core

Subclass `RepositoryManager` for data access — declare `source`, `filterBy`, `defaultOptions`, then call `list()`/`listCached()`/`find()`/`create()`/`update()`/`delete()`, the active/cached/cursor variants, and the `filterBy`-aware aggregates `sum()`/`avg()`/`min()`/`max()`/`groupBy()`/`aggregate()`. Triggers: `RepositoryManager`, `FilterRules`, `RepositoryOptions`, `.list`, `.listCached`, `.find`, `.findCached`, `.create`, `.update`, `.delete`, `.sum`, `.avg`, `.min`, `.max`, `.groupBy`, `.aggregate`, `simpleSelectColumns`; "create a repository", "filter rules for a list endpoint", "cursor vs page pagination", "cached vs uncached read", "sum/avg/group-by with filters"; typical import `import { RepositoryManager } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: cache singleton — `@warlock.js/cache/cache-basics/SKILL.md`; use-case pipelines — `@warlock.js/core/write-use-case/SKILL.md`; wire mapping — `@warlock.js/core/define-resource/SKILL.md`; competing libs `typeorm` Repository, `prisma.client.<model>`, `@nestjs/typeorm`.

Run `warlock doctor` — a read-only diagnostics command that checks routes / config / connectors / optional-peers / health endpoints / release hygiene and prints a pass/warn/fail report, exiting non-zero on any failure. Add your own probe with the `DoctorCheck` contract and `runChecks` / `formatReportLines`. Triggers: `warlock doctor`, `doctorCommand`, `DoctorCheck`, `CheckResult`, `CheckStatus`, `DoctorReport`, `runChecks`, `formatReportLines`, `printReport`, `defaultDoctorChecks`; "diagnose my app", "preflight / preflight check", "is the app healthy", "why are there 0 routes", "pre-release sanity check", "CI smoke check"; run as `yarn warlock doctor`. Skip: the live `/health` + `/ready` HTTP probes — `@warlock.js/core/health-checks/SKILL.md`; authoring a general CLI command — `@warlock.js/core/write-cli-command/SKILL.md`; releasing the package — `releasing-warlock-monorepo`; competing tools `npm doctor`, `nest info`, hand-rolled preflight scripts.

Run `warlock routes` — a read-only command that lists the registered HTTP routes as a verb-colored table (method / path / name / action / middleware-count / source), a sibling of `warlock doctor`. Filter with `--method` / `--path` / `--name`, or emit normalized rows as JSON with `--json`. Triggers: `warlock routes`, `routesCommand`, "list my routes", "show all routes", "route table", "what endpoints does my app expose", "dump routes as JSON", "which routes have middleware", "route map for CI"; run as `yarn warlock routes`. Skip: read-only health/preflight checks — `@warlock.js/core/warlock-doctor/SKILL.md`; defining/naming/grouping routes — `@warlock.js/core/register-route/SKILL.md`; authoring a general CLI command — `@warlock.js/core/write-cli-command/SKILL.md`; competing tools `nest`/`express` route listers, `php artisan route:list`.

Author a seed file under `src/app/<module>/seeds/<name>.ts` using the `seeder()` factory — `name`, `dependsOn`, `once`, `order`, `batchSize`, `run({ track, now, batchSize })`. Auto-discovered by `warlock seed`; tracked in a `seeds` table; per-record refs in `seed_records` so `warlock seed --drop` can undo a seed. Triggers: `seeder`, `Seeder`, `SeedResult`, `SeedContext`, `SeedClock`, `track`, `now`, `batchSize`, `SeedersManager`, `warlock seed`, `--fresh`, `--drop`, `--list`, `--path`; "seed default roles", "undo a seed", "one-time data migration", "auto-discovered seeds", "order seeds by dependency", "deterministic seed timestamps", "inject a seed clock"; typical import `import { seeder } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: module folder layout — `@warlock.js/core/create-module/SKILL.md`; repository CRUD — `@warlock.js/core/use-repository/SKILL.md`; CLI flags — `@warlock.js/core/write-cli-command/SKILL.md`; competing patterns: hand-rolled `node scripts/seed.js`, `typeorm-seeding`.

