Gate Tests
vercel/next.js
How to use the @gate / @force-gate test directives instead of it.skip or fake-green skip patterns.
Use before writing any test or implementation task, when observable behavior needs to be captured in business language scenarios and approved by the user before code begins
Apache-2.0Auto-check passed
Install Gherkin Gate
$ npx skills add SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions --skill gherkin-gate -a claude-codeProject install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.
$ gh skill install SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions gherkin-gate --agent claude-codeProject scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/plugins/superpowers-whetstone/skills/gherkin-gate .claude/skills/gherkin-gate && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.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/
Install the "gherkin-gate" agent skill from https://github.com/SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions/tree/main/plugins/superpowers-whetstone/skills/gherkin-gate into .claude/skills/gherkin-gate/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "gherkin-gate", then confirm the skill loads.Claude Code copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$skill-installer install https://github.com/SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions/tree/main/plugins/superpowers-whetstone/skills/gherkin-gateType this inside Codex. $skill-installer <name> installs a curated skill from openai/skills. The installer writes to $CODEX_HOME/skills (default ~/.codex/skills). Restart Codex if the skill does not show up.
$ npx skills add SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions --skill gherkin-gate -a codexProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.codex/skills/.
$ gh skill install SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions gherkin-gate --agent codexProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions.git skills-src && mkdir -p .agents/skills && cp -r skills-src/plugins/superpowers-whetstone/skills/gherkin-gate .agents/skills/gherkin-gate && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.agents/skills/ instead of .agents/skills for a personal install.
Codex skills documentation · loads skills from .agents/skills/
Install the "gherkin-gate" agent skill from https://github.com/SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions/tree/main/plugins/superpowers-whetstone/skills/gherkin-gate into .agents/skills/gherkin-gate/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "gherkin-gate", then confirm the skill loads.Codex copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ npx skills add SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions --skill gherkin-gate -a cursorProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.cursor/skills/.
$ gh skill install SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions gherkin-gate --agent cursorProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions.git skills-src && mkdir -p .cursor/skills && cp -r skills-src/plugins/superpowers-whetstone/skills/gherkin-gate .cursor/skills/gherkin-gate && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.cursor/skills/ instead of .cursor/skills for a personal install.
Cursor skills documentation · loads skills from .cursor/skills/, .agents/skills/, .claude/skills/, .codex/skills/
Install the "gherkin-gate" agent skill from https://github.com/SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions/tree/main/plugins/superpowers-whetstone/skills/gherkin-gate into .cursor/skills/gherkin-gate/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "gherkin-gate", then confirm the skill loads.Cursor copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ gemini skills install https://github.com/SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions.git --path plugins/superpowers-whetstone/skills/gherkin-gate--scope user (default) or --scope workspace; --path is the subfolder of the repo that holds the skill; --consent skips the security confirmation prompt.
$ npx skills add SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions --skill gherkin-gate -a gemini-cliProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.gemini/skills/.
$ gh skill install SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions gherkin-gate --agent gemini-cliProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions.git skills-src && mkdir -p .gemini/skills && cp -r skills-src/plugins/superpowers-whetstone/skills/gherkin-gate .gemini/skills/gherkin-gate && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.gemini/skills/ instead of .gemini/skills for a personal install, then run /skills reload.
Gemini CLI skills documentation · loads skills from .gemini/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "gherkin-gate" agent skill from https://github.com/SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions/tree/main/plugins/superpowers-whetstone/skills/gherkin-gate into .gemini/skills/gherkin-gate/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "gherkin-gate", then confirm the skill loads.Gemini CLI copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ gh skill install SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions gherkin-gateInstalls for Copilot at project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Preview a skill first with gh skill preview. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).
$ npx skills add SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions --skill gherkin-gate -a github-copilotProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.copilot/skills/.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions.git skills-src && mkdir -p .github/skills && cp -r skills-src/plugins/superpowers-whetstone/skills/gherkin-gate .github/skills/gherkin-gate && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.copilot/skills/ instead of .github/skills for a personal install. Commit .github/skills so cloud agent and code review can use it.
