tomevault-io Theater Code Detection
When to Use This Skill
Trigger Conditions:
- Before merging AI-generated code into main branch
- When code review reveals suspiciously complete implementations
- After detecting inconsistencies between documentation and behavior
- As pre-deployment quality gate for critical systems
- When integrating third-party or unfamiliar code
- During security audits to identify fake security measures
Situations Requiring Theater Detection:
- Code that compiles but doesn't execute meaningful logic
- Functions with proper signatures but no-op implementations
- Tests that always pass regardless of code changes
- Security checks that can be bypassed trivially
- Error handling that catches but doesn't handle errors
- Mock implementations accidentally left in production code
Overview
Theater code is code that "performs" correctness without delivering actual functionality. It passes static analysis, looks structurally sound, and may even have tests—but fails to implement the intended behavior. This skill systematically identifies theater code through pattern recognition, execution analysis, and behavioral validation.
The detection process scans codebases for suspicious patterns (empty catch blocks, no-op functions, always-passing tests), analyzes implementations for meaningful logic, executes code to validate actual behavior, and reports findings with actionable recommendations for remediation.
Phase 1: Scan Codebase (Parallel)
Agents: code-analyzer (lead), reviewer (validation) Duration: 10-15 minutes
Scripts:
# Initialize phase
npx claude-flow hooks pre-task --description "Phase 1: Scan Codebase for Theater Patterns"
npx claude-flow swarm init --topology mesh --max-agents 2
# Spawn agents
npx claude-flow agent spawn --type code-analyzer --capabilities "pattern-matching,ast-analysis,static-analysis"
npx claude-flow agent spawn --type reviewer --capabilities "code-quality,suspicious-pattern-detection"
# Memory coordination - define scan parameters
npx claude-flow memory store --key "testing/theater-detection/phase-1/analyzer/scan-config" --value '{"patterns":["empty-catch","no-op-function","always-pass-test"],"severity":"high"}'
# Execute phase work
# 1. Scan for empty catch blocks
echo "Scanning for empty error handlers..."
grep -r "catch\s*(\w*)\s*{\s*}" --include="*.js" --include="*.ts" . > empty-catches.txt || true
# 2. Scan for no-op functions
grep -r "function\s+\w+.*{\s*return\s*[;}]" --include="*.js" --include="*.ts" . > noop-functions.txt || true
# 3. Scan for always-passing tests
grep -r "expect(true).toBe(true)" --include="*.test.js" --include="*.test.ts" . > always-pass-tests.txt || true
# 4. Scan for TODO/FIXME/HACK comments indicating incomplete work
grep -rn "TODO\|FIXME\|HACK" --include="*.js" --include="*.ts" . > incomplete-markers.txt || true
# 5. Scan for suspicious imports (unused, test doubles in production)
echo "Analyzing imports..."
cat > scan-imports.js << 'EOF'
const fs = require('fs');
const path = require('path');
function scanImports(dir) {
const suspicious = [];
function walkDir(currentPath) {
const files = fs.readdirSync(currentPath);
files.forEach(file => {
const filePath = path.join(currentPath, file);
const stat = fs.statSync(filePath);
if (stat.isDirectory() && !file.includes('node_modules')) {
walkDir(filePath);
} else if (file.endsWith('.js') || file.endsWith('.ts')) {
const content = fs.readFileSync(filePath, 'utf-8');
// Check for mock imports in production code
if (!filePath.includes('test') && content.includes("'mock'")) {
suspicious.push({
file: filePath,
reason: 'Mock import in production code',
line: content.split('\n').findIndex(l => l.includes("'mock'")) + 1
});
}
// Check for unused imports
const importMatch = content.match(/import\s+{([^}]+)}\s+from/g);
if (importMatch) {
importMatch.forEach(imp => {
const symbols = imp.match(/{([^}]+)}/)[1].split(',').map(s => s.trim());
symbols.forEach(symbol => {
const usageCount = (content.match(new RegExp(`\\b${symbol}\\b`, 'g')) || []).length;
if (usageCount === 1) { // Only appears in import
suspicious.push({
file: filePath,
reason: `Unused import: ${symbol}`,
line: content.split('\n').findIndex(l => l.includes(symbol)) + 1
});
}
});
});
}
}
});
}
walkDir(dir);
return suspicious;
}
