Freeze Tests Mode Skill

Freeze Tests Mode

When activated, blocks all modifications to test files. Use during refactoring to ensure behavior (as captured by tests) is preserved.

What It Does

Blocks Write and Edit operations on any file matching test patterns:

**/*.test.{ts,js,tsx,jsx}
**/*.spec.{ts,js,tsx,jsx}
**/__tests__/**
**/tests/**

Activation

/freeze-tests

Deactivate with /freeze-tests off.

Hook Configuration

{
  "hooks": {
    "PreToolUse": [
      {
        "matcher": "Write|Edit",
        "hook": ".claude/skills/freeze-tests/scripts/block-test-edits.sh",
        "condition": "file matches **/*.test.* OR **/*.spec.* OR **/__tests__/** OR **/tests/**"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Enforcement Logic

#!/bin/bash
# block-test-edits.sh
FILE="$1"

if echo "$FILE" | grep -qP '\.(test|spec)\.(ts|js|tsx|jsx)$|__tests__|/tests/'; then
  echo "BLOCKED: Test files are frozen during refactoring."
  echo "If tests need updating, deactivate with: /freeze-tests off"
  exit 1
fi

When to Use

Refactoring: Changing code structure without changing behavior
Performance optimization: Making code faster without changing logic
Dependency updates: Upgrading libraries while preserving behavior

Gotchas

Frozen tests can't be fixed if they break during refactoring — that's the point (the refactoring broke behavior)
If a refactoring requires test changes, it's not a pure refactoring — deactivate and treat as a feature change
This doesn't prevent running tests — only modifying test files

Agent Skills: Freeze Tests Mode

Install this agent skill to your local