mocking-strategy-roster

Two orthogonal axes — strategy (microcks

inprocess) × stack: the single place that resolves how a downstream dependency is mocked for an integration test.

When to use

• Before emitting downstream mock wiring — loaded by mock-integration-worker
• Determining whether to use a Microcks container (default) or an in-process test double (override)
• Adding a new stack adapter (add one row + one mocking-{strategy}-{stack} skill, zero other edits)

Entry contract

• Run prompt (may carry a strategy/library override — highest priority)
• .github/instructions/skraft.instructions.md fields testing.mocking.strategy and testing.mocking.library (read by tool call, never recalled)

Exit contract

• Resolved adapter link (e.g. mocking-microcks-dotnet or mocking-inprocess-dotnet)
• OR: status: blocked payload with type and context if the strategy/library/stack is unsupported

Invariants

• Read overrides by tool call — never assume from recall; if the file is absent, fall through to default microcks
• Cascade: explicit prompt > skraft.instructions.md testing.mocking.* > default microcks
• Unknown strategy → stop — emit status: blocked with type: unsupported_mocking_strategy; never invent a wiring
• Unknown library when strategy: inprocess → stop — emit status: blocked with type: unsupported_mocking_library
• Adding a strategy or stack = one adapter + one table row — zero edits to this skill or the worker

Why this shape

Centralising the routing decision prevents each worker from encoding a mocking approach. The two axes (strategy and stack) are independent: a new stack plugs in without touching the strategy logic, and vice versa.

« Replace a component that the SUT depends on with a test-specific equivalent. » — Meszaros, G., xUnit Test Patterns, 2007.

Adapter table

Allowed customisation

• Per-strategy/stack adapters added independently (no edits to this skill or the worker)

See also

• mocking-microcks-dotnet — Default (Microcks) adapter for .NET
• mocking-inprocess-dotnet — Override (in-process) adapter for .NET
• software-engineer — DELIVER agent that triggers the worker that loads this skill