Generate From Template

Generate From Template Skill

You apply templates with {{VARIABLE}} placeholders and replace them with actual values using the template-engine.sh script.

1. Template Fidelity

   • ALWAYS use exact template path provided
   • NEVER modify template files
   • ALWAYS verify template exists before processing

2. Variable Substitution

   • ALWAYS replace all {{VARIABLES}} with provided values
   • ALWAYS report unreplaced variables as warnings
   • NEVER leave {{VARIABLES}} in output unless intentional

3. Output Handling

   • ALWAYS write to specified output file
   • ALWAYS verify output file was created
   • NEVER overwrite existing files without confirmation

4. Script Execution

   • ALWAYS use scripts/template-engine.sh for substitution
   • NEVER perform substitution manually
   • ALWAYS check script exit code

Example:

{
  "template_file": "plugins/faber-agent/templates/agent/manager.md.template",
  "output_file": "plugins/faber-data/agents/data-analyzer.md",
  "variables": {
    "AGENT_NAME": "data-analyzer",
    "AGENT_DISPLAY_NAME": "Data Analyzer",
    "AGENT_DESCRIPTION": "Orchestrates data analysis workflows",
    "AGENT_RESPONSIBILITY": "orchestrating complete data analysis workflows",
    "TOOLS": "Bash, Skill",
    "WORKFLOW_STEPS": "...",
    "COMPLETION_CRITERIA": "...",
    "OUTPUTS": "..."
  }
}

EXECUTE STEPS:

Step 1: Validate Inputs

Verify all required inputs are present:

if [ -z "$TEMPLATE_FILE" ]; then
    echo "Error: template_file is required"
    exit 1
fi

if [ -z "$OUTPUT_FILE" ]; then
    echo "Error: output_file is required"
    exit 1
fi

if [ -z "$VARIABLES_JSON" ]; then
    echo "Error: variables is required"
    exit 1
fi

Step 2: Verify Template Exists

Check that the template file exists:

if [ ! -f "$TEMPLATE_FILE" ]; then
    echo "Error: Template file not found: $TEMPLATE_FILE"
    exit 1
fi

Step 3: Execute Template Engine

Invoke the template-engine.sh script:

SCRIPT_DIR="$SKILL_DIR/scripts"
"$SCRIPT_DIR/template-engine.sh" "$TEMPLATE_FILE" "$OUTPUT_FILE" "$VARIABLES_JSON"
EXIT_CODE=$?

if [ $EXIT_CODE -ne 0 ]; then
    echo "Error: Template generation failed (exit code: $EXIT_CODE)"
    exit 1
fi

The template-engine.sh script will:

1. Read template content
2. Parse variables from JSON
3. Replace {{VARIABLE}} with values
4. Warn about unreplaced variables
5. Write output file

Step 4: Verify Output

Confirm output file was created:

if [ ! -f "$OUTPUT_FILE" ]; then
    echo "Error: Output file was not created: $OUTPUT_FILE"
    exit 1
fi

Check file is not empty:

if [ ! -s "$OUTPUT_FILE" ]; then
    echo "Warning: Output file is empty: $OUTPUT_FILE"
fi

Step 5: Report Results

Output success message with details.

OUTPUT COMPLETION MESSAGE:

✅ COMPLETED: Generate From Template
Generated: {output_file}
Size: {file_size} bytes
Variables applied: {variable_count}
───────────────────────────────────────
Next: Validate the generated artifact

IF FAILURE:

❌ FAILED: Generate From Template
Step: {failed_step}
Error: {error_message}
Resolution: Check template path, output path permissions, and variables JSON
───────────────────────────────────────

✅ 1. Template Processed

• Template file read successfully
• All variables in template identified

✅ 2. Variables Substituted

• All {{VARIABLES}} replaced with values from JSON
• No critical unreplaced variables remain
• Substitution warnings noted (if any)

✅ 3. Output Created

• Output file written successfully
• Output file is not empty
• Output file contains expected content

✅ 4. Verification Passed

• No script execution errors
• Exit code 0 from template-engine.sh
• Output file accessible

FAILURE CONDITIONS - Stop and report if: ❌ Template file not found (exit code 1) ❌ Output file cannot be written (exit code 1) ❌ Variables JSON malformed (exit code 1) ❌ Template-engine.sh fails (exit code 1)

PARTIAL COMPLETION - Not acceptable: ⚠️ Unreplaced variables in output → Warning, but continue ⚠️ Empty output file → Error, stop

{
  "status": "success",
  "template_file": "{template_file}",
  "output_file": "{output_file}",
  "variables_applied": {variable_count},
  "unreplaced_variables": [
    "{var1}",
    "{var2}"
  ],
  "file_size": {bytes}
}

On error:

{
  "status": "error",
  "error": "{error_message}",
  "step": "{failed_step}",
  "template_file": "{template_file}",
  "output_file": "{output_file}"
}

Template Not Found

Pattern: Template file path does not exist

Action:

1. Report exact path that was checked
2. List available templates in templates/ directory
3. Suggest correct path

Example:

Error: Template file not found
Path checked: plugins/faber-agent/templates/agent/manager.md.template
Available templates:
  • plugins/faber-agent/templates/agent/manager.md.template
  • plugins/faber-agent/templates/agent/handler.md.template
  • plugins/faber-agent/templates/skill/basic-skill.md.template

Output File Cannot Be Written

Pattern: Permission denied or directory doesn't exist

Action:

1. Check parent directory exists
2. Check write permissions
3. Suggest creating directory or fixing permissions

Variables JSON Malformed

Pattern: Cannot parse variables as JSON

Action:

1. Report JSON parsing error
2. Show the variables JSON that was provided
3. Suggest correct JSON format

Unreplaced Variables

Pattern: {{VARIABLES}} remain in output

Action:

1. List unreplaced variables
2. Continue with warning (not fatal)
3. Suggest adding missing variables

Example:

⚠️  Warning: Unreplaced variables found:
  • {{ADDITIONAL_NOTES}}
  • {{SEE_ALSO}}

These placeholders remain in the output file.
Consider adding these variables or removing them from template.

Integration

Invoked By:

• agent-creator agent (Phase 3: Build)
• skill-creator agent (Phase 3: Build)
• command-creator agent (Phase 3: Build)
• plugin-creator agent (Phase 3: Build)

Invokes:

• scripts/template-engine.sh (deterministic substitution)

Scripts:

• scripts/template-engine.sh - Variable substitution engine

Best Practices

1. Always validate inputs first - Catch errors early
2. Check template exists - Clear error if not found
3. Use script for substitution - Don't do it manually
4. Warn about unreplaced variables - Help catch missing data
5. Verify output - Ensure file was actually created

This skill provides deterministic template-based generation with clear error handling.