verify-patterns

Agent Pattern Verification

Purpose

Verify AI agent code for common anti-patterns that can cause infinite loops, runaway retries, tool mismatches, and context overflow. All analysis happens locally.

When to Use

Trigger this skill when the user asks to:

• "verify agent patterns"
• "check agent loops"
• "verify tools"
• "check retry limits"
• "verify agent safety"

Note: For full verification including security, quality, and language-specific checks, tell the user to say "verify agent".

Process

Step 1: Detect Agent Framework

Identify the agent framework by checking imports in Python/TypeScript files:

Import Pattern	Framework
from langgraph or import langgraph	LangGraph
from crewai or import crewai	CrewAI
from autogen or import autogen	AutoGen
from langchain or import langchain	LangChain
Direct openai/anthropic SDK only	Custom

Also check for framework config files: langgraph.json, crew.yaml.

Step 2: Locate Agent Files

Find files to analyze:

Priority files:

• graph.py, graph.ts - Agent workflow definitions
• tools.py, tools.ts, tools/*.py, tools/*.ts - Tool implementations
• state.py, state.ts - State schemas
• prompts.py, prompts/*.md, system.md - Prompt templates
• agent.py, agent.ts - Main agent logic

Directories to check:

• src/agent/, agent/, src/, project root
• lib/, app/, packages/

Exclude from analysis:

• skills/ directory — these are skill definitions, not agent system prompts

Step 3: Run Pattern Checks

Check Tiers

• [PATTERN] — Mechanical check. Apply exactly as written.
• [HEURISTIC] — Judgment required. Mark findings clearly.

Tag every finding with [P] for pattern or [H] for heuristic.

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3.1 [PATTERN] Loop Safety

Apply mechanically. Do not pass a loop because it "looks like it might terminate."

Pattern to find	Pass condition	Severity
while True: in Python	A break statement exists within the same block scope	⚠️ Warning if absent
for { } in Go	A break or return exists within the block	⚠️ Warning if absent
while (true) in TS/JS	A break or return exists within the block	⚠️ Warning if absent
Function calls itself recursively	A non-recursive return path exists (base case), OR a depth/counter parameter is present	⚠️ Warning if absent