Built-in liveness (`/health`) and readiness (`/ready`) endpoints plus graceful HTTP request draining for zero-downtime deploys — the `health` registry (`health.addCheck`/`removeCheck`), the `http.health.*` and `http.gracefulShutdown.*` config, and how readiness ties into `Application.isShuttingDown`. Triggers: `health`, `health.addCheck`, `health.removeCheck`, `HealthCheck`, `/health`, `/ready`, `http.health`, `http.gracefulShutdown`, `forceCloseConnections`, "liveness probe", "readiness probe", "graceful shutdown", "drain in-flight requests", "zero-downtime deploy", "kubernetes health check", "503 until ready"; typical import `import { health } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: the `Application.onShutdown` / `onceBooted` lifecycle hooks — `@warlock.js/core/use-app-context/SKILL.md`; maintenance-mode 503s — `@warlock.js/core/use-middleware/SKILL.md`; connector lifecycle — `@warlock.js/core/add-connector/SKILL.md`; competing libs `@fastify/under-pressure`, `terminus`, hand-rolled `/health` controllers.

Extend Warlock's lifecycle with a `BaseConnector` subclass — `name`, `priority`, `lifecyclePhase`, `start()`, `shutdown()`, `watchedFiles`. Register the instance via `connectorsManager.register(...)`; framework-level `warlock.config.ts > connectors` is planned but not shipped yet. Triggers: `BaseConnector`, `connectorsManager.register`, `ConnectorLifecyclePhase`, `ConnectorPriority`, `ConnectorName`; "add a queue worker", "wire a scheduler into bootstrap", "control startup ordering", "graceful shutdown hook"; typical import `import { BaseConnector, connectorsManager } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: app context accessors — `@warlock.js/core/use-app-context/SKILL.md`; warlock.config.ts surface — `@warlock.js/core/configure-app/SKILL.md`; competing pattern: hand-rolled `process.on("SIGINT")` blocks, NestJS `OnModuleInit` lifecycle.

Configure a Warlock app — the two layers (`warlock.config.ts` for framework-level wiring, `src/config/*.ts` for subsystems), `.env` + `env()`, and the `config()` getter for runtime reads. Triggers: `defineConfig`, `config.get`, `config.key`, `env`, `ConfigRegistry`, `HttpConfigurations`, `AppConfigurations`; "add a new config file", "warlock.config.ts vs src/config", "read env values", "runtime config lookup"; typical import `import { defineConfig, config, env } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: cache driver registration — `@warlock.js/cache/cache-basics/SKILL.md`; mail config — `@warlock.js/core/send-mail/SKILL.md`; storage config — `@warlock.js/core/store-file/SKILL.md`; competing libs `dotenv` direct, `convict`, `node-config`.

Read app-wide context — the `Application` static class (env, version, uptime, runtime strategy, boot lifecycle) plus the `app` runtime accessor (live Fastify, socket.io, router, database via the DI container). Triggers: `Application.isProduction`, `Application.environment`, `Application.runtimeStrategy`, `Application.uptime`, `Application.version`, `Application.onceBooted`, `Application.whenBooted`, `Application.isBooted`, `Application.onShutdown`, `Application.isShuttingDown`, `app.http`, `app.socket`, `app.database`, `app.router`; "branch on environment", "reach the live Fastify instance", "framework version in health endpoint", "dev vs production runtime check", "run code once the app is fully booted", "after all connectors started", "app booted hook", "run cleanup before shutdown", "graceful shutdown hook"; typical import `import { Application, app } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: path helpers — `@warlock.js/core/resolve-path/SKILL.md`; connector start order — `@warlock.js/core/add-connector/SKILL.md`; c