const results = scanImports(process.cwd());
fs.writeFileSync('suspicious-imports.json', JSON.stringify(results, null, 2));
EOF
node scan-imports.js
# 6. Compile scan results
cat > scan-summary.json << 'EOF'
{
"empty_catches": 0,
"noop_functions": 0,
"always_pass_tests": 0,
"incomplete_markers": 0,
"suspicious_imports": 0,
"total_issues": 0,
"scanned_at": ""
}
EOF
# Update with actual counts
EMPTY_CATCHES=$(wc -l < empty-catches.txt)
NOOP_FUNCTIONS=$(wc -l < noop-functions.txt)
ALWAYS_PASS=$(wc -l < always-pass-tests.txt)
INCOMPLETE=$(wc -l < incomplete-markers.txt)
SUSPICIOUS_IMPORTS=$(jq 'length' suspicious-imports.json)
TOTAL=$((EMPTY_CATCHES + NOOP_FUNCTIONS + ALWAYS_PASS + INCOMPLETE + SUSPICIOUS_IMPORTS))
jq --arg ec "$EMPTY_CATCHES" \
--arg nf "$NOOP_FUNCTIONS" \
--arg ap "$ALWAYS_PASS" \
--arg im "$INCOMPLETE" \
--arg si "$SUSPICIOUS_IMPORTS" \
--arg total "$TOTAL" \
--arg ts "$(date -Iseconds)" \
'.empty_catches = ($ec | tonumber) |
.noop_functions = ($nf | tonumber) |
.always_pass_tests = ($ap | tonumber) |
.incomplete_markers = ($im | tonumber) |
.suspicious_imports = ($si | tonumber) |
.total_issues = ($total | tonumber) |
.scanned_at = $ts' \
scan-summary.json > scan-summary-updated.json
mv scan-summary-updated.json scan-summary.json
# Store results
npx claude-flow memory store --key "testing/theater-detection/phase-1/analyzer/scan-results" --value "$(cat scan-summary.json)"
# Complete phase
npx claude-flow hooks post-task --task-id "phase-1-scan"
Memory Pattern:
- Input:
testing/theater-detection/phase-0/user/codebase-path - Output:
testing/theater-detection/phase-1/analyzer/scan-results - Shared:
testing/theater-detection/shared/suspicious-files
Success Criteria:
- Complete codebase scanned for all pattern types
- All suspicious patterns extracted and counted
- Scan results compiled into structured format
- No false positives (validated by reviewer agent)
- Results stored in memory for next phase
Deliverables:
- Scan summary JSON with issue counts
- Pattern-specific result files (empty-catches.txt, etc.)
- Suspicious imports analysis
- File-level issue mapping
Phase 2: Analyze Implementation (Sequential)
Agents: code-analyzer (lead), reviewer (depth analysis) Duration: 15-20 minutes
Scripts:
# Initialize phase
npx claude-flow hooks pre-task --description "Phase 2: Analyze Implementation Depth"
npx claude-flow swarm scale --target-agents 2
# Retrieve scan results
SCAN_RESULTS=$(npx claude-flow memory retrieve --key "testing/theater-detection/phase-1/analyzer/scan-results")
# Memory coordination
npx claude-flow memory store --key "testing/theater-detection/phase-2/analyzer/analysis-depth" --value '{"ast_parsing":true,"control_flow":true,"data_flow":true}'
# Execute phase work
# 1. Deep analysis of flagged files
echo "Performing deep implementation analysis..."
# Create analysis script
cat > analyze-implementation.js << 'EOF'
const fs = require('fs');
const path = require('path');
function analyzeImplementation(filePath) {
const content = fs.readFileSync(filePath, 'utf-8');
const analysis = {
file: filePath,
theater_indicators: [],
confidence_score: 0
};
// Check for meaningful logic
const lines = content.split('\n').filter(l => l.trim() && !l.trim().startsWith('//'));
const codeLines = lines.length;
const commentLines = content.split('\n').filter(l => l.trim().startsWith('//')).length;
if (commentLines > codeLines) {
analysis.theater_indicators.push('More comments than code - possible placeholder');
}
// Check for actual computation
const hasComputation = /[\+\-\*\/\%]/.test(content) ||
/if\s*\(/.test(content) ||
/for\s*\(/.test(content) ||
/while\s*\(/.test(content);
if (!hasComputation && codeLines > 5) {
analysis.theater_indicators.push('No computational logic despite size');
}
// Check for data transformation
const hasTransformation = /\.map\(|\.filter\(|\.reduce\(/.test(content) ||
/Object\.(keys|values|entries)/.test(content);
// Check function return values
const returnMatches = content.match(/return\s+([^;]+);/g) || [];
const trivialReturns = returnMatches.filter(r =>
r.includes('return null') ||
r.includes('return undefined') ||
r.includes('return true') ||
r.includes('return false') ||
r.includes('return {}') ||
r.includes('return []')
);
if (trivialReturns.length > returnMatches.length * 0.5) {
