Paths: File paths (shared/ , references/ , ../ln-* ) are relative to skills repo root. If not found at CWD, locate this SKILL.md directory and go up one level for repo root. If shared/ is missing, fetch files via WebFetch from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/levnikolaevich/claude-code-skills/master/skills/{path} .
Automated Test Planner
Type: L3 Worker
Creates Story test task with comprehensive automated test coverage (E2E/Integration/Unit) based on Risk-Based Testing methodology and REAL manual testing results.
Inputs
Input Required Source Description
storyId
Yes args, git branch, kanban, user Story to process
Resolution: Story Resolution Chain. Status filter: To Review
Purpose & Scope
-
Create comprehensive test task for Story automation
-
Calculate risk-based priorities (Impact x Probability)
-
Generate 11-section test plan from manual test results
-
Delegate to ln-301-task-creator (CREATE) or ln-302-task-replanner (REPLAN)
-
NOT for: manual testing, research, or orchestration
When to Use
-
Use when implementation work is done and automated test coverage must be planned
-
All implementation Tasks in Story status = Done
-
ln-521 research: uses if available, generates minimal inline research if missing
-
ln-522 manual testing: uses if available, marks as 'skipped by policy' if missing
Automation: Supports autoApprove: true in managed runs to skip manual confirmation.
Workflow
Phase 0: Tools Config
MANDATORY READ: Load shared/references/environment_state_contract.md , shared/references/storage_mode_detection.md , and shared/references/input_resolution_pattern.md
Extract: task_provider = Task Management → Provider (linear | file ).
Phase 1: Discovery (Automated)
-
Resolve storyId: Run Story Resolution Chain per guide (status filter: [To Review]).
-
Auto-discover Team ID from docs/tasks/kanban_board.md (see CLAUDE.md "Configuration Auto-Discovery")
Phase 2: Story + Tasks Analysis (NO Dialog)
Step 0: Study Project Test Files
-
Scan for test-related files:
-
tests/README.md (commands, setup, environment)
-
Test configs (jest.config.js, vitest.config.ts, pytest.ini)
-
Existing test structure (tests/, tests/ directories)
-
Coverage config (.coveragerc, coverage.json)
-
Extract: test commands, framework, patterns, coverage thresholds
-
Ensures test planning aligns with project practices
Step 1: Load Research and Manual Test Results
-
Fetch Story (must have label "user-story"):
-
IF task_provider = linear : get_issue(storyId) — extract Story.id (UUID, NOT short ID)
-
IF task_provider = file : Read story.md — extract Story metadata
-
Load research comment (from ln-521): "## Test Research: {Feature}"
-
IF task_provider = linear : list_comments(issueId=storyId) → find matching comment
-
IF task_provider = file : Glob("docs/tasks/epics//stories//comments/*.md") → find matching comment
-
IF research comment not found: generate 3-5 bullet points of key test areas based on Story AC and task descriptions (inline, no external research).
-
Load manual test results comment (from ln-522): "## Manual Testing Results"
-
Same approach as research comment above
-
IF manual test results not found: skip manual test coverage analysis. Note in output: 'Manual testing: skipped by policy (simplified mode).'
-
Parse sections: AC results (PASS/FAIL), Edge Cases, Error Handling, Integration flows
-
Map to test design: PASSED AC -> E2E, Edge cases -> Unit, Errors -> Error handling, Flows -> Integration
Step 2: Analyze Story + Tasks
-
Parse Story: Goal, Test Strategy, Technical Notes
-
Fetch all child Tasks (status = Done):
-
IF task_provider = linear : list_issues(parentId=Story.id, state="Done")
-
IF task_provider = file : Glob("docs/tasks/epics//stories//tasks/*.md") → filter by Status: Done
-
Analyze each Task:
-
Components implemented
-
Business logic added
-
Integration points created
-
Conditional branches (if/else/switch)
-
Identify what needs testing
Phase 3: Parsing Strategy for Manual Test Results
Process: Locate Linear comment with "Manual Testing Results" header -> Verify Format Version 1.0 -> Extract structured sections (Acceptance Criteria, Test Results by AC, Edge Cases, Error Handling, Integration Testing) using regex -> Validate (at least 1 PASSED AC, AC count matches Story, completeness check) -> Map parsed data to test design structure
Error Handling: Missing comment -> use fallback (inline research or skip per Phase 2 logic), Missing format version -> WARNING (try legacy parsing), Required section missing -> use fallback, No PASSED AC -> ERROR (fix implementation)
Phase 4: Risk-Based Test Planning (Automated)
MANDATORY READ: Load shared/references/risk_based_testing_guide.md for complete methodology.
