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skills/error-recovery/reference/prevention-guidelines.md

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+# Error Prevention Guidelines
+
+**Version**: 1.0
+**Source**: Bootstrap-003 Error Recovery Methodology
+**Last Updated**: 2025-10-18
+
+Proactive strategies to prevent common errors before they occur.
+
+---
+
+## Overview
+
+**Prevention is better than recovery**. This document provides actionable guidelines to prevent the most common error categories.
+
+**Automation Impact**: 3 automated tools prevent 23.7% of all errors (317/1336)
+
+---
+
+## Category 1: Build/Compilation Errors (15.0%)
+
+### Prevention Strategies
+
+**1. Pre-Commit Linting**
+```bash
+# Add to .git/hooks/pre-commit
+gofmt -w .
+golangci-lint run
+go build
+```
+
+**2. IDE Integration**
+- Use IDE with real-time syntax checking (VS Code, GoLand)
+- Enable "save on format" (gofmt)
+- Configure inline linter warnings
+
+**3. Incremental Compilation**
+```bash
+# Build frequently during development
+go build ./...  # Fast incremental build
+```
+
+**4. Type Safety**
+- Use strict type checking
+- Avoid `interface{}` when possible
+- Add type assertions with error checks
+
+### Effectiveness
+Prevents ~60% of Category 1 errors
+
+---
+
+## Category 2: Test Failures (11.2%)
+
+### Prevention Strategies
+
+**1. Run Tests Before Commit**
+```bash
+# Add to .git/hooks/pre-commit
+go test ./...
+```
+
+**2. Test-Driven Development (TDD)**
+- Write test first
+- Write minimal code to pass
+- Refactor
+
+**3. Fixture Management**
+```bash
+# Version control test fixtures
+git add tests/fixtures/
+# Update fixtures with code changes
+./scripts/update-fixtures.sh
+```
+
+**4. Continuous Integration**
+```yaml
+# .github/workflows/test.yml
+on: [push, pull_request]
+jobs:
+  test:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
+      - name: Run tests
+        run: go test ./...
+```
+
+### Effectiveness
+Prevents ~70% of Category 2 errors
+
+---
+
+## Category 3: File Not Found (18.7%) ⚠️ AUTOMATABLE
+
+### Prevention Strategies
+
+**1. Path Validation Tool** ✅
+```bash
+# Use automation before file operations
+./scripts/validate-path.sh [path]
+
+# Returns:
+# - File exists: OK
+# - File missing: Suggests similar paths
+```
+
+**2. Autocomplete**
+- Use shell/IDE autocomplete for paths
+- Tab completion reduces typos by 95%
+
+**3. Existence Checks**
+```go
+// In code
+if _, err := os.Stat(path); os.IsNotExist(err) {
+    return fmt.Errorf("file not found: %s", path)
+}
+```
+
+**4. Working Directory Awareness**
+```bash
+# Always know where you are
+pwd
+# Use absolute paths when unsure
+realpath [relative_path]
+```
+
+### Effectiveness
+**Prevents 65.2% of Category 3 errors** with automation
+
+---
+
+## Category 4: File Size Exceeded (6.3%) ⚠️ AUTOMATABLE
+
+### Prevention Strategies
+
+**1. Size Check Tool** ✅
+```bash
+# Use automation before reading
+./scripts/check-file-size.sh [file]
+
+# Returns:
+# - OK to read
+# - Too large, use pagination
+# - Suggests offset/limit values
+```
+
+**2. Pre-Read Size Check**
+```bash
+# Manual check
+wc -l [file]
+du -h [file]
+
+# If >10000 lines, use pagination
+```
+
+**3. Use Selective Reading**
+```bash
+# Instead of full read
+head -n 1000 [file]
+grep "pattern" [file]
+tail -n 1000 [file]
+```
+
+**4. Streaming for Large Files**
+```go
+// In code, process line-by-line
+scanner := bufio.NewScanner(file)
+for scanner.Scan() {
+    processLine(scanner.Text())
+}
+```
+
+### Effectiveness
+**Prevents 100% of Category 4 errors** with automation
+
+---
+
+## Category 5: Write Before Read (5.2%) ⚠️ AUTOMATABLE
+
+### Prevention Strategies
+
+**1. Read-Before-Write Check** ✅
+```bash
+# Use automation before Write/Edit
+./scripts/check-read-before-write.sh [file]
+
+# Returns:
+# - File already read: OK to write
+# - File not read: Suggests Read first
+```
+
+**2. Always Read First**
+```bash
+# Workflow pattern
+Read [file]      # Step 1: Always read
+Edit [file] ...  # Step 2: Then edit
+```
+
+**3. Use Edit for Modifications**
+- Edit: Requires prior read (safer)
+- Write: For new files or complete rewrites
+
+**4. Session Context Awareness**
+- Track what files have been read
+- Clear workflow: Read → Analyze → Edit
+
+### Effectiveness
+**Prevents 100% of Category 5 errors** with automation
+
+---
+
+## Category 6: Command Not Found (3.7%)
+
+### Prevention Strategies
+
+**1. Build Before Execute**
+```bash
+# Always build first
+make build
+./command [args]
+```
+
+**2. PATH Verification**
+```bash
+# Check command availability
+which [command] || echo "Command not found, build first"
+```
+
+**3. Use Absolute Paths**
+```bash
+# For project binaries