analysis.theater_indicators.push('Majority of returns are trivial values');
}
// Check for error handling theater
const catchBlocks = content.match(/catch\s*\([^)]*\)\s*{([^}]*)}/g) || [];
const emptyCatches = catchBlocks.filter(c => {
const body = c.match(/{([^}]*)}/)[1].trim();
return body === '' || body === 'console.log' || body.includes('// TODO');
});
if (emptyCatches.length > 0) {
analysis.theater_indicators.push(`${emptyCatches.length} empty catch blocks`);
}
// Calculate confidence score (0-100)
analysis.confidence_score = Math.min(100, analysis.theater_indicators.length * 20);
return analysis;
}
// Analyze all suspicious files
const suspiciousFiles = [
...fs.readFileSync('empty-catches.txt', 'utf-8').split('\n').filter(Boolean).map(l => l.split(':')[0]),
...fs.readFileSync('noop-functions.txt', 'utf-8').split('\n').filter(Boolean).map(l => l.split(':')[0])
];
const uniqueFiles = [...new Set(suspiciousFiles)];
const analyses = uniqueFiles.map(analyzeImplementation);
// Filter high-confidence theater code
const theaterCode = analyses.filter(a => a.confidence_score >= 40);
fs.writeFileSync('theater-analysis.json', JSON.stringify({
total_analyzed: analyses.length,
theater_detected: theaterCode.length,
files: theaterCode
}, null, 2));
console.log(`Analyzed ${analyses.length} files, detected ${theaterCode.length} theater implementations`);
EOF
node analyze-implementation.js
# 2. Categorize by severity
cat > categorize-theater.js << 'EOF'
const fs = require('fs');
const analysis = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync('theater-analysis.json', 'utf-8'));
const categories = {
critical: [], // Code that doesn't work at all
high: [], // Code with major functionality gaps
medium: [], // Code with minor theater elements
low: [] // Code with potential improvements
};
analysis.files.forEach(file => {
const score = file.confidence_score;
const indicators = file.theater_indicators;
if (score >= 80 || indicators.some(i => i.includes('empty catch'))) {
categories.critical.push(file);
} else if (score >= 60) {
categories.high.push(file);
} else if (score >= 40) {
categories.medium.push(file);
} else {
categories.low.push(file);
}
});
fs.writeFileSync('theater-categories.json', JSON.stringify(categories, null, 2));
console.log('Critical:', categories.critical.length);
console.log('High:', categories.high.length);
console.log('Medium:', categories.medium.length);
console.log('Low:', categories.low.length);
EOF
node categorize-theater.js
# Store analysis results
npx claude-flow memory store --key "testing/theater-detection/phase-2/analyzer/theater-analysis" --value "$(cat theater-analysis.json)"
npx claude-flow memory store --key "testing/theater-detection/phase-2/analyzer/categories" --value "$(cat theater-categories.json)"
# Complete phase
npx claude-flow hooks post-task --task-id "phase-2-analyze"
Memory Pattern:
- Input:
testing/theater-detection/phase-1/analyzer/scan-results - Output:
testing/theater-detection/phase-2/analyzer/theater-analysis - Shared:
testing/theater-detection/shared/analysis-results
Success Criteria:
- All flagged files analyzed for implementation depth
- Theater indicators identified with confidence scores
- Issues categorized by severity (critical, high, medium, low)
- Analysis results structured and comprehensive
- Results validated by reviewer agent
Deliverables:
- Theater analysis JSON with confidence scores
- Severity categorization (critical/high/medium/low)
- Per-file theater indicators list
- Implementation depth assessment
Phase 3: Test Execution (Parallel)
Agents: tester (lead), code-analyzer (support) Duration: 15-20 minutes
Scripts:
# Initialize phase
npx claude-flow hooks pre-task --description "Phase 3: Test Execution Validation"
npx claude-flow swarm scale --target-agents 2
# Retrieve analysis results
THEATER_ANALYSIS=$(npx claude-flow memory retrieve --key "testing/theater-detection/phase-2/analyzer/theater-analysis")
# Memory coordination
npx claude-flow memory store --key "testing/theater-detection/phase-3/tester/test-strategy" --value '{"execution_validation":true,"behavior_testing":true,"edge_case_testing":true}'
# Execute phase work
# 1. Create execution validation tests
echo "Creating execution validation tests..."