GitHub Copilot skills documentation · loads skills from .github/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "gherkin-gate" agent skill from https://github.com/SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions/tree/main/plugins/superpowers-whetstone/skills/gherkin-gate into .github/skills/gherkin-gate/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "gherkin-gate", then confirm the skill loads.GitHub Copilot copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ npx skills add SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions --skill gherkin-gate -a opencodeOpenCode documents no install command of its own. Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.config/opencode/skills/.
$ gh skill install SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions gherkin-gate --agent opencodeProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions.git skills-src && mkdir -p .opencode/skills && cp -r skills-src/plugins/superpowers-whetstone/skills/gherkin-gate .opencode/skills/gherkin-gate && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.config/opencode/skills/ instead of .opencode/skills for a personal install.
OpenCode skills documentation · loads skills from .opencode/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "gherkin-gate" agent skill from https://github.com/SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions/tree/main/plugins/superpowers-whetstone/skills/gherkin-gate into .opencode/skills/gherkin-gate/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "gherkin-gate", then confirm the skill loads.OpenCode copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
Facts
- Skill name
gherkin-gate- GitHub stars
- 198
- Token cost
- ~554 tokens
- SKILL.md length
- 246 words
- Files
- 1
- Skills in repo
- 19
- Repo updated
- First seen
- Licence
- Apache-2.0
At a glance
Use before writing any test or implementation task, when observable behavior needs to be captured in business language scenarios and approved by the user before code begins
- Works in 4 steps: Present scenarios clearly labeled:… → WAIT for explicit user approval before… → If rejected: revise scenarios and repeat… → …
- SKILL.md covers Overview, Writing Scenarios, Spec-Leakage Rule (CRITICAL) and Approval Gate, plus 1 more section
- Instructions only: no scripts, shell commands, URLs or credentials in SKILL.md
What it does
Gherkin Gate is an agent skill from SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions. Use before writing any test or implementation task, when observable behavior needs to be captured in business language scenarios and approved by the user before code begins
Its SKILL.md is about 550 tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. It is a single SKILL.md file with no bundled scripts.
The repository describes itself as: A comprehensive codebase of best practices, coding rules, and workflow automation for AI-assisted development with GitHub Copilot. Includes DDD, Clean Architecture, testing… The licence is Apache-2.0.
Example prompts
- “/gherkin-gate”
Workflow steps
4 steps, taken from the first numbered list in SKILL.md.
- Present scenarios clearly labeled: "Gherkin Scenarios — awaiting approval"
- WAIT for explicit user approval before proceeding
- If rejected: revise scenarios and repeat from step 1
- Only after approval: proceed to test writing or task planning
What it can do on your machine
Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 0f0dccf. 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 (its code samples are gherkin).
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
Gherkin Gate loads about 554 tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 46 tokens; SKILL.md has 246 words of instructions outside code blocks.
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 SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions at commit 0f0dccf, republished under its Apache-2.0 licence (© SebastienDegodez). 246 words, ~554 tokens.
Download SKILL.mdSave it as
.claude/skills/gherkin-gate/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder).- name
- gherkin-gate
- description
- Use before writing any test or implementation task, when observable behavior needs to be captured in business language scenarios and approved by the user before code begins
Gherkin Gate
Overview
Capture observable behavior in business language before any test or code is written. User approval is the mandatory gate.
Hard rule: No test, no task, no implementation until scenarios are approved.
Writing Scenarios
Write 1-3 scenarios in Given/When/Then:
GIVEN [precondition in business language].
WHEN [action in business language].
THEN [observable outcome in business language].Each scenario should be independent and verifiable in isolation. Cover the main success path and 1-2 key edge cases.
Spec-Leakage Rule (CRITICAL)
Scenarios must describe external observables only. Never reference implementation details:
| Forbidden | Allowed |
|---|---|
| Class names, method names | Business actions and actors |
| Repository, database, tables | Data in business terms |
| HTTP endpoints, status codes | Business outcomes |
| Internal state, variables | Observable system behavior |
❌ BAD: GIVEN the EligibilityPolicy has empty rules.
✅ GOOD: GIVEN no eligibility rules are configured.
❌ BAD: THEN the handler returns a 200 OK response.
✅ GOOD: THEN the request is accepted.
