WARM Dependency Evaluation

VerifiedSafe

Evaluates every dependency a branch pulls in against the WARM check (Worth it, Alive, Right-sized, Maintained securely). Use to vet new dependencies before merge.

Sby Skills Guide Bot
SecurityIntermediate
7/28/2026
Claude Code
#dependency-review#supply-chain#code-review#git-diff#vulnerabilities

Recommended for

Automated summary

This skill diffs a branch against its base, finds the direct dependencies added or upgraded across manifests in any ecosystem, and scores each one against the WARM check (Worth it, Alive, Right-sized, Maintained securely).

Strengths

  • Handles a broad set of ecosystems (npm, Composer, pip, Go, Cargo, Maven/Gradle, .NET, Mix, pub, Swift) without being limited to a fixed list
  • Separates brand-new direct dependencies (full WARM evaluation) from version bumps (A and M only) and ignores removed packages
  • Grounds verdicts in real evidence: how the branch actually uses the package, commit and release history, audit tools and security advisories
  • Exits cleanly with an explicit message when no manifest changed, avoiding a noise report

Limitations

  • Evaluates direct dependencies only; transitive packages are mentioned solely when they carry a known advisory
  • Output quality depends heavily on WebSearch/WebFetch and audit tooling availability — offline, the Alive and Maintained-securely criteria get shaky
  • The "about 20 lines of your own code" threshold for Worth it is a subjective heuristic that needs case-by-case judgement
When to use it

Use it before merging a branch or pull request that adds or upgrades dependencies, to decide what to keep, replace, or pin.

When not to use it

Avoid it for auditing a project's entire dependency tree or for vetting transitive packages, since the skill focuses on direct additions made by the branch.

Security analysis

Safe
Quality score86/100

Every granted tool is read-only and directly tied to the stated job: git inspection, package-registry queries, ecosystem audit commands, and file reading. There is no curl|sh, no rm, no credential/token access, no obfuscation, and the instructions explicitly forbid fabricating findings and require disclosing what could not be verified. The only mild exposure is broad `cat`/`grep`/`WebFetch` reach, which is normal for a dependency-audit skill and not steered toward secrets or exfiltration.

Findings
  • •`Bash(cat:*)` / `Bash(grep:*)` / `Bash(find:*)` / `Bash(ls:*)` are unscoped, so the agent could read files outside dependency manifests; this is inherent to the task and not directed at anything sensitive.
  • •`WebFetch`/`WebSearch` are used to reach registries and advisory databases; URLs are chosen at runtime by the agent, so arbitrary pages are reachable, though nothing instructs sending data out.
  • •Read-only tool surface overall: no write, delete, install, or network-posting commands are granted.
How this analysis is made

Examples

Check a branch
/warm main
Vet a PR's new dependencies
WARM check this branch before I open the PR — tell me which of the dependencies it adds I should keep, pin, or drop.
Non-default base branch
/warm develop — review the dependencies this feature branch pulls in.

name: warm description: 🌡️ Evaluate every dependency a branch pulls in — client or server, any language — against the WARM check (Worth it, Alive, Right-sized, Maintained securely). Diffs the branch against a base, finds newly added or upgraded direct dependencies across all manifests, and scores each one. Use when the user asks to "WARM check" a branch, vet new dependencies, or review what a PR adds to the dependency tree. argument-hint: "[base branch]" disable-model-invocation: true allowed-tools: "Bash(git diff:), Bash(git log:), Bash(git merge-base:), Bash(git rev-parse:), Bash(git status:), Bash(git show:), Bash(npm audit:), Bash(npm view:), Bash(composer audit:), Bash(pip-audit:), Bash(cat:), Bash(find:), Bash(ls:), Bash(grep:), Read, Grep, Glob, WebSearch, WebFetch"

WARM

Arguments

Raw arguments: $ARGUMENTS

Parse the arguments as the base branch to diff against. If empty, default to main.

Goal

Evaluate the dependencies this branch pulls in — added or upgraded since it diverged from the base — against the WARM check, and give each one a clear verdict. Cover both client-side and server-side dependencies, in any language. The output helps the user decide which new dependencies to keep, reconsider, or pin/patch before merge.

WARM stands for:

  • Worth it? — could ~20 lines of your own code replace it? A dependency you'd write in an afternoon isn't worth the supply-chain surface.
  • Alive? — recent commits, active maintenance, real release cadence. A package last touched years ago is a liability.
  • Right-sized? — are you pulling a whole library for one function? Match the dependency's footprint to what you actually use.
  • Maintained securely? — known vulnerabilities (CVEs/advisories), unpatched issues, or a maintainer with a poor security track record.

This is about direct dependencies you chose to add. The four questions are decisions you make about your dependency — they don't apply to transitive packages dragged in underneath. Evaluate direct additions; only mention transitive packages under M when they carry a known advisory.

Instructions

1. Find what the branch pulls in

Run git diff --name-status <base>...HEAD (three-dot — changes on this branch since it diverged) and identify changed dependency manifests. These declare direct dependencies and exist in every ecosystem:

  • JS/TS (client & server): package.json
  • PHP: composer.json
  • Python: requirements*.txt, pyproject.toml, Pipfile, setup.py, setup.cfg
  • Ruby: Gemfile, *.gemspec
  • Go: go.mod
  • Rust: Cargo.toml
  • Java/Kotlin: pom.xml, build.gradle, build.gradle.kts
  • .NET: *.csproj, Directory.Packages.props, packages.config
  • Elixir: mix.exs
  • Dart/Flutter: pubspec.yaml
  • Swift: Package.swift

Don't restrict yourself to this list — if a changed file is clearly a manifest for another ecosystem, treat it as one.