E2E-First Approach: Prioritize by business risk (Priority = Impact x Probability), not coverage metrics.
Workflow:
Step 1: Risk Assessment
Calculate Priority for each scenario from manual testing:
Priority = Business Impact (1-5) x Probability (1-5)
Decision Criteria:
-
Priority ≥15 -> MUST test
-
Priority 9-14 -> SHOULD test if not covered
-
Priority <=8 -> SKIP (manual testing sufficient)
Step 2: E2E Test Selection (2-5): Baseline 2 (positive + negative) ALWAYS + 0-3 additional (Priority ≥15 only)
Step 3: Unit Test Selection (0-15): DEFAULT 0. Add ONLY for complex business logic (Priority ≥15): financial, security, algorithms
Step 4: Integration Test Selection: DEFAULT 0. Add ONLY if E2E gaps AND Priority ≥15: rollback, concurrency, external API errors
Step 5: Validation: Each test passes Usefulness Criteria (Priority ≥15, Confidence ROI, Behavioral, Predictive, Specific, Non-Duplicative)
Phase 5: Test Task Generation (Automated)
Generates complete test task per test_task_template.md (11 sections):
Sections 1-7: Context, Risk Matrix, E2E/Integration/Unit Tests (with Priority scores + justifications), Coverage, DoD
Section 8: Existing Tests to Fix (analysis of affected tests from implementation tasks)
Section 9: Infrastructure Changes (packages, Docker, configs - based on test dependencies)
Section 10: Documentation Updates (README, CHANGELOG, tests/README, config docs)
Section 11: Legacy Code Cleanup (unsupported patterns, backward compat, dead code)
Shows preview for review.
Phase 6: Confirmation & Delegation
Step 1: Preview generated test plan (always displayed for transparency)
Step 2: Confirmation logic:
-
autoApprove: true -> proceed automatically
-
Manual run -> prompt user to type "confirm"
Step 3: Check for existing test task
-
IF task_provider = linear : list_issues(parentId=Story.id, label="tests")
-
IF task_provider = file : Glob("docs/tasks/epics//stories//tasks/*.md") → filter by Labels: containing tests
Decision:
-
Count = 0 -> CREATE MODE (Step 4a)
-
Count >= 1 -> REPLAN MODE (Step 4b)
Step 4a: CREATE MODE (if Count = 0)
Managed delegation sequence:
-
Compute childRunId = {parent_run_id}--ln-301--{storyId}
-
Compute childSummaryArtifactPath = .hex-skills/runtime-artifacts/runs/{parent_run_id}/task-plan/ln-301--{storyId}.json
-
Materialize child manifest at .hex-skills/test-planning/ln-301--{storyId}_manifest.json
-
Start task-plan-worker-runtime with both transport inputs
-
Checkpoint child_run metadata in PHASE_6_DELEGATE_TASK_PLAN
-
Invoke ln-301-task-creator with --run-id and --summary-artifact-path
-
Read only the resulting child task-plan artifact
Pass to worker:
-
taskType, teamId, storyData (Story.id, title, AC, Technical Notes, Context)
-
researchFindings (from ln-521 comment)
-
manualTestResults (from ln-522 comment)
-
testPlan (e2eTests, integrationTests, unitTests, riskPriorityMatrix)
-
infrastructureChanges, documentationUpdates, legacyCleanup
Worker returns: Task URL + task-plan artifact
Step 4b: REPLAN MODE (if Count >= 1)
Managed delegation sequence:
-
Compute childRunId = {parent_run_id}--ln-302--{storyId}
-
Compute childSummaryArtifactPath = .hex-skills/runtime-artifacts/runs/{parent_run_id}/task-plan/ln-302--{storyId}.json
-
Materialize child manifest at .hex-skills/test-planning/ln-302--{storyId}_manifest.json
-
Start task-plan-worker-runtime with both transport inputs
-
Checkpoint child_run metadata in PHASE_6_DELEGATE_TASK_PLAN
-
Invoke ln-302-task-replanner with --run-id and --summary-artifact-path
-
Read only the resulting child task-plan artifact
Pass to worker:
- Same data as CREATE MODE + existingTaskIds
Worker returns: Operations summary + child task-plan artifact
Step 5: Return structured summary to caller
Runtime Summary Artifact
MANDATORY READ: Load shared/references/test_planning_summary_contract.md , shared/references/test_planning_worker_runtime_contract.md , shared/references/task_plan_worker_runtime_contract.md