Three operational commands — `warlock dev` (HMR + type-gen + health checks), `warlock build` (esbuild bundle), `warlock start` (spawn the production bundle). All flags, all `warlock.config.ts` knobs that shape them. Triggers: `warlock dev`, `warlock build`, `warlock start`, `devServer`, `--fresh`, `--skip-typings`, `--skip-health`, `outDirectory`, `outFile`, `sourcemap`; "start the dev server", "build for production", "run the bundle", "skip type generation", "tune watch globs"; typical config `warlock.config.ts > devServer / build`. Skip: writing a custom CLI — `@warlock.js/core/write-cli-command/SKILL.md`; config shape — `@warlock.js/core/configure-app/SKILL.md`; competing tooling `nodemon`, `tsx`, `ts-node-dev`, `esbuild` direct.

Keep a project current with `warlock update` — bump every `@warlock.js/*` dependency in package.json to its latest published version (range operator preserved), then run the lockfile-detected package manager install. Also covers the `warlock dev` update notice and the `devServer.checkForUpdates` toggle. Triggers: `warlock update`, `--no-install`, `checkForUpdates`, `fetchLatestVersion`, `isNewerVersion`; "update warlock packages", "upgrade the framework", "is there a new warlock version", "update notice in the dev server", "bump @warlock.js/* to latest"; typical CLI `warlock update`. Skip: dev/build/start runtime — `@warlock.js/core/run-app/SKILL.md`; writing a custom command — `@warlock.js/core/write-cli-command/SKILL.md`; installing a NEW feature package (auth, mail, storage) — that is `warlock add`; releasing/publishing the framework — workspace release tooling, not this command.

Vite/Vitest plugin `lowerStage3Decorators()` that lowers TC39 Stage-3 (native) decorators with esbuild before oxc / the SSR rewrite mangles them — so `@RegisterModel`-decorated Cascade models load under Vitest 4 / Vite 8. Triggers: `lowerStage3Decorators`, "SyntaxError: Invalid or unexpected token" on a decorated class, "@(0, __vite_ssr_import__.X)()", "decorator crashes vitest", "models won't load in tests", "Vite 8 oxc decorators"; typical import `import { lowerStage3Decorators } from "@warlock.js/core"` in `vite.config.ts` / `vitest.config.ts`. Skip: writing the tests themselves — `@warlock.js/core/test-service/SKILL.md` / `@warlock.js/core/test-http/SKILL.md`; runtime migrations — `@warlock.js/cascade/write-migration/SKILL.md`.

Integration tests against a real HTTP server — `startHttpTestServer()` boots one shared server in globalSetup, then `testGet` / `testPost` / `expectJson` make typed requests against it. Triggers: `startHttpTestServer`, `stopHttpTestServer`, `testGet`, `testPost`, `testPut`, `testPatch`, `testDelete`, `expectJson`, `getTestServerUrl`, `testRequest`; "integration-test a controller", "end-to-end HTTP test", "globalSetup HTTP server", "assert status and body shape"; typical import `import { testGet, testPost, expectJson } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: pure unit tests — `@warlock.js/core/test-service/SKILL.md`; controller shape — `@warlock.js/core/create-controller/SKILL.md`; competing libs `supertest`, `light-my-request`, `nock`.

Pure unit tests against services, repositories, models, and use-cases — `setupTest({ connectors })` bootstraps each Vitest worker with its own DB/cache connections so you can call your code directly. Triggers: `setupTest`, `src/test-setup.ts`, `tests.connectors`, `Application.setEnvironment`; "unit-test a service", "test a repository query", "vitest setupFiles", "skip connectors for pure-logic tests"; typical import `import { setupTest } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: HTTP integration — `@warlock.js/core/test-http/SKILL.md`; warlock add test scaffold — `@warlock.js/core/write-cli-command/SKILL.md`; competing tooling: jest direct, `supertest`, `nock`.

