Skill: extend-signal-schema (afi-core)

Skill: extend-signal-schema (afi-core)

Purpose

Use this skill when you need to extend or refine signal schemas in afi-core, adding new fields or validation rules to the Raw, Enriched, Analyzed, or Scored signal schemas.

This skill ensures changes are:

• Safe: Backwards compatible where possible, with clear migration paths
• Governed: Aligned with AFI Droid Charter, AFI Droid Playbook, and afi-core/​AGENTS.md
• Correct: PoI/​PoInsight remain validator-level traits, NOT signal fields
• Tested: Schema changes include minimal test coverage

This skill is primarily used by schema-validator-droid and any future afi-core droids that work on signal schemas and validators.

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Preconditions

Before changing anything, you MUST:

1. Read:

   • afi-core/​AGENTS.md
   • AFI Droid Charter
   • AFI Droid Playbook
   • Target schema file(s) in schemas/

2. Confirm:

   • The requested change belongs in afi-core (signal language/​validation), not in afi-reactor (orchestration) or afi-token (economics).
   • The change does not introduce PoI/​PoInsight as signal fields.
   • The change does not require editing smart contracts, Eliza configs, or deployment/​infra repos.

If any requirement is unclear or appears to violate AGENTS.md or Charter, STOP and ask for human clarification instead of trying to be clever.

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Inputs Expected

The caller should provide, in natural language or structured form:

• Target lifecycle stage: Raw, Enriched, Analyzed, or Scored
• Field name(s): The field(s) to add or refine
• Type/​shape: e.g., string, number, enum, object, array
• Optionality: Required or optional? If optional, what's the default?
• Description: Brief explanation of field meaning and usage
• Backwards compatibility: Any migration concerns or breaking changes?

If any of this information is missing, ask clarifying questions or produce a minimal, clearly-labeled stub with TODOs and conservative defaults.

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Step-by-Step Instructions

When this skill is invoked, follow this sequence:

1. Restate the requested change

In your own words, summarize:

• Which lifecycle stage (Raw/​Enriched/​Analyzed/​Scored) is being modified
• Which field(s) are being added or changed
• The type, optionality, and purpose of each field
• Any backwards compatibility or migration concerns

This summary should be short and precise, so humans can quickly confirm the intent.

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2. Locate the schema files

Identify the relevant schema file(s), typically:

• schemas/​universal_signal_schema.ts — Main signal schema (may cover all stages)
• schemas/​pipeline_config_schema.ts — Pipeline configuration schema
• schemas/​signal_finalization_request_schema.ts — Finalization request schema
• schemas/​validator_metadata_schema.ts — Validator metadata schema

Or, if schemas are split by stage:

• schemas/​raw_signal_schema.ts
• schemas/​enriched_signal_schema.ts
• schemas/​analyzed_signal_schema.ts
• schemas/​scored_signal_schema.ts

Do not modify these yet; just understand the current structure.

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3. Update the Zod schema

In the target schema file:

1. Add new fields with appropriate Zod types:

   • Use .optional() for optional fields
   • Use .default(value) for fields with defaults
   • Use .enum([...]) for enumerated values
   • Use .min(), .max(), .regex() for validation rules

2. Add clear comments explaining:

   • Field purpose and usage
   • When the field is populated (which lifecycle stage)
   • Any constraints or validation rules

3. Preserve existing fields:

   • Do NOT silently rename or remove existing fields
   • If deprecating a field, mark it clearly and provide migration guidance

4. Example:

// schemas/​universal_signal_schema.ts

export const SignalSchema = z.object({
  // ... existing fields ...

  // ✨ NEW: Macro regime classification (Enriched stage)
  // Values: "risk_on" (bullish sentiment), "risk_off" (defensive), "neutral"
  macro_regime: z.enum(["risk_on", "risk_off", "neutral"]).optional(),

  // ... rest of schema ...
});

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4. Update related type exports

If the schema has corresponding TypeScript types:

1. Export the inferred type:

export type Signal = z.infer<typeof SignalSchema>;

1. Update any registry interfaces that reference the schema:
   • Check runtime/​types.ts or schemas/​index.ts
   • Ensure exported types match the updated schema

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5. Update validators (if needed)

If the new field requires validation logic:

1. Locate the relevant validator in validators/:

   • validators/​SignalScorer.ts — Signal scoring logic
   • validators/​index.ts — Validator registry

2. Add validation logic if needed:

   • Check for required fields
   • Validate field values against business rules
   • Document any non-deterministic behavior

3. Keep validators deterministic where possible:

   • Avoid random values, timestamps, or external API calls
   • If non-deterministic, document clearly

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6. Add or update tests

Where test patterns exist:

1. Add unit tests for the new field:

   • Test valid values
   • Test invalid values (should fail validation)
   • Test optional vs required behavior

2. Update existing tests if schema changed:

   • Fix tests that expect old schema shape
   • Add new test cases for new fields

3. Example test locations:

   • tests/ — Vitest unit tests
   • signal_schema_test/ — Schema-specific test suites

If no test patterns exist yet, leave a clearly marked TODO and surface this in your summary.

