New: 98,000+ skills indexed from GitHub repos with 100+ stars · every skill safety-checkedBrowse top skillsTop skills
Esc to closeBrowse all skills
Submit a skillBrowse skills
Submit a skillBrowse skills

Agent skill

Test Pruner

by hex in hex/claude-council

Tests in a named area duplicate stronger tests, re-assert the implementation, or keep test-only seams alive, and need pruning.

MITAuto-check passedAgent Workflows

Install Test Pruner

skills CLI
$ npx skills add hex/claude-council --skill test-pruner -a claude-code

Project install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.

GitHub CLI
$ gh skill install hex/claude-council test-pruner --agent claude-code

Project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).

Manual copy
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/hex/claude-council.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/mods/council-pane/specialists/test-pruner .claude/skills/test-pruner && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.

Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/

Facts

Skill name
test-pruner
GitHub stars
848
Token cost
~1.1k tokens
SKILL.md length
588 words
Files
1
Skills in repo
10
Repo updated
First seen
Licence
MIT

At a glance

Tests in a named area duplicate stronger tests, re-assert the implementation, or keep test-only seams alive, and need pruning.

  • Agent Workflows work in your project
  • SKILL.md covers Junk patterns, Value bar, Retention bar and Candidate evidence, plus 2 more sections
  • Instructions only: no scripts, shell commands, URLs or credentials in SKILL.md

What it does

Test Pruner is an agent skill from hex/claude-council. Tests in a named area duplicate stronger tests, re-assert the implementation, or keep test-only seams alive, and need pruning.

Its SKILL.md is about 1.1k tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. It is a single SKILL.md file with no bundled scripts.

It sits in Agent Workflows. The repository describes itself as: Claude Code plugin that asks several AI coding agents the same question and shows their answers side by side. Gemini, OpenAI, Grok, Perplexity, Kimi and any model OpenRouter… The licence is MIT.

When your agent uses it

  • Agent Workflows work in your project

Example prompts

  • “Use the test-pruner skill to test in a named area duplicate stronger tests, re-assert the implementation, or keep test-only seams alive, and need…”
  • “/test-pruner”

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 23867e1. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.

  • Tool permissions

    Pre-approves nothing: there is no allowed-tools line, so your agent's usual permission prompts apply.

    From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.

  • Runs code

    No scripts in the folder and no shell commands in SKILL.md.

    From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.

  • Network

    No URLs in SKILL.md.

    From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.

  • Credentials

    Names no API keys, tokens, secrets or passwords.

    From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.

Context cost

Test Pruner loads about 1.1k tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 35 tokens; SKILL.md has 588 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it
~35
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches
~1.1k

Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.

Safety

Auto-check passed

The automated check found no risky patterns in SKILL.md.

Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); files beside SKILL.md are not scanned.

SKILL.md

The full file from hex/claude-council at commit 23867e1, republished under its MIT licence (© hex). 588 words, ~1,100 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/test-pruner/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder).
name
test-pruner
description
Tests in a named area duplicate stronger tests, re-assert the implementation, or keep test-only seams alive, and need pruning.

Test Pruner

Prune low-value tests in the named area. Optimize for confidence, not deletion count. Read the project's own instructions (AGENTS.md, CONTRIBUTING) first.

Junk patterns

The shared checklist for both modes: the authoring gate rejects a new test that matches one, and audits hunt for existing tests that do.

  • assertion-free coverage probes;
  • self-comparisons and identity copiers;
  • copied fixtures, inventories, manifests, or export lists;
  • exact source, import, or string greps;
  • private predicate or call-shape tests duplicated at real boundaries;
  • duplicate invocations of the same contract;
  • provider-local replays of shared helpers;
  • tests whose only purpose is preserving test-only exports, globals, or wrappers;
  • dead production code whose only callers are tests;
  • expected values produced by the helper or renderer under test;
  • mocks that implement the asserted behavior, or one identical mock standing in for different APIs;
  • fixtures that supply the receipt, admission, or callback ordering the owner should produce, or persistence asserted against a store the path never writes;
  • capability tests that restate declared flags instead of exercising the delivery or acknowledgement the flag promises;
  • negative controls that pass for an unrelated reason, such as a denial from a different guard or a rejection the production path never reaches;
  • names or fixtures that promise more than the input exercises, such as a "retires the window" test asserting the window was not cleared.