cat > execution-validator.test.js << 'EOF'
const fs = require('fs');
const theaterFiles = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync('theater-analysis.json', 'utf-8')).files;
describe('Theater Code Execution Validation', () => {
theaterFiles.forEach(fileData => {
describe(`File: ${fileData.file}`, () => {
test('should execute without errors', () => {
try {
const module = require(`./${fileData.file}`);
expect(module).toBeDefined();
} catch (error) {
// If it can't even load, it's definitely theater
expect(error).toBeUndefined();
}
});
test('should have non-trivial exports', () => {
try {
const module = require(`./${fileData.file}`);
const exports = Object.keys(module);
// Check that exports exist and aren't just empty objects
expect(exports.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
exports.forEach(exp => {
if (typeof module[exp] === 'function') {
// Check function isn't just "return null"
const fnString = module[exp].toString();
expect(fnString.length).toBeGreaterThan(50); // More than trivial implementation
}
});
} catch (error) {
// Module doesn't load properly
fail(`Cannot validate exports: ${error.message}`);
}
});
test('should produce meaningful output', () => {
try {
const module = require(`./${fileData.file}`);
// For each exported function, call with sample input
Object.keys(module).forEach(key => {
if (typeof module[key] === 'function') {
// Try calling with various inputs
const results = [
module[key](),
module[key](null),
module[key]({}),
module[key]('test')
];
// Check that results vary (not always same trivial value)
const uniqueResults = new Set(results.map(r => JSON.stringify(r)));
// If all results identical, likely theater
if (uniqueResults.size === 1) {
const result = results[0];
// Exception: if result is complex object, might be OK
if (result === null || result === undefined ||
result === true || result === false ||
(typeof result === 'object' && Object.keys(result).length === 0)) {
fail(`Function ${key} returns trivial constant`);
}
}
}
});
} catch (error) {
// Some execution occurred, which is better than nothing
console.log(`Execution validation: ${error.message}`);
}
});
});
});
});
EOF
# 2. Run execution validation
npm test -- execution-validator.test.js --verbose > execution-validation.log 2>&1
EXECUTION_EXIT_CODE=$?
# 3. Analyze test results
cat > analyze-execution.js << 'EOF'
const fs = require('fs');
const log = fs.readFileSync('execution-validation.log', 'utf-8');
const results = {
files_tested: 0,
files_failed_load: 0,
files_trivial_exports: 0,
files_constant_output: 0,
confirmed_theater: []
};
// Parse test output
const fileTests = log.split('File:').slice(1);
fileTests.forEach(section => {
const fileName = section.split('\n')[0].trim();
results.files_tested++;
if (section.includes('Cannot validate exports')) {
results.files_failed_load++;
results.confirmed_theater.push({
file: fileName,
reason: 'Failed to load or execute'
});
} else if (section.includes('returns trivial constant')) {
results.files_constant_output++;
results.confirmed_theater.push({
file: fileName,
reason: 'Returns constant trivial values'
});
} else if (section.includes('FAIL')) {
results.files_trivial_exports++;
results.confirmed_theater.push({
file: fileName,
reason: 'Trivial or no-op implementation'
});
}
});
fs.writeFileSync('execution-results.json', JSON.stringify(results, null, 2));
console.log(`Confirmed theater code: ${results.confirmed_theater.length} files`);
EOF
node analyze-execution.js
# Store execution results
npx claude-flow memory store --key "testing/theater-detection/phase-3/tester/execution-results" --value "$(cat execution-results.json)"
# Complete phase
npx claude-flow hooks post-task --task-id "phase-3-execute"
Memory Pattern:
- Input:
testing/theater-detection/phase-2/analyzer/theater-analysis - Output:
testing/theater-detection/phase-3/tester/execution-results - Shared:
testing/theater-detection/shared/execution-logs
Success Criteria:
- All suspected theater code executed and validated
- Execution behavior analyzed for meaningfulness
- Confirmed theater code identified with reasons
- Test results comprehensive and conclusive
- Results stored for reporting phase
Deliverables:
- Execution validation test suite
- Execution results JSON with confirmed theater
- Test execution logs
- Behavior analysis report
Phase 4: Report Findings (Sequential)
Agents: reviewer (lead), code-analyzer (summary) Duration: 10-15 minutes
Scripts:
# Initialize phase
npx claude-flow hooks pre-task --description "Phase 4: Report Theater Detection Findings"
npx claude-flow swarm scale --target-agents 2
