns
- Conflicts with: None
- Related Skills: middleware, api-design
Quick Start / Implementation Example
- Review requirements and constraints
- Set up development environment
- Implement core functionality following patterns
- Write tests for critical paths
- Run tests and fix issues
- Document any deviations or decisions
# Example implementation following best practices
def example_function():
# Your implementation here
passAssumptions / Constraints / Non-goals
- Assumptions:
- Development environment is properly configured
- Required dependencies are available
- Team has basic understanding of domain
- Constraints:
- Must follow existing codebase conventions
- Time and resource limitations
- Compatibility requirements
- Non-goals:
- This skill does not cover edge cases outside scope
- Not a replacement for formal training
Compatibility & Prerequisites
- Supported Versions:
- Python 3.8+
- Node.js 16+
- Modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
- Required AI Tools:
- Code editor (VS Code recommended)
- Testing framework appropriate for language
- Version control (Git)
- Dependencies:
- Language-specific package manager
- Build tools
- Testing libraries
- Environment Setup:
.env.examplekeys:API_KEY,DATABASE_URL(no values)
Test Scenario Matrix (QA Strategy)
| Type | Focus Area | Required Scenarios / Mocks |
|---|---|---|
| Unit | Core Logic | Must cover primary logic and at least 3 edge/error cases. Target minimum 80% coverage |
| Integration | DB / API | All external API calls or database connections must be mocked during unit tests |
| E2E | User Journey | Critical user flows to test |
| Performance | Latency / Load | Benchmark requirements |
| Security | Vuln / Auth | SAST/DAST or dependency audit |
| Frontend | UX / A11y | Accessibility checklist (WCAG), Performance Budget (Lighthouse score) |
Technical Guardrails & Security Threat Model
1. Security & Privacy (Threat Model)
- Top Threats: Injection attacks, authentication bypass, data exposure
- Data Handling: Sanitize all user inputs to prevent Injection attacks. Never log raw PII
- Secrets Management: No hardcoded API keys. Use Env Vars/Secrets Manager
- Authorization: Validate user permissions before state changes
2. Performance & Resources
- Execution Efficiency: Consider time complexity for algorithms
- Memory Management: Use streams/pagination for large data
- Resource Cleanup: Close DB connections/file handlers in finally blocks
3. Architecture & Scalability
- Design Pattern: Follow SOLID principles, use Dependency Injection
- Modularity: Decouple logic from UI/Frameworks
4. Observability & Reliability
- Logging Standards: Structured JSON, include trace IDs
request_id - Metrics: Track
error_rate,latency,queue_depth - Error Handling: Standardized error codes, no bare except
- Observability Artifacts:
- Log Fields: timestamp, level, message, request_id
- Metrics: request_count, error_count, response_time
- Dashboards/Alerts: High Error Rate > 5%
Agent Directives & Error Recovery
(ข้อกำหนดสำหรับ AI Agent ในการคิดและแก้ปัญหาเมื่อเกิดข้อผิดพลาด)
- Thinking Process: Analyze root cause before fixing. Do not brute-force.
- Fallback Strategy: Stop after 3 failed test attempts. Output root cause and ask for human intervention/clarification.
- Self-Review: Check against Guardrails & Anti-patterns before finalizing.
- Output Constraints: Output ONLY the modified code block. Do not explain unless asked.
Definition of Done (DoD) Checklist
- Tests passed + coverage met
- Lint/Typecheck passed
- Logging/Metrics/Trace implemented
- Security checks passed
- Documentation/Changelog updated
- Accessibility/Performance requirements met (if frontend)
Anti-patterns / Pitfalls
- ⛔ Don't: Log PII, catch-all exception, N+1 queries
- ⚠️ Watch out for: Common symptoms and quick fixes
- 💡 Instead: Use proper error handling, pagination, and logging
Reference Links & Examples
- Internal documentation and examples
- Official documentation and best practices
- Community resources and discussions
Versioning & Changelog
- Version: 1.0.0
- Changelog:
- 2026-02-22: Initial version with complete template structure