Dry Run Skill

Dry Run Skill

Executes any command or skill in simulation mode, preventing all file modifications except session state.

Usage

/​dry-run <any command or prompt>

Examples:

• /​dry-run /​po_spec path/​to/​spec.md - Preview full spec workflow
• /​dry-run /​spec IMPLEMENT path/​to/​spec.md - Test implementation without changes
• /​dry-run why did you implement X this way? - Normal chat (no files affected)

Workflow

Step 1: Initialize Session Status

Find the Claude Code PID and create session directory:

pgrep -x claude | head -1 || echo "shared"

Use the output as CLAUDE_PID. Then create the session directory:

mkdir -p outputs/​session/<CLAUDE_PID>

Check if outputs/​session/<CLAUDE_PID>/​status.yml exists. If not, create with initial schema:

dry_run: false

Step 2: Set Dry-Run Mode

Update outputs/​session/<CLAUDE_PID>/​status.yml:

dry_run: true

This signals to THIS session's file operations that writes are prohibited. Other Claude sessions (different PIDs) are not affected.

Step 3: Execute Delegated Command

Execute the provided command/​prompt EXACTLY as given. All behavior remains normal EXCEPT:

CRITICAL CONSTRAINTS:

• NO file modifications allowed (Read, Grep, Glob, LSP, Bash read-only commands OK)
• ONLY exception: outputs/​session/<CLAUDE_PID>/​status.yml can be modified
• If command requires file writes, DESCRIBE what WOULD be changed instead
• For chat-only prompts (no file operations needed), respond normally

Step 4: Reset Dry-Run Mode

After execution completes (success or failure), reset state in outputs/​session/<CLAUDE_PID>/​status.yml:

dry_run: false

Step 5: Report Results

Provide summary:

• What was executed
• What file changes WOULD have occurred (if any)
• Verification that dry_run mode is reset

Implementation Notes

The skill acts as a wrapper:

1. It does NOT interpret or execute the delegated work itself
2. It sets the flag, then lets normal AI behavior handle the prompt
3. The dry_run flag is checked by pretooluse hook (hard enforcement at tool level)
4. After completion, it ensures cleanup

State Schema

outputs/​session/<claude_pid>/​status.yml:

dry_run: bool  # true = prevent file writes, false = normal mode

Session isolation by Claude PID ensures parallel agents don't interfere with each other. Future extensions may add additional session state fields.