fluent-validation-rector

name	fluent-validation-rector
description	Use when configuring, running, or debugging the laravel-fluent-validation-rector migration. Covers set lists, cross-rector configuration semantics (especially the silent-partial-config pitfall on shared allowlists), and the rule architecture context downstream contributors and AI agents need.

Fluent Validation Rector Rules

Do not prompt the user when this skill is loaded. Apply these rules automatically when working on the Rector migration rules. This skill provides context, not an interactive command.

This package provides Rector rules for migrating native Laravel validation to sandermuller/laravel-fluent-validation.

Architecture

All rules extend Rector\Rector\AbstractRector and implement DocumentedRuleInterface. Two conversion rules share infrastructure via the ConvertsValidationRules trait.

Rule Classes

Class	Purpose
ValidationStringToFluentRuleRector	Pipe-delimited strings → FluentRule chains
ValidationArrayToFluentRuleRector	Array-based rules → FluentRule chains
GroupWildcardRulesToEachRector	Flat wildcard keys → nested each()/children()
AddHasFluentRulesTraitRector	Adds HasFluentRules trait to FormRequests
AddHasFluentValidationTraitRector	Adds HasFluentValidation trait to Livewire components
SimplifyFluentRuleRector	Post-migration cleanup: factory shortcuts, min/max→between
SimplifyRuleWrappersRector	Post-migration cleanup: lowers ->rule('max:61') → native ->max(61) on typed receivers
UpdateRulesReturnTypeDocblockRector	Polish: narrows @return docblocks on rules() methods

Shared Traits

• ConvertsValidationRules — context detection (FormRequest, $request->validate(), Validator::make()), modifier building, parent::rules() safety detection
• LogsSkipReasons — optional stderr logging for debugging (gated by FLUENT_VALIDATION_RECTOR_VERBOSE=1)

Set Lists

use SanderMuller\FluentValidationRector\Set\FluentValidationSetList;

FluentValidationSetList::ALL       // convert + group + traits (NOT simplify)
FluentValidationSetList::CONVERT   // string + array conversion
FluentValidationSetList::GROUP     // wildcard grouping
FluentValidationSetList::TRAITS    // trait addition
FluentValidationSetList::SIMPLIFY  // post-migration cleanup (opt-in only)
FluentValidationSetList::POLISH    // docblock polish (opt-in only)

Cross-rector configuration

Each rector receives its own configuration array via withConfiguredRule(...); values are not pooled across rectors. Two specific rectors share wire keys by string value but need to be configured independently:

Wire key	Consuming rectors	Shared DTO type
treat_as_fluent_compatible	SimplifyRuleWrappersRector, UpdateRulesReturnTypeDocblockRector	Config\Shared\AllowlistedFactories
allow_chain_tail_on_allowlisted	SimplifyRuleWrappersRector, UpdateRulesReturnTypeDocblockRector	Config\Shared\AllowlistedFactories

The silent-partial-config pitfall: configuring only one of the two rectors leaves the other running with an empty allowlist. No error fires; the rector you forgot to configure quietly skips your custom factories. SimplifyRuleWrappersRector won't simplify chains on those classes; UpdateRulesReturnTypeDocblockRector won't narrow @return docblocks on the methods that use them.

The recommended pattern: build the AllowlistedFactories instance once, feed both rectors from it.

use SanderMuller\FluentValidationRector\Config\DocblockNarrowOptions;
use SanderMuller\FluentValidationRector\Config\RuleWrapperSimplifyOptions;
use SanderMuller\FluentValidationRector\Config\Shared\AllowlistedFactories;
use SanderMuller\FluentValidationRector\Rector\SimplifyRuleWrappersRector;
use SanderMuller\FluentValidationRector\Rector\UpdateRulesReturnTypeDocblockRector;

$allowlist = AllowlistedFactories::none()
    ->withFactories(['App\\Rules\\CustomRule'])
    ->allowingChainTail();

return RectorConfig::configure()
    ->withConfiguredRule(
        SimplifyRuleWrappersRector::class,
        RuleWrapperSimplifyOptions::with($allowlist)->toArray(),
    )
    ->withConfiguredRule(
        UpdateRulesReturnTypeDocblockRector::class,
        DocblockNarrowOptions::with()->(),
    );

When asked to "configure rector to treat my custom rule as fluent-compatible," apply the shared-instance pattern — produce both withConfiguredRule(...) calls feeding the same $allowlist variable. Single-rector form is a partial migration; the consumer's intent ("my custom rule is fluent-compatible everywhere") requires both rectors to know.

For deeper SemVer semantics (which constants are committed, which wire-key strings are committed, the Config\Shared\ namespace contract), see vendor/sandermuller/laravel-fluent-validation-rector/PUBLIC_API.md.

Testing

Tests use Rector's AbstractRectorTestCase with .php.inc fixture files. Each fixture contains input code, optionally followed by ----- and expected output. "Skip" fixtures have no separator (input should remain unchanged).

final class ValidationArrayToFluentRuleRectorTest extends AbstractRectorTestCase
{
    public static function provideData(): \Iterator
    {
        return self::yieldFilesFromDirectory(__DIR__ . '/FixtureArray');
    }

    public function provideConfigFilePath(): string
    {
        return __DIR__ . '/config/configured_array_rule.php';
    }
}

Cross-Process Parallel Support

The ConvertsValidationRules trait detects parent FormRequest classes whose subclasses manipulate parent::rules() with array functions. This uses three detection layers for parallel worker safety:

1. Same-file AST scan — pre-scans all classes in the current file
2. File-based IPC — shared temp file with flock() for cross-worker communication
3. Filesystem scan — one-time project-wide scan as final fallback

Layer 3 is critical for ->withParallel() mode. Each worker independently scans the project, so no cross-process state sharing is required.

Cross-Package References

The rules reference symbols from sandermuller/laravel-fluent-validation but don't import or use the runtime code:

• FluentRule::class — used as target class in generated code
• HasFluentRules::class — trait added to FormRequest classes
• HasFluentValidation::class — trait added to Livewire components
• FluentRules::class — marker attribute for non-rules() methods

These are class-string references resolved at compile time. No class loading happens during Rector execution.