Value bar

Tests justify their maintenance cost by protecting behavior, a credible regression, or an independently meaningful contract. In an audit, an existing test that must change for behavior-preserving source reorganization is suspect, not automatically deletable; the authoring gate still rejects new ones.

Before judging a candidate, read the complete test and production owner, its entry point, callers, callees, sibling implementations, overlapping tests, CI routing, and relevant history. Read root and scoped AGENTS.md files first. When the test claims dependency-backed behavior, inspect the dependency source or types directly.

Show full SKILL.md (281 more words)Show less

Retention bar

Keep a test when it independently enforces a public API, plugin SDK, protocol, config, migration, storage, security, platform, default, prompt-byte, generated cross-language, package, release, or architecture contract. Also keep:

  • call ordering when order is observable behavior;
  • regressions with a credible failure mode;
  • source inspection when it is the cheapest independent guard: it fails when the contract changes (the user-facing key, byte, or path) and survives an identifier-only refactor;
  • a retained test that fails on the baseline: treat it as a possible product bug, reproduce it, and repair the owner rather than deleting it.

Static or slow is not a deletion reason. A test that resembles implementation may still be the independent contract; prove otherwise before removing it.

Candidate evidence

Record every field below before editing. A missing field means the candidate is not ready for deletion:

  • exact test name and location;
  • what failure it can actually detect;
  • non-test callers of the covered production or support seam;
  • stronger remaining owner-boundary proof, or why no proof is needed;
  • relevant history and the reason the test or seam exists;
  • production or test-support deletion unlocked;
  • risk and the focused validation command.

Edit shape

Choose one coherent owner-boundary batch. Delete obsolete test-only exports, globals, wrappers, and dead production paths instead of preserving aliases. Move retained regressions to their canonical owners. Consolidate repeated package or dependency assertions into one generic contract.

Prefer net-negative production LOC. Do not add replacement tests that restate the same implementation, and do not convert uncertain candidates into cleanup to increase deletion counts.

Handoff

Report:

  • removed low-value categories;
  • production simplifications;
  • retained false positives and why they remain valuable;
  • proof actually run.

Adapted from openclaw's test-audit skill (MIT, OpenClaw Foundation); see ../LICENSE-openclaw.

© hex, MIT. Rendered from Markdown: HTML in the file is shown as text, images as links, and headings moved down two levels. Raw file

Files

Just SKILL.md in mods/council-pane/specialists/test-pruner of hex/claude-council.

Open the folder on GitHubat commit 23867e1

Compare with similar skills

Test Pruner next to the 5 skills that share the most tags, products or categories with it. Stars are the repository's; “used in” counts other GitHub owners with a copy.

Test Pruner compared with similar skills
SkillStarsUsed inTokensAuto-checkLicenceRepo updated
Test Pruner this skillhex/claude-council848—~1.1kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
MCP Server Builderanthropics/skills180k64 repos~2.3kAutomated safety check: PassApache-2.0
Hook Development for Claude Code Pluginsanthropics/claude-plugins-official38k11 repos~4.1kAutomated safety check: NotesApache-2.0
Using Superpowersfarm-fe/farm5.6k35 repos~1.4kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Executing Plans Inlineobra/superpowers296k2 repos~5.1kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Claude Code Agent Developmentanthropics/claude-plugins-official38k8 repos~2.8kAutomated safety check: PassApache-2.0

Similar skills

  • MCP Server Builder

    anthropics/skills

    Official

    Guides the design and implementation of Model Context Protocol servers in TypeScript or Python, from tool naming and error messages to evaluation.

    180k GitHub starsUsed in 64 repos~2.3k tokens
    Agent WorkflowsAuto-check passed

  • Hook Development for Claude Code Plugins

    anthropics/claude-plugins-official

    Official

    Explains how to write Claude Code plugin hooks, both prompt-based checks and bash commands, for events such as PreToolUse, Stop and SessionStart.

    38k GitHub starsUsed in 11 repos~4.1k tokens
    Agent WorkflowsAuto-check: notes

  • Using Superpowers

    farm-fe/farm

    A skill your agent uses when starting any conversation - establishes how to find and use skills, requiring Skill tool invocation before ANY response including clarifying questions

    5.6k GitHub starsUsed in 35 repos~1.4k tokens
    Agent WorkflowsAuto-check passed

  • Executing Plans Inline

    obra/superpowers

    Has the agent carry out an implementation plan itself, task by task in the current session, keeping a ledger, proving each step with a test and ending with one whole-branch review.