❌ BAD: WHEN I call POST /api/eligibility.
✅ GOOD: WHEN checking eligibility for the user.
Approval Gate
- Present scenarios clearly labeled: "Gherkin Scenarios — awaiting approval"
- WAIT for explicit user approval before proceeding
- If rejected: revise scenarios and repeat from step 1
- Only after approval: proceed to test writing or task planning
This gate is not skippable — even for "small" features.
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Skipping scenarios for "trivial" features | Write 1 scenario minimum — even simple features benefit |
| Implementation details in scenarios | Business language only in Given/When/Then |
| Proceeding before explicit approval | "ok" or "proceed" counts, silence does not |
| More than 3 scenarios up front | Start with main success path, add edge cases after RED |
© SebastienDegodez, Apache-2.0. 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 plugins/superpowers-whetstone/skills/gherkin-gate of SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions.
Open the folder on GitHubat commit 0f0dccf
Compare with similar skills
Gherkin Gate 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.
| Skill | Stars | Used in | Tokens | Auto-check | Licence | Repo updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gherkin Gate this skillSebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions | 198 | — | ~554 | Automated safety check: Pass | Apache-2.0 | |
| Gate Testsvercel/next.js | 143k | — | ~2.8k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Gateplugin87/ux-ui-agent-skills | 1.6k | — | ~532 | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Brain Ingest Gategarrytan/gbrain | 31k | — | ~3.9k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Delivery Gateaffaan-m/ECC | 276k | — | ~1.3k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Bill Gatessickn33/agentic-awesome-skills | 47k | 2 repos | ~352 | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT |
Similar skills
- Official
Gate
plugin87/ux-ui-agent-skills
Run the one-command quality gate and report the real N/N result.
Brain Ingest Gate
garrytan/gbrain
Pre-write quality gate for content entering the brain. An agent skill from garrytan/gbrain.
Delivery Gate
affaan-m/ECC
Stop hook that blocks Claude from finishing until quality checks pass.
Bill Gates
sickn33/agentic-awesome-skills
Agente que simula Bill Gates — cofundador da Microsoft, arquiteto da industria de software comercial, estrategista tecnologico global, investidor sistemico e filantropo baseado em dados.
Skill Release Gate
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Evaluates an Agent Skill bundle before release for structure, trigger quality, artifact improvement, script correctness, safety, installed-tree integrity and host portability.
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Questions about Gherkin Gate
What does Gherkin Gate do?
Use before writing any test or implementation task, when observable behavior needs to be captured in business language scenarios and approved by the user before code begins. Gherkin Gate is an agent skill from SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions.
How do I install Gherkin Gate in Claude Code?
Run `npx skills add SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions --skill gherkin-gate -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (plugins/superpowers-whetstone/skills/gherkin-gate in SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions) into .claude/skills/gherkin-gate in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.
How do I install Gherkin Gate in Codex?
Run `npx skills add SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions --skill gherkin-gate -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (plugins/superpowers-whetstone/skills/gherkin-gate in SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions) into .agents/skills/gherkin-gate in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.
Can I use Gherkin Gate 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 SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions --skill gherkin-gate -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/gherkin-gate, .gemini/skills/gherkin-gate, .github/skills/gherkin-gate and .opencode/skills/gherkin-gate in your project.
What does Gherkin Gate need to run?
SKILL.md names no scripts, command-line tools or credentials: Gherkin Gate is instructions for the agent only.
Does Gherkin Gate 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 Gherkin Gate 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 Gherkin Gate use?
Gherkin Gate is published under the Apache-2.0 licence (the repository's licence). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.
How many tokens does Gherkin Gate use?
About 554 tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 2.2k 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 Gherkin Gate?
Skills that share tags, products or a category with Gherkin Gate: Gate Tests (vercel/next.js, 143k stars), Gate (plugin87/ux-ui-agent-skills, 1.6k stars), Brain Ingest Gate (garrytan/gbrain, 31k stars) and Delivery Gate (affaan-m/ECC, 276k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.
Who maintains Gherkin Gate?
SebastienDegodez (a GitHub user) maintains it in SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions, which has 198 GitHub stars. The repository holds 19 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on October 6, 2026.
Source: SebastienDegodez/copilot-instructions on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.