# Retrieve all phase results
SCAN_RESULTS=$(npx claude-flow memory retrieve --key "testing/theater-detection/phase-1/analyzer/scan-results")
THEATER_ANALYSIS=$(npx claude-flow memory retrieve --key "testing/theater-detection/phase-2/analyzer/theater-analysis")
CATEGORIES=$(npx claude-flow memory retrieve --key "testing/theater-detection/phase-2/analyzer/categories")
EXECUTION=$(npx claude-flow memory retrieve --key "testing/theater-detection/phase-3/tester/execution-results")
# Execute phase work
# 1. Generate comprehensive report
cat > theater-detection-report.md << EOF
# Theater Code Detection Report
**Generated:** $(date)
**Scan Duration:** Phase 1-4 completed
## Executive Summary
### Overview
- **Total Issues Found:** $(echo $SCAN_RESULTS | jq -r '.total_issues')
- **Confirmed Theater Code:** $(echo $EXECUTION | jq -r '.confirmed_theater | length')
- **Critical Issues:** $(echo $CATEGORIES | jq -r '.critical | length')
- **High Priority Issues:** $(echo $CATEGORIES | jq -r '.high | length')
### Impact Assessment
$(echo $EXECUTION | jq -r 'if (.confirmed_theater | length) > 0 then "⚠️ THEATER CODE DETECTED - Code appears functional but lacks implementation" else "✅ No theater code detected" end')
---
## Phase 1: Codebase Scan Results
### Pattern Detection
- **Empty Catch Blocks:** $(echo $SCAN_RESULTS | jq -r '.empty_catches')
- **No-Op Functions:** $(echo $SCAN_RESULTS | jq -r '.noop_functions')
- **Always-Pass Tests:** $(echo $SCAN_RESULTS | jq -r '.always_pass_tests')
- **Incomplete Markers (TODO/FIXME):** $(echo $SCAN_RESULTS | jq -r '.incomplete_markers')
- **Suspicious Imports:** $(echo $SCAN_RESULTS | jq -r '.suspicious_imports')
---
## Phase 2: Implementation Analysis
### Theater Code by Severity
#### Critical (Immediate Action Required)
$(echo $CATEGORIES | jq -r '.critical[] | "- **\(.file)**\n Confidence: \(.confidence_score)%\n Indicators:\n\(.theater_indicators | map(" - " + .) | join("\n"))\n"')
#### High Priority
$(echo $CATEGORIES | jq -r '.high[] | "- **\(.file)**\n Confidence: \(.confidence_score)%\n Indicators:\n\(.theater_indicators | map(" - " + .) | join("\n"))\n"')
#### Medium Priority
$(echo $CATEGORIES | jq -r '.medium[] | "- **\(.file)**\n Confidence: \(.confidence_score)%\n"')
---
## Phase 3: Execution Validation
### Execution Test Results
- **Files Tested:** $(echo $EXECUTION | jq -r '.files_tested')
- **Failed to Load:** $(echo $EXECUTION | jq -r '.files_failed_load')
- **Trivial Exports:** $(echo $EXECUTION | jq -r '.files_trivial_exports')
- **Constant Output:** $(echo $EXECUTION | jq -r '.files_constant_output')
### Confirmed Theater Code
$(echo $EXECUTION | jq -r '.confirmed_theater[] | "- **\(.file)**\n Reason: \(.reason)\n"')
---
## Recommendations
### Immediate Actions (Critical)
1. **Replace Theater Implementations**
- Review all files in Critical category
- Implement actual business logic
- Add meaningful error handling
2. **Fix Empty Error Handlers**
- Add proper error logging and recovery
- Ensure errors propagate appropriately
- Document error handling strategy
3. **Remove Always-Pass Tests**
- Replace with meaningful assertions
- Test actual behavior, not constants
- Increase test coverage for critical paths
### Short-Term Actions (High Priority)
1. **Implement No-Op Functions**
- Replace stub functions with real logic
- Add comprehensive documentation
- Update tests to cover new implementations
2. **Clean Up Incomplete Code**
- Address all TODO/FIXME markers
- Complete partial implementations
- Remove dead code
### Long-Term Actions (Prevention)
1. **Establish Code Review Process**
- Manual review for AI-generated code
- Automated theater detection in CI/CD
- Pair programming for critical components
2. **Improve Testing Standards**
- Require meaningful test assertions
- Enforce coverage thresholds
- Validate behavior, not just structure
3. **Training and Documentation**
- Educate team on theater code patterns
- Document implementation expectations
- Create quality standards guide
---
## Artifacts
- Scan results: \`scan-summary.json\`
- Theater analysis: \`theater-analysis.json\`
- Severity categories: \`theater-categories.json\`
- Execution results: \`execution-results.json\`
- Detailed logs: \`execution-validation.log\`
---
## Next Steps
$(echo $EXECUTION | jq -r 'if (.confirmed_theater | length) > 0 then "1. Review all confirmed theater code files\n2. Prioritize fixes by severity (Critical → High → Medium)\n3. Implement actual functionality for flagged code\n4. Re-run theater detection after fixes\n5. Update tests to prevent future theater code" else "✅ Codebase appears free of theater code. Continue with standard quality assurance processes." end')
EOF
# 2. Generate summary metrics
cat > theater-metrics.json << EOF
