| name | code-hardcode-audit |
| description | Detect hardcoded values, magic numbers, and leaked secrets. TRIGGERS - hardcode audit, magic numbers, PLR2004, secret scanning. |
| allowed-tools | Bash, Read, Write, Glob, Grep |
Code Hardcode Audit
Self-Evolving Skill: This skill improves through use. If instructions are wrong, parameters drifted, or a workaround was needed — fix this file immediately, don't defer. Only update for real, reproducible issues.
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when the user mentions:
- "hardcoded values", "hardcodes", "magic numbers"
- "constant detection", "find constants"
- "duplicate constants", "DRY violations"
- "code audit", "hardcode audit"
- "PLR2004", "semgrep", "jscpd", "gitleaks", "ast-grep", "SSoT violations"
- "secret scanning", "leaked secrets", "API keys", "bandit", "trufflehog", "whispers"
- "passwords in code", "credential leaks", "entropy detection"
- "config file secrets", "hardcoded credentials"
Quick Start
uv run --python 3.14 --script scripts/preflight.py -- .
uv run --python 3.14 --script scripts/audit_hardcodes.py -- src/
uv run --python 3.14 --script scripts/run_bandit.py -- src/
uv run --python 3.14 --script scripts/run_trufflehog.py -- src/
uv run --python 3.14 --script scripts/run_whispers.py -- src/
uv run --python 3.14 --script scripts/run_ast_grep.py -- src/
uv run --python 3.14 --script scripts/run_ruff_plr.py -- src/
uv run --python 3.14 --script scripts/run_semgrep.py -- src/
uv run --python 3.14 --script scripts/audit_env_coverage.py -- src/
uv run --python 3.14 --script scripts/run_jscpd.py -- src/
uv run --python 3.14 --script scripts/run_gitleaks.py -- src/
Tool Overview
| Tool | Detection Focus | Language Support | Speed |
|---|
| Preflight | Tool availability + config validation | N/A | Instant |
| Bandit | Hardcoded passwords, tokens in Python (B105-7) | Python | Fast |
| TruffleHog | Entropy-based secret + API verification | Any (file-based) | Medium |
| Whispers | Config file secrets (YAML, JSON, Docker, .env) | Config files | Medium |
| ast-grep | Hardcoded literals in args, sleep, URLs, paths | Multi-language | Fast |
| Ruff PLR2004 | Magic value comparisons | Python | Fast |
| Semgrep | URLs, ports, paths, credentials, retry config | Multi-language | Medium |
| Env-coverage | BaseSettings cross-reference, coverage gaps | Python | Fast |
| jscpd | Duplicate code blocks | Multi-language | Slow |
| gitleaks | Regex-based secrets, API keys, passwords | Any (file-based) | Fast |
Output Formats
JSON (--output json)
{
"summary": {
"total_findings": 42,
"by_tool": { "ruff": 15, "semgrep": 20, "jscpd": 7 },
"by_severity": { "high": 5, "medium": 25, "low": 12 }
},
"findings": [
{
"id": "MAGIC-001",
"tool": "ruff",
"rule": "PLR2004",
"file": "src/config.py",
"line": 42,
"column": 8,
"message": "Magic value used in comparison: 8123",
"severity": "medium",
"suggested_fix": "Extract to named constant"
}
],
"refactoring_plan": [
{
"priority": 1,
"action": "Create constants/ports.py",
"finding_ids": ["MAGIC-001", "MAGIC-003"]
}
]
}
Compiler-like Text (--output text)
src/config.py:42:8: PLR2004 Magic value used in comparison: 8123 [ruff]
src/probe.py:15:1: hardcoded-url Hardcoded URL detected [semgrep]
src/client.py:20-35: Clone detected (16 lines, 95% similarity) [jscpd]
Summary: 42 findings (ruff: 15, semgrep: 20, jscpd: 7)
CLI Options
--output {json,text,both} Output format (default: both)
--tools {all,ast-grep,ruff,semgrep,jscpd,gitleaks,env-coverage,bandit,trufflehog,whispers} Tools to run
--severity {all,high,medium,low} Filter by severity (default: all)
--exclude PATTERN Glob pattern to exclude (repeatable)
--no-parallel Disable parallel execution
--skip-preflight Skip tool availability check
References
Related
- ADR-0046: Semantic Constants Abstraction
- ADR-0047: Code Hardcode Audit Skill
code-clone-assistant - PMD CPD-based clone detection (DRY focus)
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|
| Ruff PLR2004 zero output | PLR2004 globally suppressed | Run preflight: uv run --python 3.14 --script scripts/preflight.py -- . |
| Ruff PLR2004 not found | Ruff not installed or old | uv tool install ruff or upgrade |
| ast-grep not found | Binary not installed | cargo install ast-grep or brew install ast-grep |
| Semgrep timeout | Large codebase scan | Use --exclude to limit scope |
| jscpd memory error | Too many files | Increase Node heap: NODE_OPTIONS=--max-old-space-size=4096 |
| gitleaks false positives | Test data flagged | Add patterns to .gitleaks.toml allowlist |
| Env-coverage misses | Not using BaseSettings | Only detects pydantic BaseSettings; other config patterns skipped |
| No findings in output | Wrong directory specified | Verify path exists and contains source files |
| JSON parse error | Tool output malformed | Run tool individually with --output text |
| Missing tool in PATH | Tool not installed globally | Run preflight first, then install missing tools |
| Bandit false positives | password = '' in init | Filter B105 by confidence: --confidence HIGH |
| TruffleHog timeout | Scanning .venv/node_modules | All tools respect .gitignore; ensure large dirs are gitignored |
| TruffleHog regex error | Glob patterns in .gitignore | Complex globs (**/*.rs.bk) are auto-skipped; only simple names used |
| Whispers slow scan | Large directories | Exclude via .gitignore; whispers config auto-generated from it |
| Whispers zero findings | No config files in scope | Whispers targets YAML/JSON/Docker/INI; use on project root, not src/ |
| Severity filter empty | No findings at that level | Use --severity all to see all findings |
Post-Execution Reflection
After this skill completes, check before closing:
- Did the command succeed? — If not, fix the instruction or error table that caused the failure.
- Did parameters or output change? — If the underlying tool's interface drifted, update Usage examples and Parameters table to match.
- Was a workaround needed? — If you had to improvise (different flags, extra steps), update this SKILL.md so the next invocation doesn't need the same workaround.
Only update if the issue is real and reproducible — not speculative.
