name: boardfarm-dev:new-device
description: Guide for creating a new boardfarm concrete device class. Use when a developer needs to implement a vendor- or transport-specific device that satisfies an existing template. Triggers on: "new device", "add a device", "implement a template", "write a device class", "new CPE device", "new ACS implementation", "concrete implementation of". Follow the 3-phase contract: Discover → Interview → Generate.
boardfarm-dev: new-device
You scaffold a new boardfarm device class in boardfarm3/devices/.
Phase 1 — Discover
First: read skills/shared/boardfarm-context.md from the plugin directory.
Then run:
for f in boardfarm3/templates/*.py; do
[ "$(basename $f)" = "__init__.py" ] && continue
grep -H "^class " "$f"
done
find boardfarm3/templates -name "*.py" ! -name "__init__.py" \
-exec grep -H "^class " {} \;
grep "^class " boardfarm3/lib/connections/*.py
grep -o '"[a-z_]*":' boardfarm3/lib/connection_factory.py
grep "^class " boardfarm3/devices/base_devices/boardfarm_device.py \
boardfarm3/devices/base_devices/linux_device.py
grep '"type"' boardfarm3/configs/boardfarm_inventory_schema.json | head -30
Build menus for: available templates, available connection type keys, base
classes. Ask no questions yet.
Phase 2 — Interview (one question at a time)
Before Q1: check whether
.claude/plugins/boardfarm-dev/.cache/interview-defaults.json exists and has
a "new-device" entry:
python -c "
import json, os
path = '.claude/plugins/boardfarm-dev/.cache/interview-defaults.json'
if os.path.exists(path):
with open(path) as f:
data = json.load(f)
print(json.dumps(data.get('new-device', {}), indent=2))
else:
print('{}')
"
If it returns a non-empty object, remember these values as suggested
defaults for Q3 (base_class), Q4 (connection_type), and Q5
(hook_category) below — weave each into its question as "(used last
time)" next to the matching option. The developer still answers every
question; this never skips a question or silently reuses a value without
the developer seeing and confirming it.
Q1: What is the Python class name? (PascalCase, vendor or transport prefix +
category, e.g. AxirosACS, KeaProvisioner, LinuxWAN)
Q2: Which template(s) does this device implement?
Show the discovered template list. The developer may pick one or more.
Remind them: if the template doesn't exist yet, run /boardfarm-dev:new-template first.
Q3: Which base class?
[1] LinuxDevice — device has a Linux shell (SSH / serial / telnet access)
[2] BoardfarmDevice — device has no shell (REST API, HTTP only, etc.)
If the cache lookup above returned a base_class value, annotate the
matching option with "(used last time)", e.g. if the cached value is
LinuxDevice:
[1] LinuxDevice (used last time) — device has a Linux shell (SSH / serial / telnet access)
[2] BoardfarmDevice — device has no shell (REST API, HTTP only, etc.)
Q4: Which connection type does it use?
Show the discovered connection type key list. Also accept "none" if the device
uses only HTTP (e.g. a REST-only ACS). If the cache lookup returned a
connection_type value, annotate the matching key in the list with "(used
last time)".
Q5: Which hook category?
[1] server — boots before other devices (e.g., WAN, ACS, DHCP, TFTP)
[2] device — the DUT under test (e.g., CPE)
[3] attached device — client devices (e.g., LAN, WLAN clients, phones)
If the cache lookup returned a hook_category value, annotate the matching
option with "(used last time)".
Q6: What inventory JSON keys does this device require?
Say: "Tell me the inventory keys one at a time. For each: key name, value type,
required or optional, example value. Say 'done' when finished."
Must-haves for console-connected devices: name, type, ipaddr, username,
password, connection_type. Remind the developer if they omit required keys.
Q7: What is the inventory type string (the entry-point key)?
Suggest <vendor>_<category> in snake_case (e.g., axiros_acs_rest,
kea_provisioner). Confirm it doesn't collide with existing keys discovered
in Phase 1.
Q8: Confirm before generating.
Show a summary:
Class: <ClassName>(<BaseClass>, <TemplateName>)
Module: boardfarm3/devices/<module_name>.py
Template(s): <TemplateName>
Connection: <connection_type_key>
Hook category: <server|device|attached device>
Entry-point: <entry_point_key> = "boardfarm3.devices.<module_name>"
Inventory keys: <key_list>
Ask: "Does this look right? (yes / adjust)"
Phase 3 — Generate
Artefact 1 — Python stub
Write boardfarm3/devices/<module_name>.py:
"""Boardfarm <ClassName> device module."""
from __future__ import annotations
import logging
from argparse import Namespace
from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
from boardfarm3 import hookimpl
from boardfarm3.devices.base_devices import <BaseClass>
from boardfarm3.lib.connection_factory import connection_factory
from boardfarm3.templates.<template_module> import <TemplateName>
if TYPE_CHECKING:
from boardfarm3.lib.boardfarm_config import BoardfarmConfig
from boardfarm3.lib.boardfarm_pexpect import BoardfarmPexpect
from boardfarm3.lib.device_manager import DeviceManager
_LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
class <ClassName>(<BaseClass>, <TemplateName>):
"""<ClassName> — <one-line description>."""
def __init__(self, config: dict, cmdline_args: Namespace) -> None:
"""Initialize <ClassName>.
