# Path Coverage Designer

> path-coverage-designer

- Skill: `45ck/path-coverage-designer` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add 45ck/path-coverage-designer`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/45ck/path-coverage-designer/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: 45ck (https://skillmd.com/u/45ck)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/45ck/path-coverage-designer

---

# path-coverage-designer

## Purpose
Identify meaningful execution paths and design tests while being explicit about infeasible or exploding path counts.

## Trigger this skill when
- You need disciplined test design rather than ad hoc case generation.
- You need to justify why a test set is sufficient.
- You want a reusable artifact that can feed automation later.

## Expected inputs
- code or CFG
- path constraints
- loop handling assumptions

## Deliverables
- candidate paths
- selected paths
- infeasible path notes
- path-risk commentary

## Operating procedure
1. Identify feasible paths through the control flow, accounting for loops carefully.
2. Avoid fake exhaustiveness when path counts explode.
3. Choose the most risk-relevant and independent paths.
4. Separate selected, infeasible, and omitted paths.

## Quality gates
- Be explicit about infeasible, unreachable, or assumption-heavy cases.
- Prefer lean, justified test sets over exhaustive-looking noise.
- Keep expected outcomes observable and tied back to rules or logic.
- Show why each test exists, not just the test data.

## Handoff targets
- basis-path-tester
- cfg-builder
- coverage-goal-planner

## Output style
- Be explicit about uncertainty, infeasibility, and residual risk.
- Prefer compact, explainable artifacts over bloated lists.
- Tie tests back to rules, logic, or structure.
- Make expected outcomes observable.

## Failure modes to avoid
- Do not pretend all paths are feasible.
- Do not explode loops into nonsense path sets.
- Do not omit path-selection rationale.

## Minimum output skeleton
```md
## Summary
## Findings
## Structured outputs
## Coverage / rationale
## Assumptions
## Open questions
## Recommended next skill
```