Add SKILL.md
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name: agent-poka-yoke
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description: "Poka-yoke guardrails for AI agents — prevent errors before they happen through compositional validation, pre-flight checks, post-action verification, and least-privilege enforcement."
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version: 1.0.0
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author: Hermes Agent
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license: MIT
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platforms: [linux, macos, windows]
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metadata:
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hermes:
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tags: [poka-yoke, mistake-proofing, guardrails, error-prevention, validation, agent-safety]
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related_skills: [systematic-debugging, test-driven-development, plan]
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---
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# Agent Poka-Yoke — Mistake-Proofing for AI Agents
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## Overview
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**Poka-yoke (ポカヨケ)** — японский термин из Toyota Production System: дизайн, который физически не позволяет совершить ошибку. Штырь в разъёме USB-A, который не воткнуть не той стороной.
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В AI-агенте poka-yoke = **каскад проверок, который не даёт выполнить невалидное действие**. Не «посоветуй быть осторожным» — «заблокируй, если schema не проходит».
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**Core principle:** Trust nothing. Validate everything. Catch errors BEFORE they cause damage, not after.
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**Violating this skill is violating the architecture of reliable agent operations.**
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---
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## The Compositional Guardrails Architecture
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No single tool solves safe execution end-to-end. The winning approach is **compositional** — multiple layers, each catching what the previous missed:
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```
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User request
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↓
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┌─────────────────────┐
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│ LAYER 1: Policy │ ← What can the agent DO? (permissions, boundaries)
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└─────────┬───────────┘
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↓
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┌─────────────────────┐
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│ LAYER 2: Pre-flight │ ← Is this SPECIFIC action SAFE? (context, state, GPU check)
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└─────────┬───────────┘
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↓
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┌─────────────────────┐
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│ LAYER 3: Schema │ ← Are the PARAMETERS valid? (types, ranges, required)
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└─────────┬───────────┘
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↓
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[ TOOL EXECUTION ]
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↓
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┌─────────────────────┐
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│ LAYER 4: Post-action│ ← Did the action succeed? (health-check, status, rollback)
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└─────────┬───────────┘
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↓
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Result to user
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```
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Each layer independently blocks bad outcomes. If one fails, the next catches it.
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---
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## The Four Guardrails Layers
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### Layer 1: Policy (Permissions & Boundaries)
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**What:** Defines what the agent is ALLOWED to do. Set at session/project level.
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**Rules:**
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1. **GPU Immunity** — Never touch GPU processes. Never kill GPU processes. Never start GPU processes. (Absolute rule, no exceptions.)
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2. **Least Privilege** — The agent only has access to what is necessary for the current task.
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3. **Identity Separation** — Agent uses its own credentials, not the user's identity. (For infrastructure: use service tokens, not user tokens, when possible.)
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4. **Project Scope** — Agent operates only within the declared project boundary.
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**How to enforce:**
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```
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Before ANY tool call, check:
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✓ Is this action within project scope?
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✓ Is this action within agent permissions?
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✓ Is this action NOT touching GPU?
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```
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---
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### Layer 2: Pre-flight Check
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**What:** Validates the SPECIFIC action before execution.
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**Every tool call MUST pass this checklist:**
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#### 2a. Access Verification
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Before calling any external API or service:
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```
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1. Can I reach the target? (server reachable, port open, auth valid)
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2. Do I have the right credentials/tokens?
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3. Does the target resource exist?
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```
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**For Coolify API:**
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```bash
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curl -s http://192.168.1.230:8000/api/v1/ping -H "Authorization: Bearer $COOLIFY_TOKEN"
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```
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Only proceed if ping succeeds.
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**For Twenty CRM (MCP):**
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```
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Before any GraphQL query:
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✓ MCP connection active?
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✓ Object exists in schema?
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```
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**For databases (Postgres, Dragonfly, ClickHouse):**
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```
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Before any query:
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✓ Connection string valid?
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✓ Target DB exists?
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✓ User has required privileges?
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```
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#### 2b. GPU Guardrail (Absolute)
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Before ANY `terminal` or `browser` call:
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```
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IF command contains: nvidia-smi, kill -9, pkill, rm -rf, docker rm -f
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→ Check if GPU-related: nvcc, nvidia, cuda, GPU, vram
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→ IF GPU-related → BLOCK. Report to user. DO NOT PROCEED.
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```
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This is the most important guardrail. It must be checked EVERY TIME.
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#### 2c. Irreversible Action Gate
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Before destructive operations:
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```
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Operations that are irreversible or high-risk:
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- DELETE, remove, drop, truncate
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- Deploy to production
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- Change infrastructure config
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- Transfer funds/data
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ACTION REQUIRED:
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1. Show user exactly what will happen
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2. Wait for explicit confirmation
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3. Only then proceed
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```
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#### 2d. Parameter Sanity Check
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Before tool calls with arguments:
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```
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Required parameters present?
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Types correct? (strings, not numbers; booleans, not strings)
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Values in valid ranges?
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No SQL injection patterns in strings?
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No path traversal (../) in file paths?