For each changed manifest, run git diff <base>...HEAD -- <manifest> and extract the added dependency lines (and version bumps). Use the lockfile diff (package-lock.json, composer.lock, pnpm-lock.yaml, go.sum, Cargo.lock, etc.) only to confirm resolved versions and to spot transitive packages with advisories — not as the source of which dependencies to judge.

Scope:

  • New direct dependencies → full WARM evaluation.
  • Version upgrades of existing direct dependencies → evaluate only A and M (Worth-it and Right-sized were already decided when it was first added); note the version delta.
  • Removed dependencies → ignore.

If no manifests changed, output exactly:

✅ No dependencies added or upgraded on this branch.

…and stop.

2. Gather the facts for each dependency

Look up what you need to answer each letter honestly. Sources, in order of preference:

  • W (Worth it): read how the branch actually uses the dependency (Grep the import/require/use sites) and judge the surface area you depend on. A date-formatter used in one component is a different proposition than an HTTP client used everywhere.
  • A (Alive): check the registry/repo for last release date and recent commit activity. Use npm view <pkg> time.modified / WebFetch the registry or repo page. Note the latest release date and whether the repo is archived.
  • R (Right-sized): compare the dependency's footprint (sub-dependencies, install size, breadth of API) against the slice the branch uses. Pulling a 40-dependency framework to call one helper is not right-sized.
  • M (Maintained securely): check for known advisories. Prefer ecosystem tooling when available (npm audit, composer audit, pip-audit), otherwise WebSearch the package name + "CVE"/"advisory" and check the advisory database. Report the resolved version and whether a fixed version exists.

Honesty rule: if you cannot verify something (no network, registry unreachable, ambiguous package), say what you checked and mark that letter unknown — never fabricate a release date, version, or CVE.

3. Score and decide

For each dependency, mark each letter:

  • ✅ — fine on this dimension
  • ⚠️ — a concern worth a second look
  • ❌ — a real problem
  • ? — couldn't verify

Then give a one-word verdict derived from the marks:

  • Keep — no ❌, at most minor ⚠️.
  • Reconsider — ❌ on W or R (you probably don't need this dependency, or not this much of it).
  • Patch/Pin — ❌ on M only (the dependency is justified but has a security issue — upgrade to the fixed version or pin).
  • Replace — ❌ on A (unmaintained) or multiple ❌s.

4. Output the report

Order dependencies by concern: ❌ verdicts first, then ⚠️, then clean Keeps. Use this format exactly:

## `dayjs` — added to package.json (client)

- ✅ **Worth it** — date parsing used across 6 components; non-trivial to hand-roll correctly
- ✅ **Alive** — last release 2 months ago, active repo
- ✅ **Right-sized** — 2KB, zero dependencies, tree-shakeable
- ✅ **Maintained securely** — no known advisories for 1.11.x

**Verdict: Keep**

## `left-pad` — added to package.json (client)

- ❌ **Worth it** — single use, pads a string; ~5 lines of your own code replaces it
- ⚠️ **Alive** — last release 4 years ago
- ✅ **Right-sized** — tiny, no sub-dependencies
- ✅ **Maintained securely** — no known advisories

**Verdict: Reconsider** — inline it rather than take the supply-chain surface.

## `guzzlehttp/guzzle` — upgraded 7.4.0 → 7.4.5 in composer.json (server)

- ✅ **Alive** — actively maintained
- ❌ **Maintained securely** — 7.4.0 affected by GHSA-xxxx (cookie leak); 7.4.5 fixes it

**Verdict: Patch/Pin** — the upgrade resolves the advisory; keep it.

End with a one-line summary: N dependencies evaluated — X keep, Y reconsider, Z replace/patch.

Rules

  • Judge only what the branch pulls in. Don't audit the whole pre-existing dependency tree — only additions and upgrades since the base branch.
  • Direct dependencies get the full WARM. Transitive packages appear only under M, and only when they carry a known advisory.
  • Cover client and server. Label each dependency with which side it lives on (and which manifest) so the user can place it.
  • Language-agnostic. Treat any manifest from any ecosystem the same way. Don't skip a dependency because it's in a language you'd handle differently.
  • Don't fabricate facts. Release dates, versions, and advisories must come from a real lookup. If you can't verify, mark ? and say what you checked.
  • One concern per bullet. Each WARM letter is one line; don't merge two findings.
  • Be specific and quantified. "last release 4 years ago", "pulls 40 sub-dependencies", "GHSA-xxxx fixed in 7.4.5" — not "looks old" or "might have issues".
  • The verdict follows from the marks. Don't soften a ❌ into a Keep, or hedge a clean dependency into a Reconsider. State the verdict plainly.
  • No preamble. Start with the first ## dependency heading (or the no-dependencies line). No "Here's the WARM check…".
  • Don't change any files. This skill evaluates and reports — it doesn't remove dependencies, edit manifests, or run installs.

From the file to a first result

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Tools declared by the author (check availability in your agent): Bash(git diff:*), Bash(git log:*), Bash(git merge-base:*), Bash(git rev-parse:*), Bash(git status:*), Bash(git show:*), Bash(npm audit:*), Bash(npm view:*), Bash(composer audit:*), Bash(pip-audit:*), Bash(cat:*), Bash(find:*), Bash(ls:*), Bash(grep:*), Read, Grep, Glob, WebSearch, WebFetch

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Claude Code
test -f '.skill-downloads/warm-dependency-evaluation-ms47vplx/SKILL.md' && test -s '.skill-downloads/warm-dependency-evaluation-ms47vplx/SKILL.md' && mkdir -p '.claude/skills' && test ! -e '.claude/skills/warm' && cp -R '.skill-downloads/warm-dependency-evaluation-ms47vplx' '.claude/skills/warm'

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