Wrap a function with `measure(name, fn, options?)` to time it and classify the latency — onComplete/onError/onFinish hooks, `latencyRange` thresholds, `BenchmarkProfiler` for percentiles, `BenchmarkSnapshots` for raw captures. Triggers: `measure`, `BenchmarkProfiler`, `BenchmarkSnapshots`, `BenchmarkChannel`, `ConsoleChannel`, `latencyRange`, `shouldBenchmarkError`; "time this operation", "profile a slow service", "emit p50/p95/p99 metrics", "classify latency against thresholds"; typical import `import { measure, BenchmarkProfiler } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: retry composition — `@warlock.js/core/retry-operation/SKILL.md`; benchmark config wiring — `@warlock.js/core/configure-app/SKILL.md`; competing libs `prom-client`, `pino`, `perf_hooks`, `console.time`.

Generate standard CRUD endpoints — via `router.route(path).list().show().create().update().destroy()` chain or the `Restful` base class. Pick the chain by default; reach for `Restful` when you want repository-bound defaults. Triggers: `router.route`, `Restful`, `router.restfulResource`, `RouteResource`, `.crud`, `.nest`, `beforeCreate`, `onCreate`; "build a CRUD API", "register list/show/create/update/destroy", "repository-bound default handlers", "override a single REST action"; typical import `import { router, Restful } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: wider router surface — `@warlock.js/core/register-route/SKILL.md`; per-action controllers — `@warlock.js/core/create-controller/SKILL.md`; wire mapping — `@warlock.js/core/define-resource/SKILL.md`; competing pattern: hand-rolled controllers, `@nestjs/swagger` decorator-driven CRUD.

HTTP URL helpers — `url`, `publicUrl`, `assetsUrl`, `uploadsUrl`, anchored at `app.baseUrl`. Use to render `src` / `href` / API URLs in resources and responses. `setBaseUrl` is wired by the HTTP connector from `config.get("app.baseUrl")`. Triggers: `url`, `publicUrl`, `assetsUrl`, `uploadsUrl`, `setBaseUrl`, `BASE_URL`; "render an avatar src URL", "absolute download link", "embed asset URL in email", "URL helpers vs path helpers"; typical import `import { url, publicUrl, uploadsUrl } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: filesystem paths — `@warlock.js/core/resolve-path/SKILL.md`; signed CDN URLs — `@warlock.js/core/store-file/SKILL.md`; resource output — `@warlock.js/core/define-resource/SKILL.md`; competing patterns: hand-rolled `${baseUrl}/...` template strings.

Author HTTP controllers in @warlock.js/core — RequestHandler signature, validated input via seal schemas, response helpers, attaching metadata. Controllers are thin functions; business logic moves to services or use-cases. Triggers: `RequestHandler`, `Request<TSchema>`, `GuardedRequestHandler`, `request.validated`, `request.input`, `controller.validation`, `response.success`, `response.successCreate`; "write a controller", "attach a schema to a handler", "thin controller pattern", "guarded request type"; typical import `import { type RequestHandler } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: response helper menu — `@warlock.js/core/send-response/SKILL.md`; schema authoring — `@warlock.js/core/validate-input/SKILL.md`; URL wiring — `@warlock.js/core/register-route/SKILL.md`; competing patterns: `express` middleware functions, `@nestjs/common` `@Controller`/`@Get` decorators.

Scaffold a new feature module under `src/app/<name>/` via `warlock generate.module` and the follow-up generators for controllers, models, repositories, resources, and validation schemas. Triggers: `warlock generate.module`, `generate.controller`, `generate.service`, `generate.model`, `generate.repository`, `generate.resource`, `generate.migration`, `--minimal`, `gen.m`; "scaffold a new module", "create CRUD bootstrap", "add a controller to a module", "generate a model"; typical CLI `yarn warlock generate.module <name>`. Skip: framework-wide layout rules — `@warlock.js/core/warlock-conventions/SKILL.md`; routes file shape — `@warlock.js/core/register-route/SKILL.md`; controller shape — `@warlock.js/core/create-controller/SKILL.md`; competing tooling: `@nestjs/cli`, `hygen`, hand-rolled folder layouts.