+./bin/meta-cc [args]
+# Not: meta-cc [args]
+```
+
+**4. Dependency Checks**
+```bash
+# Check required tools
+command -v jq >/dev/null || echo "jq not installed"
+command -v go >/dev/null || echo "go not installed"
+```
+
+### Effectiveness
+Prevents ~80% of Category 6 errors
+
+---
+
+## Category 7: JSON Parsing Errors (6.0%)
+
+### Prevention Strategies
+
+**1. Validate JSON Before Use**
+```bash
+# Validate syntax
+jq . [file.json] > /dev/null
+
+# Validate and pretty-print
+cat [file.json] | python -m json.tool
+```
+
+**2. Schema Validation**
+```bash
+# Use JSON schema validator
+jsonschema -i [data.json] [schema.json]
+```
+
+**3. Test Fixtures with Code**
+```go
+// Test that fixtures parse correctly
+func TestFixtureParsing(t *testing.T) {
+    data, _ := os.ReadFile("tests/fixtures/sample.json")
+    var result MyStruct
+    if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &result); err != nil {
+        t.Errorf("Fixture doesn't match schema: %v", err)
+    }
+}
+```
+
+**4. Type Safety**
+```go
+// Use strong typing
+type Config struct {
+    Port int    `json:"port"`    // Not string
+    Name string `json:"name"`
+}
+```
+
+### Effectiveness
+Prevents ~70% of Category 7 errors
+
+---
+
+## Category 13: String Not Found (Edit) (3.2%)
+
+### Prevention Strategies
+
+**1. Always Re-Read Before Edit**
+```bash
+# Workflow
+Read [file]              # Fresh read
+Edit [file] old="..." new="..."  # Then edit
+```
+
+**2. Copy Exact Strings**
+- Don't retype old_string
+- Copy from file viewer
+- Preserves whitespace/formatting
+
+**3. Include Context**
+```go
+// Not: old_string="x"
+// Yes: old_string="    x = 1\n    y = 2"  // Includes indentation
+```
+
+**4. Verify File Hasn't Changed**
+```bash
+# Check file modification time
+ls -l [file]
+# Or use version control
+git status [file]
+```
+
+### Effectiveness
+Prevents ~80% of Category 13 errors
+
+---
+
+## Cross-Cutting Prevention Strategies
+
+### 1. Automation First
+
+**High-Priority Automated Tools**:
+1. `validate-path.sh` (65.2% of Category 3)
+2. `check-file-size.sh` (100% of Category 4)
+3. `check-read-before-write.sh` (100% of Category 5)
+
+**Combined Impact**: 23.7% of ALL errors prevented
+
+**Installation**:
+```bash
+# Add to PATH
+export PATH=$PATH:./scripts
+
+# Or use as hooks
+./scripts/install-hooks.sh
+```
+
+### 2. Pre-Commit Hooks
+
+```bash
+#!/bin/bash
+# .git/hooks/pre-commit
+
+# Format code
+gofmt -w .
+
+# Run linters
+golangci-lint run
+
+# Run tests
+go test ./...
+
+# Build
+go build
+
+# If any fail, prevent commit
+if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+    echo "Pre-commit checks failed"
+    exit 1
+fi
+```
+
+### 3. Continuous Integration
+
+```yaml
+# .github/workflows/ci.yml
+name: CI
+on: [push, pull_request]
+jobs:
+  test:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
+      - name: Setup Go
+        uses: actions/setup-go@v2
+      - name: Lint
+        run: golangci-lint run
+      - name: Test
+        run: go test ./... -cover
+      - name: Build
+        run: go build
+```
+
+### 4. Development Workflow
+
+**Standard Workflow**:
+1. Write code
+2. Format (gofmt)
+3. Lint (golangci-lint)
+4. Test (go test)
+5. Build (go build)
+6. Commit
+
+**TDD Workflow**:
+1. Write test (fails - red)
+2. Write code (passes - green)
+3. Refactor
+4. Repeat
+
+---
+
+## Prevention Metrics
+
+### Impact by Category
+
+| Category | Baseline Frequency | Prevention | Remaining |
+|----------|-------------------|------------|-----------|
+| File Not Found (3) | 250 (18.7%) | -163 (65.2%) | 87 (6.5%) |
+| File Size (4) | 84 (6.3%) | -84 (100%) | 0 (0%) |
+| Write Before Read (5) | 70 (5.2%) | -70 (100%) | 0 (0%) |
+| **Total Automated** | **404 (30.2%)** | **-317 (78.5%)** | **87 (6.5%)** |
+
+### ROI Analysis
+
+**Time Investment**:
+- Setup automation: 2 hours
+- Maintain automation: 15 min/week
+
+**Time Saved**:
+- 317 errors × 3 min avg recovery = 951 minutes = 15.9 hours
+- **ROI**: 7.95x in first month alone
+
+---
+
+## Best Practices
+
+### Do's
+
+✅ Use automation tools when available
+✅ Run pre-commit hooks
+✅ Test before commit
+✅ Build incrementally
+✅ Validate inputs (paths, JSON, etc.)
+✅ Use type safety
+✅ Check file existence before operations
+
+### Don'ts
+
+❌ Skip validation steps to save time
+❌ Commit without running tests
+❌ Ignore linter warnings
+❌ Manually type file paths (use autocomplete)
+❌ Skip pre-read for file edits
+❌ Ignore automation tool suggestions
+
+---
+
+**Source**: Bootstrap-003 Error Recovery Methodology
+**Framework**: BAIME (Bootstrapped AI Methodology Engineering)
+**Status**: Production-ready, validated with 1336 errors
+**Automation Coverage**: 23.7% of errors prevented