{
"scan_timestamp": "$(date -Iseconds)",
"total_issues_found": $(echo $SCAN_RESULTS | jq -r '.total_issues'),
"confirmed_theater_count": $(echo $EXECUTION | jq -r '.confirmed_theater | length'),
"critical_count": $(echo $CATEGORIES | jq -r '.critical | length'),
"high_priority_count": $(echo $CATEGORIES | jq -r '.high | length'),
"medium_priority_count": $(echo $CATEGORIES | jq -r '.medium | length'),
"files_analyzed": $(echo $THEATER_ANALYSIS | jq -r '.total_analyzed'),
"theater_detected": $(echo $THEATER_ANALYSIS | jq -r '.theater_detected'),
"execution_tests_run": $(echo $EXECUTION | jq -r '.files_tested')
}
EOF
# Store final report
npx claude-flow memory store --key "testing/theater-detection/final-report" --value "$(cat theater-detection-report.md)"
npx claude-flow memory store --key "testing/theater-detection/final-metrics" --value "$(cat theater-metrics.json)"
# Complete phase and export metrics
npx claude-flow hooks post-task --task-id "phase-4-report" --export-metrics true
Memory Pattern:
- Input:
testing/theater-detection/phase-{1-3}/*/output - Output:
testing/theater-detection/final-report - Shared:
testing/theater-detection/shared/complete-analysis
Success Criteria:
- Comprehensive report generated with all findings
- Issues categorized by severity with clear priorities
- Actionable recommendations provided
- Metrics compiled for tracking and trends
- Results stored in memory for future reference
Deliverables:
- Theater detection report (Markdown)
- Metrics dashboard (JSON)
- Recommendations document
- Complete artifact package
Phase 5: Fix Issues (Sequential)
Agents: coder (lead), reviewer (validation) Duration: 30-60 minutes (varies by issue count)
Scripts:
# Initialize phase
npx claude-flow hooks pre-task --description "Phase 5: Fix Theater Code Issues"
npx claude-flow swarm scale --target-agents 2
# Retrieve confirmed theater code
EXECUTION=$(npx claude-flow memory retrieve --key "testing/theater-detection/phase-3/tester/execution-results")
CATEGORIES=$(npx claude-flow memory retrieve --key "testing/theater-detection/phase-2/analyzer/categories")
# Memory coordination
npx claude-flow memory store --key "testing/theater-detection/phase-5/coder/fix-strategy" --value '{"priority":"critical-first","validation":"immediate","backup":"enabled"}'
# Execute phase work
# 1. Create backup of original files
echo "Creating backups before fixes..."
mkdir -p .theater-detection-backups
echo $EXECUTION | jq -r '.confirmed_theater[].file' | while read file; do
[ -f "$file" ] && cp "$file" ".theater-detection-backups/$(basename $file).backup"
done
# 2. Fix critical issues first (empty catches, no-ops)
echo "Fixing critical theater code..."
# Example: Fix empty catch blocks
find . -name "*.js" -type f ! -path "./node_modules/*" -exec sed -i.bak \
's/catch\s*(\s*\(\w\+\)\s*)\s*{\s*}/catch (\1) {\n console.error("Error caught:", \1);\n throw \1;\n }/g' {} \;
# Example: Fix no-op functions (requires manual review)
cat > fix-guide.md << 'EOF'
# Theater Code Fix Guide
## Files Requiring Manual Fixes
The following files contain theater code that requires manual implementation:
EOF
echo $CATEGORIES | jq -r '.critical[] | .file' | while read file; do
echo "### $file" >> fix-guide.md
echo "Indicators:" >> fix-guide.md
echo $CATEGORIES | jq -r --arg f "$file" '.critical[] | select(.file == $f) | .theater_indicators[]' | \
sed 's/^/- /' >> fix-guide.md
echo "" >> fix-guide.md
done
# 3. Validate fixes don't break existing functionality
npm test > fix-validation.log 2>&1
FIX_EXIT_CODE=$?
if [ $FIX_EXIT_CODE -ne 0 ]; then
echo "⚠️ Fixes introduced test failures. Review fix-validation.log"
fi
# 4. Track fixes applied
cat > fixes-applied.json << EOF
{
"timestamp": "$(date -Iseconds)",
"automated_fixes": {
"empty_catches": "Added error logging and re-throw",
"count": $(find . -name "*.js.bak" -type f ! -path "./node_modules/*" | wc -l)
},
"manual_fixes_required": $(echo $CATEGORIES | jq -r '.critical | length'),
"fix_guide": "fix-guide.md",
"validation_passed": $([ $FIX_EXIT_CODE -eq 0 ] && echo "true" || echo "false")
}
EOF
# Store fix results
npx claude-flow memory store --key "testing/theater-detection/phase-5/coder/fixes-applied" --value "$(cat fixes-applied.json)"
# Complete phase
npx claude-flow hooks post-task --task-id "phase-5-fix"
npx claude-flow hooks session-end --export-metrics true
Memory Pattern:
- Input:
testing/theater-detection/phase-3/tester/execution-results - Output:
testing/theater-detection/phase-5/coder/fixes-applied - Shared:
testing/theater-detection/shared/fix-tracking
Success Criteria:
- All critical theater code addressed (automated or manual)