Map model fields to wire-shape via `defineResource()` or `Resource` subclasses. Output-only — never put business logic, hydration, or reconciliation in a resource. Triggers: `defineResource`, `Resource`, `RegisterResource`, `toJSON`, `"self"`, `"localized"`, `"uploadsUrl"`; "shape an API response", "nest related resources", "rename a field on output", "self-referential tree resource"; typical import `import { defineResource } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: localized columns — `@warlock.js/core/use-localization/SKILL.md`; URL casting — `@warlock.js/core/build-url/SKILL.md`; controller side — `@warlock.js/core/create-controller/SKILL.md`; competing libs `@nestjs/swagger` `@ApiProperty`, `class-transformer`, hand-rolled DTO mappers.

Reversible AES-256-GCM `encrypt` / `decrypt` for secrets you need to read back; one-way HMAC-SHA256 `hmacHash` for deterministic fingerprints (lookup/dedup of encrypted columns). Keys come from `src/config/encryption.ts`. Triggers: `encrypt`, `decrypt`, `hmacHash`, `EncryptionConfigurations`, `APP_ENCRYPTION_KEY`, `APP_HMAC_KEY`; "store an API key reversibly", "fingerprint an encrypted column for lookup", "AES-256-GCM secret", "HMAC-SHA256 dedup key"; typical import `import { encrypt, decrypt, hmacHash } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: password hashing — `@warlock.js/core/hash-password/SKILL.md`; config wiring — `@warlock.js/core/configure-app/SKILL.md`; competing libs Node `crypto` direct, `crypto-js`, `libsodium-wrappers`.

One-way bcrypt password hashing — `hashPassword` / `verifyPassword`, plus the declarative `useHashedPassword()` schema transformer that auto-hashes a model's password field on save. Salt rounds come from `src/config/encryption.ts`. Triggers: `hashPassword`, `verifyPassword`, `useHashedPassword`, `password.salt`, `bcryptjs`; "hash a user password", "verify login credentials", "auto-hash on save", "rotate a password"; typical import `import { hashPassword, verifyPassword } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: reversible secrets — `@warlock.js/core/encrypt-data/SKILL.md`; the other transformers — `@warlock.js/core/use-model-transformers/SKILL.md`; config wiring — `@warlock.js/core/configure-app/SKILL.md`; competing libs `bcrypt` native, `argon2`, `scrypt`.

Transform images with the `Image` class — resize, crop, rotate, format, quality, watermark, blur, etc. — using a deferred pipeline that runs only at `save()` / `toBuffer()` / `toBase64()` / `toDataUrl()` time. Requires sharp via `warlock add image`. Triggers: `Image`, `Image.fromFile`, `Image.fromBuffer`, `Image.fromUrl`, `.resize`, `.crop`, `.watermark`, `.toBuffer`, `.toDataUrl`, `.apply`; "resize an image", "generate a thumbnail", "watermark a product photo", "build an image pipeline"; typical import `import { Image } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: multipart upload entry — `@warlock.js/core/upload-file/SKILL.md`; storage persistence — `@warlock.js/core/store-file/SKILL.md`; competing libs `sharp` direct, `jimp`, `imagemagick`, `gm`.

Register HTTP routes via @warlock.js/core's router — single routes, prefix groups, middleware-guarded blocks, and RESTful resource chains. Routes always live in `src/app/<module>/routes.ts`. Triggers: `router.get`, `router.post`, `router.prefix`, `router.group`, `router.route`, `guarded`; "add a route", "wire a controller to a URL", "group routes by prefix", "register a RESTful resource"; typical import `import { router } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: handler shape — `@warlock.js/core/create-controller/SKILL.md`; CRUD chain details — `@warlock.js/core/build-restful/SKILL.md`; middleware authoring — `@warlock.js/core/write-middleware/SKILL.md`; competing libs `express`, `fastify`, `koa`, `@nestjs/common`.