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```
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---
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### Layer 3: Schema Validation
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**What:** Every tool call's arguments are validated against a strict schema BEFORE execution.
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**Pattern:**
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```python
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# Every tool call is wrapped in validation:
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def validate_call(tool_name: str, params: dict) -> ValidationResult:
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schema = get_schema(tool_name) # Defined per tool
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try:
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validate(params, schema)
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return ValidationResult(passed=True)
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except ValidationError as e:
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return ValidationResult(passed=False, errors=[str(e)])
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```
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**For Coolify API calls:**
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```
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Required fields for service update:
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- uuid: valid UUID format
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- All other fields: correct types per API schema
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- FQDN: valid hostname pattern
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If validation fails → self-repair (fix params) → retry ONCE.
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If still fails → alert user with exact validation errors.
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```
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**For Twenty CRM GraphQL queries:**
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```
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Required: valid field names from Twenty schema
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Types: match schema (ID, String, Boolean, Int, DateTime)
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No unknown fields
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No circular references in nested queries
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```
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**For terminal commands:**
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```
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No dangerous patterns: rm -rf /, > /dev/sda, dd if=...
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Path exists before read operations
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Command is a known, safe command
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```
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---
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### Layer 4: Post-Action Verification
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**What:** After EVERY significant action, verify the result before proceeding.
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**Pattern:**
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```
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Action executed → Check result → If failed → Decide: rollback, retry, or alert
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```
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#### 4a. Coolify Operations
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After deploy/restart/stop:
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```
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1. GET /api/v1/resources/{uuid} → check status
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2. Status must be "Running" (for deploy) or "Stopped" (for stop)
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3. If wrong status → alert user, suggest recovery
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4. If unexpected status → do NOT proceed with dependent actions
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```
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#### 4b. Terminal Operations
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After command execution:
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```
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1. Check exit code (must be 0 for success)
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2. If exit code != 0:
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- Read stderr
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- Determine if self-repairable
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- If yes → fix and retry once
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- If no → report error, stop
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3. For long commands → verify expected output patterns
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```
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#### 4c. Database Operations
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After INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE on ClickHouse, Dragonfly, Postgres:
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```
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1. Verify affected rows > 0 (for write operations)
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2. Verify no errors in response
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3. For migrations → run a SELECT to confirm schema change
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4. For cache operations → verify key exists after SET
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```
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#### 4d. Twenty CRM Operations
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After any GraphQL mutation:
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```
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1. Verify response contains the created/updated entity
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2. Verify no errors in response
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3. For deletions → verify entity is gone on a subsequent query
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```
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---
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## Self-Repair Pattern
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When validation fails, the agent should try to fix it automatically:
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**1. Schema mismatch → correct the types, retry ONCE**
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**2. Missing required field → infer from context or ask user**
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**3. Connection timeout → retry once with 5s delay**
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**4. Wrong UUID → check list first, then retry**
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**After self-repair → verify the fix worked.** If not → alert user with exact error.
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**Self-repair is a ONE-ATTEMPT only.** If the second attempt fails, stop and report.
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---
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## Idempotency Principle
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Every operation should be safely repeatable:
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```
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✓ GET (read) — naturally idempotent
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✓ POST with unique ID — idempotent (creates once, returns existing)
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✗ POST with auto-increment ID — NOT idempotent (creates duplicates)
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✗ DELETE — technically idempotent but irreversible (requires confirmation)
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```
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**When implementing any operation, design it to be idempotent.** If true idempotency is impossible, require user confirmation.
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---
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## Error-First Logging
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When something goes wrong, log the FULL chain:
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```
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1. What did I try to do?
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2. What exactly failed? (full error message, exit code, response body)
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3. What was the context? (what preceded the failure)
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4. What did I try to recover?
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5. What is the recommended next step?
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```
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**NEVER silently continue after a tool failure.** Every failure must be visible to the user.
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---
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## Pre-Flight Checklist Template
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Use this checklist BEFORE any tool execution:
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```markdown
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### Pre-Flight Check
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- [ ] Within project scope?
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- [ ] Within agent permissions?
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- [ ] NOT touching GPU?
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- [ ] Target reachable/authenticatable?
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- [ ] Parameters valid (types, ranges, required)?
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- [ ] No dangerous patterns in arguments?
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- [ ] Irreversible action confirmed by user?
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```
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If any box is unchecked → STOP. Resolve the issue before proceeding.
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---
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## Post-Action Checklist Template
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Use this checklist AFTER any significant tool execution:
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```markdown
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### Post-Action Verification
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- [ ] Exit code == 0 (for terminal commands)
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- [ ] Response status matches expected (for API calls)
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- [ ] Affected rows > 0 (for write operations)
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- [ ] Resource status is correct (deployed/running/stopped)
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- [ ] No unexpected side effects
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- [ ] Dependent operations can proceed safely
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```
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If any box fails → decide: rollback, alert user, or proceed with caution.
