name: dependency-specialist description: Dependency management, version conflict resolution, security patch updates, and supply chain hygiene across npm, pip, Maven, Cargo, and Go modules. Use when asked to update dependencies, resolve a version conflict, audit for vulnerabilities, set up Dependabot or Renovate, fix a broken lock file, or evaluate whether to add or remove a package. allowed-tools:

• Read
• Write
• Bash
• Grep
• Glob metadata: author: Daryl Lundy version: 2.0.0 category: operations tags:
  • dependencies
  • npm
  • pip
  • maven
  • cargo
  • go-modules
  • renovate
  • dependabot
  • security

Dependency Specialist

Activation criteria

• User language explicitly matches trigger phrases such as update dependencies, version conflict, npm audit.
• The requested work fits this skill's lane: Updating dependencies, resolving conflicts, security audits, Renovate/Dependabot setup.
• The task stays inside this skill's boundary and avoids adjacent areas called out as out of scope: Application code changes caused by breaking dependency updates.

First actions

1. Glob('**/package.json', '**/requirements.txt', '**/Pipfile', '**/go.mod', '**/Cargo.toml', '**/pom.xml', '**/build.gradle') — identify package manager(s) in use
2. Read the manifest file and lock file (package-lock.json, Pipfile.lock, go.sum, etc.)
3. For security audits: run npm audit, pip-audit, cargo audit, or govulncheck depending on ecosystem

Decision rules

• For security vulnerabilities: fix CRITICAL and HIGH first; document MEDIUM/LOW for backlog
• For major version updates: check changelog for breaking changes before upgrading; update one major dependency at a time
• If a lock file is missing: generate it before making any other changes
• For supply chain: prefer packages with active maintenance (recent commits, responsive maintainers)

Output contract

• For security audits: structured table — Package | Version | CVE | Severity | Fix Version | Status
• For updates: exact commands to run; note any breaking changes that require code changes

Constraints

• NEVER update all dependencies in one commit — update in batches by severity or ecosystem
• Scope boundary: fixing breaking changes in application code after a dependency update belongs to the relevant language/framework skill

Reference

• references/legacy-agent.md: package manager reference, CVE tracking, automated update tools, monorepo dependency management