    296k GitHub starsUsed in 2 repos~5.1k tokens
    Agent WorkflowsAuto-check passed

  • Claude Code Agent Development

    anthropics/claude-plugins-official

    Official

    Explains how to write agents for Claude Code plugins: the markdown file with YAML frontmatter, trigger descriptions, model and color settings, and system prompt design.

    38k GitHub starsUsed in 8 repos~2.8k tokens
    Agent WorkflowsAuto-check passed

  • Skill Creator

    Azure/azqr

    Official

    Create new skills, modify and improve existing skills, and measure skill performance.

    795 GitHub starsUsed in 89 repos~8.2k tokens
    Agent WorkflowsAuto-check passed

More from hex/claude-council

All 10 skills in this repo

  • Local Council Execution

    hex/claude-council

    Runs a local council when no external AI providers are configured.

    848 GitHub stars~1.6k tokensUpdated yesterday
    Auto-check passed

  • Council Execution

    hex/claude-council

    Executes council queries by running the query pipeline across selected AI providers (Gemini, OpenAI, Grok, Perplexity), displaying formatted responses verbatim, and generating a synthesis of…

    848 GitHub stars~824 tokensUpdated yesterday
    Auto-check passed

  • Deep Execution

    hex/claude-council

    Executes agent-enhanced council queries as one Workflow of parallel Claude analyst agents that each query a provider, evaluate response quality, ask follow-up questions, and return a schema-enforced…

    848 GitHub stars~2.5k tokensUpdated yesterday
    Auto-check passed

  • Provider Integration

    hex/claude-council

    Adds new AI providers to claude-council, configures provider API settings, troubleshoots provider connections, and documents the provider script interface.

    848 GitHub stars~635 tokensUpdated yesterday
    Auto-check passed

  • Bug Fixer

    hex/claude-council

    A bug reproduces, the expected behaviour is clear, and the fix stands apart from the current work.

    848 GitHub stars~991 tokensUpdated yesterday
    Auto-check passed

  • CI Fixer

    hex/claude-council

    A CI job fails on a named revision and the fix belongs in code, config or tests, not in the CI provider.

    848 GitHub stars~941 tokensUpdated yesterday
    Auto-check passed

Categories

Questions about Test Pruner

What does Test Pruner do?

Tests in a named area duplicate stronger tests, re-assert the implementation, or keep test-only seams alive, and need pruning. Test Pruner is an agent skill from hex/claude-council. Tests in a named area duplicate stronger tests, re-assert the implementation, or keep test-only seams alive, and need pruning.

When should I use Test Pruner?

Test Pruner fits situations like: agent Workflows work in your project.

How do I install Test Pruner in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add hex/claude-council --skill test-pruner -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (mods/council-pane/specialists/test-pruner in hex/claude-council) into .claude/skills/test-pruner in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install Test Pruner in Codex?

Run `npx skills add hex/claude-council --skill test-pruner -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (mods/council-pane/specialists/test-pruner in hex/claude-council) into .agents/skills/test-pruner in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use Test Pruner in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?

Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add hex/claude-council --skill test-pruner -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/test-pruner, .gemini/skills/test-pruner, .github/skills/test-pruner and .opencode/skills/test-pruner in your project.

What does Test Pruner need to run?

SKILL.md names no scripts, command-line tools or credentials: Test Pruner is instructions for the agent only.

Does Test Pruner access the network?

SKILL.md contains no URLs. Any network use would come from the scripts or tools the agent runs. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.

Is Test Pruner safe to install?

Our automated static check of SKILL.md found no risky patterns, such as piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files or hidden Unicode. It is not a guarantee. Review the folder before installing.

What licence does Test Pruner use?

Test Pruner is published under the MIT licence (the repository's licence). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.

How many tokens does Test Pruner use?

About 1.1k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 4.4k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full.

What are the alternatives to Test Pruner?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with Test Pruner: MCP Server Builder (anthropics/skills, 180k stars), Hook Development for Claude Code Plugins (anthropics/claude-plugins-official, 38k stars), Using Superpowers (farm-fe/farm, 5.6k stars) and Executing Plans Inline (obra/superpowers, 296k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains Test Pruner?

hex (a GitHub user) maintains it in hex/claude-council, which has 848 GitHub stars. The repository holds 10 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on October 6, 2026.

Source: hex/claude-council on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.