- Backups created before modifications
- Fixes validated through test execution
- Manual fix guide created for complex cases
- Fix results tracked and stored
Deliverables:
- Fixed code files
- Backup files for rollback
- Fix validation test results
- Manual fix guide for remaining issues
- Fixes tracking JSON
Memory Coordination
Namespace Convention
testing/theater-detection/phase-{N}/{agent-type}/{data-type}
Examples:
testing/theater-detection/phase-1/analyzer/scan-resultstesting/theater-detection/phase-2/analyzer/theater-analysistesting/theater-detection/phase-3/tester/execution-resultstesting/theater-detection/phase-4/reviewer/final-reporttesting/theater-detection/shared/suspicious-files
Cross-Agent Sharing
// Store scan results for analysis phase
mcp__claude_flow__memory_store({
key: "testing/theater-detection/phase-1/analyzer/output",
value: JSON.stringify({
status: "complete",
results: {
empty_catches: 12,
noop_functions: 8,
always_pass_tests: 3,
total_issues: 23
},
timestamp: Date.now(),
artifacts: {
scan_summary: "scan-summary.json",
suspicious_files: ["auth.js", "payment.js", "logger.js"]
}
})
})
// Retrieve for downstream analysis
mcp__claude_flow__memory_retrieve({
key: "testing/theater-detection/phase-1/analyzer/output"
}).then(data => {
const scanResults = JSON.parse(data);
console.log(`Found ${scanResults.results.total_issues} potential theater code issues`);
})
Automation Scripts
Hook Integration
# Pre-task hook - Initialize detection session
npx claude-flow hooks pre-task \
--description "Theater code detection for repository: my-app" \
--session-id "theater-detection-$(date +%s)"
# Post-edit hook - Track code changes during fixes
npx claude-flow hooks post-edit \
--file "src/auth/login.js" \
--memory-key "testing/theater-detection/coder/edits"
# Post-task hook - Finalize and export metrics
npx claude-flow hooks post-task \
--task-id "theater-detection" \
--export-metrics true
# Session end - Generate summary
npx claude-flow hooks session-end \
--export-metrics true \
--summary "Theater detection completed: 8 issues found, 5 fixed automatically, 3 require manual review"
Evidence-Based Validation
Self-Consistency Checking
Before finalizing each phase:
Does this approach align with successful past work?
- Compare detection patterns with known theater code examples
- Validate analysis methods against proven techniques
- Ensure fix strategies follow established best practices
Do the outputs support the stated objectives?
- Verify detected issues are actually theater code, not false positives
- Confirm analysis identifies root causes accurately
- Ensure fixes resolve issues without introducing new problems
Is the chosen method appropriate for the context?
- Match detection depth to codebase size and criticality
- Scale analysis effort based on project risk profile
- Apply fix complexity proportional to issue severity
Are there any internal contradictions?
- Check that execution validation aligns with static analysis
- Verify severity categorization matches actual impact
- Confirm fixed code passes tests and meets requirements
Program-of-Thought Decomposition
Define objective precisely
- Objective: Identify non-functional code masquerading as complete
- Success metric: 100% of theater code detected and reported
- Constraint: Minimize false positives (< 10%)
Decompose into sub-goals
- Sub-goal 1: Scan codebase for suspicious patterns
- Sub-goal 2: Analyze implementations for meaningful logic
- Sub-goal 3: Validate actual execution behavior
- Sub-goal 4: Report findings with actionable recommendations
- Sub-goal 5: Apply fixes and validate no regressions
Identify dependencies
- Scanning must complete before analysis
- Analysis must complete before execution validation
- Validation must complete before reporting
- Reporting must complete before fixes
Evaluate options
- Detection approaches: Pattern matching vs. AST analysis vs. execution testing
- Analysis depth: Surface-level vs. deep semantic analysis
- Fix strategies: Automated vs. manual vs. hybrid
Synthesize solution
- Combine pattern matching for initial detection
- Use semantic analysis to reduce false positives
- Validate with execution tests for definitive confirmation
- Provide both automated fixes and manual guidance
Plan-and-Solve Framework
Planning Phase:
- Define theater code patterns to detect
- Establish confidence thresholds for categorization
- Determine execution validation strategy
- Create fix prioritization framework
Validation Gate 1: Review strategy
- Does pattern list cover known theater types?
- Are confidence thresholds appropriate?
- Is execution validation comprehensive?
- Are fix strategies sound?
