Angreal Patterns
Common patterns for testing, documenting, and developing angreal tasks.
Testing Patterns
Unit Testing Task Functions
# tests/test_build.py
import sys
sys.path.insert(0, ".angreal")
from task_build import build
def test_build_debug_mode():
result = build(release=False)
assert result == 0
def test_build_release_mode():
result = build(release=True)
assert result == 0
Mocking External Commands
from unittest.mock import patch, MagicMock
def test_run_tests_success():
with patch("subprocess.run") as mock_run:
mock_run.return_value = MagicMock(returncode=0)
from task_test import run_tests
result = run_tests()
assert result == 0
Mocking angreal.get_root()
# tests/conftest.py
import pytest
from pathlib import Path
@pytest.fixture
def temp_project(tmp_path):
"""Create temporary project structure."""
angreal_dir = tmp_path / ".angreal"
angreal_dir.mkdir()
(tmp_path / "src").mkdir()
return tmp_path
@pytest.fixture
def mock_root(temp_project, monkeypatch):
"""Mock get_root() to return .angreal/ directory."""
import angreal
angreal_dir = temp_project / ".angreal"
monkeypatch.setattr(angreal, "get_root", lambda: angreal_dir)
return temp_project # Return project root for assertions
Testing Output
def test_task_output(capsys):
from task_status import status
status()
captured = capsys.readouterr()
assert "Project Status" in captured.out
Development Patterns
Verbose Mode
import angreal
@angreal.command(name="build", about="Build project")
@angreal.argument(name="verbose", short="v", long="verbose",
is_flag=True, takes_value=False)
def build(verbose=False):
if verbose:
print("Starting build...")
do_build()
if verbose:
print("Build complete!")
Quiet Mode
@angreal.command(name="check", about="Run checks")
@angreal.argument(name="quiet", short="q", long="quiet",
is_flag=True, takes_value=False)
def check(quiet=False):
issues = run_checks()
if not issues:
if not quiet:
print("All checks passed!")
return 0
if not quiet:
for issue in issues:
print(f" - {issue}")
return 1
Dry Run Mode
import angreal
import shutil
import os
@angreal.command(name="clean", about="Clean build artifacts")
@angreal.argument(name="dry_run", short="n", long="dry-run",
is_flag=True, takes_value=False)
def clean(dry_run=False):
project_root = angreal.get_root().parent
targets = ["dist/", "build/", ".cache/"]
for target in targets:
path = project_root / target
if path.exists():
if dry_run:
print(f"Would remove: {path}")
else:
print(f"Removing: {path}")
shutil.rmtree(path)
if dry_run:
print("\nDry run - no changes made.")
Progress Indicators
@angreal.command(name="test", about="Run tests")
def test():
tests = discover_tests()
for i, test in enumerate(tests, 1):
print(f"[{i}/{len(tests)}] Running {test}...")
run_test(test)
print("All tests complete!")
Subprocess Patterns
Running Commands in Project Root
import subprocess
import angreal
def run_in_project(cmd, **kwargs):
"""Run command in project root."""
project_root = angreal.get_root().parent
defaults = {
"cwd": project_root,
"capture_output": True,
"text": True
}
defaults.update(kwargs)
return subprocess.run(cmd, **defaults)
Streaming Output
@angreal.command(name="test", about="Run tests")
def test():
project_root = angreal.get_root().parent
process = subprocess.Popen(
["pytest", "-v"],
cwd=project_root,
stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
stderr=subprocess.STDOUT,
text=True
)
for line in process.stdout:
print(line, end="")
return process.wait()
Handling Failures
def run_or_fail(cmd, error_msg):
"""Run command, exit on failure."""
result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True)
if result.returncode != 0:
print(f"Error: {error_msg}")
if result.stderr:
print(result.stderr)
return 1
return 0
Error Handling Patterns
Fail Fast
@angreal.command(name="deploy", about="Deploy application")
def deploy():
# Check all prerequisites first
if not check_credentials():
print("Error: Missing credentials")
return 1
if not check_build_exists():
print("Error: No build. Run 'angreal build' first.")
return 1
# Only proceed if everything ready
do_deploy()
return 0
Informative Error Messages
def validate_env(env):
valid = ["development", "staging", "production"]
if env not in valid:
print(f"Error: Invalid environment '{env}'")
print(f"Valid options: {', '.join(valid)}")
return False
return True
Environment Variable Checking
import os
@angreal.command(name="deploy", about="Deploy")
def deploy():
required = ["AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID", "AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY"]
missing = [v for v in required if not os.environ.get(v)]
if missing:
print("Error: Missing environment variables:")
for var in missing:
print(f" - {var}")
return 1
do_deploy()
return 0
Documentation Patterns
Documentation Layers
| Layer | Audience | Location |
|-------|----------|----------|
| about | CLI users | --help output |
| long_about | CLI users | Detailed help |
| help (args) | CLI users | Argument help |
| ToolDescription | AI agents | angreal tree --long |
| Docstrings | Developers | Source code |
Consistent Structure
@angreal.command(
name="deploy",
about="Deploy to environment", # Short for listings
long_about="""
Deploy the application to a specified environment.
Handles: building, uploading, migrations, health checks.
Supported environments: development, staging, production
""", # Detailed for --help
tool=angreal.ToolDescription("""
Deploy application to environment.
## When to use
- After tests pass
- When release is approved
## Examples
```
angreal deploy --env staging
```
""", risk_level="destructive") # For AI agents
)
def deploy():
"""Deploy application. (For developers reading code)"""
pass
Anti-Patterns to Avoid
Don't Hardcode Paths
# Bad
config = open("/Users/me/project/config.yaml")
# Good
project_root = angreal.get_root().parent
config = open(project_root / "config.yaml")
Don't Ignore Return Codes
# Bad
subprocess.run(["npm", "install"])
subprocess.run(["npm", "test"]) # Runs even if install failed
# Good
result = subprocess.run(["npm", "install"])
if result.returncode != 0:
return 1
subprocess.run(["npm", "test"])
Don't Swallow Exceptions
# Bad
try:
do_something()
except:
pass
# Good
try:
do_something()
except SpecificError as e:
print(f"Error: {e}")
return 1
Don't Require Interactive Input
# Bad - breaks CI/automation
name = input("Enter name: ")
# Good - use arguments
@angreal.argument(name="name", long="name", required=True)
def cmd(name):
pass
Composing Tasks
Calling Other Task Functions
from task_test import test_all
from task_lint import lint_check
@angreal.command(name="ci", about="Run CI pipeline")
def ci():
print("Running linter...")
if lint_check() != 0:
return 1
print("Running tests...")
if test_all() != 0:
return 1
print("CI passed!")
return 0
pytest.ini Configuration
[pytest]
testpaths = tests
pythonpath = .angreal
markers =
unit: Unit tests
integration: Integration tests