:param config: device configuration dictionary; required keys:
``name``, ``type``, <list required inventory keys>
:type config: dict
:param cmdline_args: parsed command-line arguments
:type cmdline_args: Namespace
"""
super().__init__(config, cmdline_args)
def _connect(self) -> None:
"""Establish connection to the device.
:return: None
:rtype: None
"""
self._console: BoardfarmPexpect = connection_factory(
"<connection_type_key>",
self.device_name,
ip_addr=self._config["ipaddr"],
username=self._config.get("username", "root"),
password=self._config.get("password"),
shell_prompt=self._shell_prompt,
port=self._config.get("port", 22),
save_console_logs=self._config.get("save_console_logs", ""),
)
@hookimpl
def boardfarm_<hook_category>_boot(
self,
config: BoardfarmConfig,
cmdline_args: Namespace,
device_manager: DeviceManager,
) -> None:
"""Boot the <ClassName> device.
:param config: boardfarm environment configuration
:type config: BoardfarmConfig
:param cmdline_args: parsed command-line arguments
:type cmdline_args: Namespace
:param device_manager: device registry instance
:type device_manager: DeviceManager
:return: None
:rtype: None
"""
self._connect()
@hookimpl
def boardfarm_<hook_category>_configure(
self,
config: BoardfarmConfig,
cmdline_args: Namespace,
device_manager: DeviceManager,
) -> None:
"""Configure the <ClassName> device.
:param config: boardfarm environment configuration
:type config: BoardfarmConfig
:param cmdline_args: parsed command-line arguments
:type cmdline_args: Namespace
:param device_manager: device registry instance
:type device_manager: DeviceManager
:return: None
:rtype: None
"""
Use the hook method names from boardfarm-context.md section 4, rule 6.
If the developer asked for async hooks too, add the _async variants with
async def signatures.
Artefact 2 — Inventory JSON snippet
{
"name": "<device-name>",
"type": "<entry_point_key>",
"ipaddr": "192.168.1.1",
"username": "root",
"password": "changeme",
"connection_type": "<connection_type_key>",
"port": 22
}
Include only the keys the developer listed in Q6. Omit optional keys that have
sensible defaults in __init__.
Artefact 3 — Unit test stub
Write unittests/devices/test_<module_name>.py:
"""Unit tests for <ClassName>."""
from __future__ import annotations
from argparse import Namespace
from unittest.mock import patch
import pytest
from boardfarm3.templates.<template_module> import <TemplateName>
def test_<module_name>_is_<template_lower>_subclass() -> None:
"""Verify <ClassName> is a subclass of <TemplateName>.
:return: None
:rtype: None
"""
from boardfarm3.devices.<module_name> import <ClassName>
assert issubclass(<ClassName>, <TemplateName>)
def test_<module_name>_init_with_valid_config() -> None:
"""Verify <ClassName> initialises without error given a minimal valid config.
:return: None
:rtype: None
"""
from boardfarm3.devices.<module_name> import <ClassName>
config = {
"name": "test-<module_name>",
"type": "<entry_point_key>",
"ipaddr": "127.0.0.1",
"username": "root",
"password": "test",
"connection_type": "<connection_type_key>",
}
with patch.object(<ClassName>, "_connect", return_value=None):
device = <ClassName>(config, Namespace())
assert device.device_name == "test-<module_name>"
assert device.device_type == "<entry_point_key>"
Artefact 4 — pyproject.toml snippet
<entry_point_key> = "boardfarm3.devices.<module_name>"
Save interview defaults
After the developer confirms "yes" at Q8 and all artefacts above are
written, persist the stable answers for next time:
python -c "
import json, os
path = '.claude/plugins/boardfarm-dev/.cache/interview-defaults.json'
os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(path), exist_ok=True)
data = {}
if os.path.exists(path):
with open(path) as f:
data = json.load(f)
data['new-device'] = {
'base_class': '<chosen_base_class>',
'connection_type': '<chosen_connection_type_key>',
'hook_category': '<chosen_hook_category>',
}
with open(path, 'w') as f:
json.dump(data, f, indent=2)
"
Substitute <chosen_base_class>, <chosen_connection_type_key>, and
<chosen_hook_category> with the developer's actual Q3/Q4/Q5 answers.
Free-text answers (class name, inventory keys) are never cached.
Completion checklist
Scaffold complete for <ClassName>.
Created:
✓ boardfarm3/devices/<module_name>.py
✓ unittests/devices/test_<module_name>.py
Still to do:
□ Implement all abstract methods from <TemplateName>
(run: grep "@abstractmethod" boardfarm3/templates/<template_module>.py)
□ Add real inventory key validation in __init__ (raise early if keys missing)
□ Fill in _connect() with correct parameters from your inventory config
□ Add boot and configure logic to the hook methods
□ Add entry-point to pyproject.toml (snippet printed above)
□ Run: nox -s lint
□ Run: pytest unittests/devices/test_<module_name>.py