Runtime profile:
-
family: test-planning-worker
-
worker: ln-523
-
summary kind: test-planning-worker
-
payload fields used by coordinators: worker , status , warnings , test_task_id , test_task_url , coverage_summary , planned_scenarios
Invocation rules:
-
standalone: omit runId and summaryArtifactPath
-
managed: pass both runId and exact summaryArtifactPath
-
always write the validated summary before terminal outcome
Delegated child worker rules:
-
when delegating to ln-301 or ln-302 , ln-523 becomes the parent runtime
-
start task-plan-worker-runtime before delegation
-
checkpoint child_run metadata before the child Skill call
-
consume only the child task-plan artifact, never child prose
Definition of Done
Research and Manual Results Loaded:
-
Research comment "## Test Research: {Feature}" found (from ln-521)
-
Manual test results "## Manual Testing Results" found (from ln-522)
-
At least 1 AC marked as PASSED
Risk-Based Test Plan Generated:
-
Risk Priority Matrix calculated for all scenarios
-
E2E tests: Baseline positive + negative, additional only if Priority ≥15
-
Integration tests: ONLY if E2E doesn't cover AND Priority ≥15
-
Unit tests: ONLY complex business logic with Priority ≥15
-
Each test passes all 6 Usefulness Criteria
-
No framework/library testing: Each test validates OUR business logic only
Test Task Description Complete (11 sections):
-
All 11 sections populated per template
-
Risk Priority Matrix included
-
Each test beyond baseline 2 justified
Worker Delegation Executed:
-
CREATE MODE: Delegated to ln-301-task-creator through task-plan-worker-runtime
-
REPLAN MODE: Delegated to ln-302-task-replanner through task-plan-worker-runtime
-
Child run metadata checkpointed before delegation
-
Child task-plan artifact consumed before final summary
-
Linear Issue URL returned
Output:
-
CREATE MODE: Linear Issue URL + confirmation
-
REPLAN MODE: Operations summary + URLs
Reference Files
-
Environment state: shared/references/environment_state_contract.md
-
Storage mode operations: shared/references/storage_mode_detection.md
-
Risk-based testing methodology: shared/references/risk_based_testing_guide.md
-
Auto-discovery patterns: shared/references/auto_discovery_pattern.md
-
Test task template: shared/templates/test_task_template.md (workers ln-301/ln-302 load via Template Loading)
-
Testing examples: references/risk_based_testing_examples.md
-
MANDATORY READ: Load shared/references/research_tool_fallback.md
Critical Rules
-
Manual results preferred: Use ln-522 manual testing results when available. When missing (simplified mode), generate minimal inline research and mark manual testing as skipped
-
E2E-first, not unit-first: Baseline is always 2 E2E (positive + negative); unit/integration added only for Priority >= 15
-
No framework testing: Every test must validate OUR business logic; never test library/framework behavior
-
Usefulness enforcement: Every test beyond baseline must pass all 6 Usefulness Criteria (see risk_based_testing_guide.md)
-
Delegate, don't create: Task creation goes through ln-301/ln-302 workers; this skill generates the plan only
-
Managed child runs only: Parent-child delegation to ln-301/ln-302 must use task-plan-worker-runtime , deterministic child runId , exact child summaryArtifactPath , and artifact-only consumption
Best Practices
Minimum Viable Testing: Start with baseline E2E (positive + negative). Each additional test must pass all 6 Usefulness Criteria.
Risk-Based Testing: Prioritize by Business Impact x Probability. E2E-first from ACTUAL manual testing results. Priority ≥15 scenarios covered by tests.
Expected-Based Testing: For deterministic tests, compare actual vs expected using diff . MANDATORY READ: Load ../ln-522-manual-tester/SKILL.md — section "Test Design Principles".
Version: 1.0.0 Last Updated: 2026-01-15