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7. Validate and build

Run at least:

• npm run build in afi-core

If relevant tests exist and are safe to run:

• npm test or npm run test:run (Vitest)

Do not mark the skill as "successful" if the build fails. Instead, stop, gather error output, and surface it with minimal, clear commentary.

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Hard Boundaries

When using this skill, you MUST NOT:

• Modify orchestration logic in afi-reactor:

  • Do NOT edit DAG wiring, pipeline execution, or orchestration code.
  • Schema changes belong in afi-core; DAG wiring belongs in afi-reactor.

• Introduce PoI/​PoInsight as signal fields:

  • Do NOT add poi, poinsight, proof_of_intelligence, or similar fields.
  • PoI/​PoInsight are validator-level traits, NOT signal-level fields.
  • If a request asks for this, STOP and escalate.

• Touch token/​economics:

  • Do NOT modify smart contracts, emissions, or tokenomics in afi-token.

• Modify Eliza agents or gateways:

  • Do NOT edit Eliza agent configs, character specs, or runtime behavior.
  • Do NOT modify afi-gateway.

• Touch infra/​ops:

  • Do NOT modify deployment configs, Terraform, K8s, or CI/​CD.

• Perform large sweeping refactors:

  • Do NOT restructure the entire schema architecture without explicit approval.
  • Do NOT rename or remove existing fields without a migration strategy.

• Break backwards compatibility:

  • Do NOT remove required fields without a deprecation path.
  • Do NOT change field types in breaking ways without human approval.

If a request forces you towards any of the above, STOP and escalate.

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Output / Summary Format

At the end of a successful extend-signal-schema operation, produce a short summary that includes:

• Lifecycle stage(s) modified: Raw, Enriched, Analyzed, or Scored
• Fields added/​changed: List each field with:
  • Field name
  • Type (string, number, enum, object, etc.)
  • Optionality (required or optional)
  • Brief description
• Files created/​modified:
  • Schema file(s)
  • Validator file(s) (if any)
  • Type export file(s)
  • Test file(s)
• Build/​test results: Pass or fail
• Backwards compatibility: Any breaking changes or migration notes
• TODOs or open questions: Any human decision points

Aim for something a human maintainer can read in under a minute to understand exactly what changed and why.

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Example Usage Patterns

Use This Skill For

• "Add an optional macro_regime field to Enriched signals with enum values risk_on, risk_off, neutral."

• "Extend the Scored schema to include a risk_breakdown object with sub-scores for market_risk, liquidity_risk, and execution_risk."

• "Add a derivative_underlier string field to Analyzed signals for options/​futures-only signals."

• "Add a required content field to all signals (already exists, but make it required with a migration strategy)."

• "Refine the action field to include new enum values: buy, sell, hold, close, reduce."

Do NOT Use This Skill For

• "Wire the new schema into the DAG pipeline." → Use add-dag-node skill in afi-reactor instead.

• "Add PoInsight as a field on Scored signals." → Violates PoI/​PoInsight design (escalate to human).

• "Modify token emissions based on signal scores." → Belongs in afi-token (escalate to human).

• "Update Eliza agent character specs to use the new field." → Belongs in afi-gateway (escalate to human).

• "Add a new validator that calls an external API." → Requires explicit approval (escalate to human).

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Migration Strategy Guidance

When adding fields that may break backwards compatibility:

For Optional Fields (Safe)

• Add field with .optional()
• No migration needed
• Document when the field is populated

For Required Fields (Breaking)

• Option 1: Add as optional first, then require in a future version
• Option 2: Add with .default(value) to provide backwards compatibility
• Option 3: Provide explicit migration script or guidance

Always document the migration strategy in your summary.

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Example: Adding an Optional Field

Request: "Add an optional macro_regime field to Enriched signals."

Summary:

• Stage modified: Enriched (via universal_signal_schema.ts)
• Field added: macro_regime
  • Type: enum(["risk_on", "risk_off", "neutral"])
  • Optionality: Optional
  • Description: Macro regime classification for market sentiment
• Files modified:
  • schemas/​universal_signal_schema.ts (added field)
  • schemas/​index.ts (re-exported type)
• Build/​test results: ✅ Pass
• Backwards compatibility: ✅ Safe (optional field)
• TODOs: None

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Example: Adding a Required Field with Default

Request: "Make content field required for all signals."

Summary:

• Stage modified: All stages (via universal_signal_schema.ts)
• Field changed: content
  • Type: string (min 1, max 280)
  • Optionality: Required (was optional)
  • Migration: Added .default("") for backwards compatibility
• Files modified:
  • schemas/​universal_signal_schema.ts (changed optionality)
  • tests/​signal_schema.test.ts (updated tests)
• Build/​test results: ✅ Pass
• Backwards compatibility: ⚠️ Breaking change mitigated with default value
• TODOs: Consider removing default in v2.0 after migration period

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Last Updated: 2025-11-27 Maintainers: AFI Core Team Charter: afi-config/​codex/​governance/​droids/​AFI_DROID_CHARTER.v0.1.md