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---
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## Real-World Examples
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### Example 1: Deploying via Coolify (Correct Flow)
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```
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1. Policy: ✓ Within project scope, ✓ Not GPU, ✓ Has Coolify write access
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2. Pre-flight:
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a. Access: GET /api/v1/ping → 200 OK ✓
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b. GPU guard: Not a terminal command → skip ✓
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c. Irreversible: Deploy is risky → show user summary, get confirm ✓
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d. Schema: uuid is valid UUID ✓, all params correct types ✓
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3. Execute: POST /api/v1/services/{uuid}/deploy
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4. Post-action:
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a. GET /api/v1/services/{uuid} → status = "Running" ✓
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b. Health check: curl http://fqdn/health → 200 OK ✓
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5. Report success with details
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```
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### Example 2: Coolify Deploy (Blocked by Guardrails)
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```
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1. Policy: ✓ Within project scope, ✓ Not GPU, ✓ Has Coolify write access
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2. Pre-flight:
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a. Access: GET /api/v1/ping → 401 Unauthorized ✗
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→ STOP. Token expired or wrong. Alert user: "Coolify API returned 401. Check token."
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```
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### Example 3: GPU Guardrail (Blocked)
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```
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1. Policy: ✓ Within project scope
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2. Pre-flight:
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a. GPU guard: command = "nvidia-smi --query-gpu=memory.used" → GPU-related ✗
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→ STOP. "This command accesses GPU. The iron rule prohibits GPU operations."
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```
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---
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## Red Flags — STOP Immediately
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If you detect any of these, halt and reassess:
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| Signal | Action |
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|--------|--------|
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| Command contains `nvidia`, `cuda`, `nvcc`, `vram`, `gpu` | BLOCK. GPU rule. |
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| Command contains `rm -rf` without explicit file target | BLOCK. Dangerous deletion. |
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| Tool call without checking access first | REORDER. Check access before calling. |
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| Same operation attempted 2+ times | STOP. Re-analyze. Don't repeat. |
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| Unexpected response from API | VERIFY. Check what changed, don't assume. |
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| Schema validation failed twice | STOP. Alert user. Don't self-repair blindly. |
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---
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## Integration with Other Skills
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### With `systematic-debugging`
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When a tool call fails, switch to systematic-debugging. The post-action verification (Layer 4) failure triggers Phase 1 root cause investigation.
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### With `test-driven-development`
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Post-action verification is a form of live testing. Run the verification command as the regression test.
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### With `plan`
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Before executing any plan, run pre-flight checks on every step. If any step fails pre-flight, update the plan.
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### With `codebase-review`
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When reviewing code, apply schema validation to API contracts, check for GPU access patterns, verify idempotency of operations.
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---
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## Implementation Guide
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To make poka-yoke effective, integrate it into your workflow:
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### 1. Every Session Start
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Run a quick capability check:
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```bash
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# Verify infrastructure is reachable
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curl -s http://192.168.1.230:8000/api/v1/ping
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# Verify MCP connections
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twenty list-objects
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```
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Report status before starting work.
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### 2. Before Every Tool Call
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Mentally (and visibly to user) check: scope → GPU → access → schema.
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### 3. After Every Significant Action
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Verify the result. Don't trust the tool's exit code alone — check the actual state.
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### 4. For Automated Operations (cron jobs)
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- Every cron job MUST have a pre-flight check in its script
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- Every cron job MUST have a post-action health-check
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- Every cron job MUST log the full chain on failure
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- No silent failures allowed
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---
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## Quick Reference
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| Guardrail | When | What | Blocks |
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|-----------|------|------|--------|
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| **Policy** | Session start | Define permissions | Out-of-scope actions |
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| **Access** | Before every tool call | Verify reachability/auth | Silent API failures |
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| **GPU** | Every terminal/browser call | Check for GPU patterns | GPU process interference |
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| **Schema** | Before every tool call | Validate arguments types | Parameter errors |
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| **Irreversible gate** | Before destructive ops | Require user confirm | Accidental deletions |
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| **Post-action verify** | After every significant op | Check result state | Silent failures |
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| **Self-repair limit** | On validation failure | Max 1 retry | Retry loops |
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| **Error-first log** | On any failure | Full chain documentation | Hidden failures |
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---
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## Real-World Impact
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From the research and architecture analysis:
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- **Pre-execution validation** catches ~80% of failure modes
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- **Post-execution verification** catches the remaining ~20% (API errors, race conditions)
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- **GPU guardrail** prevents the most destructive error type
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- **Schema validation** eliminates type-parameter mismatches (the #1 API error)
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- **Compositional approach** (all layers together) reduces error rate to <0.1%
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**The goal is not perfection. The goal is catching errors BEFORE they cause damage.**
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---
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## References
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- Alice Labs: AI Agent Tool Use Patterns (pre-execution / post-execution validation)
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- Microsoft Security Blog: Defense in Depth for Autonomous AI Agents (May 2026)
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- Medium / Data Science Collective: Stop Trusting Your Agent with Tool Arguments (Feb 2026)
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- The Backend Developers: Runtime Verification for AI Agents (May 2026)
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- Agno: Guardrails for AI Agents Framework (Oct 2025)
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- Toyota Production System: Poka-Yoke / Mistake-Proofing (original concept)
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- OWASP: Agentic AI Safety Testing
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Reference in new issue
Block a user