Implementation Phase:
- Execute Phases 1-5 with continuous monitoring
- Track detection accuracy and false positive rate
- Validate fixes don't break existing tests
- Document findings and recommendations
Validation Gate 2: Verify outputs
- All theater code detected (no false negatives)
- False positive rate < 10%
- Fixes applied successfully without regressions
- Report comprehensive and actionable
Optimization Phase:
- Refine detection patterns based on findings
- Improve analysis heuristics
- Enhance automated fix capabilities
- Update prevention recommendations
Validation Gate 3: Confirm targets met
- Theater code eliminated or documented
- Quality gates updated to prevent recurrence
- Team educated on patterns
- Monitoring established for future detection
Integration with Other Skills
Related Skills:
when-validating-code-works-use-functionality-audit- Validates fixed code actually workswhen-reviewing-code-comprehensively-use-code-review-assistant- Comprehensive review including theater detectionwhen-verifying-quality-use-verification-quality- Quality validation with theater checkswhen-auditing-code-style-use-style-audit- Style audit complementary to theater detection
Coordination Points:
- Run theater detection before functionality audit to filter obvious issues
- Integrate theater detection into code review workflow
- Use quality verification to validate theater fixes
- Combine with style audit for comprehensive quality check
Memory Sharing:
# Share theater detection results with functionality audit
npx claude-flow memory store \
--key "functionality-audit/input/theater-cleared" \
--value "$(cat theater-detection-report.md)"
# Retrieve code review context
npx claude-flow memory retrieve \
--key "code-review/output/suspicious-patterns"
Common Issues and Solutions
Issue 1: High False Positive Rate
Symptoms: Many flagged files are actually functional Root Cause: Detection patterns too broad or strict Solution:
- Refine detection heuristics with more context
- Add AST-based semantic analysis
- Increase confidence threshold for categorization
- Manual review of borderline cases
Issue 2: Theater Code Not Detected
Symptoms: Known theater code passes detection Root Cause: Patterns don't match specific theater style Solution:
- Expand pattern library with new examples
- Add execution validation for all suspicious files
- Lower confidence threshold temporarily
- Perform manual audit of high-risk areas
Issue 3: Execution Validation Crashes
Symptoms: Test runner fails during validation Root Cause: Code has runtime dependencies or side effects Solution:
# Isolate execution in sandbox
docker run -it --rm -v $(pwd):/workspace node:18 bash -c "cd /workspace && npm test"
# Mock external dependencies
cat > test-setup.js << 'EOF'
global.fetch = jest.fn();
global.console = { log: jest.fn(), error: jest.fn() };
EOF
Issue 4: Automated Fixes Break Tests
Symptoms: Test suite fails after applying fixes Root Cause: Fixes too aggressive or context-unaware Solution:
- Create backups before any fixes
- Apply fixes incrementally and validate each
- Prefer manual review for complex cases
- Revert problematic fixes and document
Issue 5: Unable to Fix Complex Theater Code
Symptoms: Clear theater detected but fix is non-trivial Root Cause: Missing requirements or business logic knowledge Solution:
- Generate detailed fix guide with context
- Flag for manual developer review
- Document expected behavior from tests/docs
- Create stub implementations with TODOs
Examples
Example 1: Detecting Empty Error Handlers
# Scan for empty catches
grep -rn "catch.*{}" src/
# Output:
# src/auth/login.js:45: } catch (error) {}
# src/api/client.js:102: } catch (e) {}
# Analyze implementation
cat src/auth/login.js | sed -n '40,50p'
# Shows: try { await authenticate() } catch (error) {}
# Theater indicator: Errors silently swallowed
# Fix: Add proper error handling
sed -i 's/catch (error) {}/catch (error) { console.error("Authentication failed:", error); throw error; }/' src/auth/login.js
Example 2: Detecting No-Op Function
// Detected theater code
function validatePayment(transaction) {
// TODO: Implement payment validation
return true; // Always returns true!
}
// Analysis indicators:
// - Function always returns true
// - No computation or validation logic
// - TODO comment indicates incomplete work
// Fix: Implement actual validation
function validatePayment(transaction) {
if (!transaction || typeof transaction !== 'object') {
throw new Error('Invalid transaction object');
}
if (!transaction.amount || transaction.amount <= 0) {
throw new Error('Invalid transaction amount');
}
if (!transaction.currency || !['USD', 'EUR', 'GBP'].includes(transaction.currency)) {
throw new Error('Unsupported currency');
}
return true;
}
Example 3: Detecting Always-Pass Test
// Detected theater test
describe('Payment Processing', () => {
test('processes payment correctly', () => {
expect(true).toBe(true); // Always passes!
});
});
// Analysis indicators:
// - Test assertion is tautology (true === true)
// - No actual code execution or validation
// - Provides false confidence in functionality
// Fix: Test actual behavior
describe('Payment Processing', () => {
test('processes payment correctly', async () => {
const transaction = {
amount: 100,
currency: 'USD',
method: 'credit_card'
};
const result = await processPayment(transaction);
expect(result).toHaveProperty('status');
expect(result.status).toBe('success');
expect(result).toHaveProperty('transactionId');
expect(typeof result.transactionId).toBe('string');
});
test('rejects invalid payment', async () => {
const transaction = { amount: -50 };
await expect(processPayment(transaction))
.rejects
.toThrow('Invalid transaction amount');
}
…(truncated)