Path helpers anchored at `process.cwd()` — `rootPath`, `srcPath`, `appPath`, `configPath`, `publicPath`, `storagePath`, `uploadsPath`, `cachePath`, `logsPath`, `tempPath`, `warlockPath`, `sanitizePath`. Optional `uploads.root` config overrides the uploads anchor. Triggers: `appPath`, `configPath`, `uploadsPath`, `storagePath`, `publicPath`, `cachePath`, `logsPath`, `tempPath`, `sanitizePath`, `paths`; "resolve a path inside src/app", "absolute upload destination", "sanitize a user filename", "ship uploads to a mounted volume"; typical import `import { appPath, uploadsPath } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: HTTP URL helpers — `@warlock.js/core/build-url/SKILL.md`; app metadata — `@warlock.js/core/use-app-context/SKILL.md`; storage abstraction — `@warlock.js/core/store-file/SKILL.md`; competing patterns: `path.join(process.cwd(), ...)`, hand-rolled directory constants.

Wrap a flaky operation with `retry(fn, options)` — now provided by `@mongez/reinforcements` (not `@warlock.js/core`). `attempts` total tries, `delay` + `backoff` (linear/exponential/fn), `maxDelay`, `jitter`, `shouldRetry` to bail on permanent errors, `signal` to cancel, plus `retryable()` to pre-bind options. Triggers: `retry`, `retryable`, `RetryOptions`, `attempts`, `backoff`, `jitter`, `maxDelay`, `shouldRetry`, `signal`; "retry a flaky API call", "handle transient errors", "exponential backoff with jitter", "wrap an external request"; typical import `import { retry } from "@mongez/reinforcements"`. Skip: timing the retried op — `@warlock.js/core/benchmark-code/SKILL.md`; use-case-level `retry` option — `@warlock.js/core/write-use-case/SKILL.md`; competing libs `p-retry`, `async-retry`, `cockatiel`.

Send transactional email — `Mail` fluent builder, `sendMail()` direct call, React Email components. Test mode auto-captures into an in-memory mailbox; dev mode logs. Triggers: `Mail.to`, `sendMail`, `setMailMode`, `mailEvents`, `assertMailSent`, `getTestMailbox`, `wasMailSentTo`, `closeAllMailers`; "send a transactional email", "build a React Email template", "configure SMTP or SES", "assert an email was sent in tests"; typical import `import { Mail, sendMail } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: per-config wiring — `@warlock.js/core/configure-app/SKILL.md`; layered service patterns — `@warlock.js/core/warlock-conventions/SKILL.md`; competing libs `nodemailer` direct, `@sendgrid/mail`, `resend`, `mailgun.js`.

Send HTTP responses via @warlock.js/core's Response helpers — success/error variants, status helpers, redirects, files, streams, and SSE. Picking the right helper carries the HTTP semantic without manual status codes. Triggers: `response.success`, `response.successCreate`, `response.notFound`, `response.forbidden`, `response.badRequest`, `response.sendFile`, `response.stream`, `response.sse`, `response.replay`, `ResourceNotFoundError`, `ForbiddenError`; "return a 201 from a controller", "send a file", "stream Server-Sent Events", "throw HTTP-shaped errors from services"; typical import `import type { RequestHandler, Response } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: controller shape — `@warlock.js/core/create-controller/SKILL.md`; route registration — `@warlock.js/core/register-route/SKILL.md`; competing patterns: hand-rolled status codes via `reply.code(404).send(...)`, raw Fastify reply.

Read/write/delete files via the `storage` singleton — disks, drivers (local/S3/R2/DO Spaces), `storage.use(name)`, `StorageFile` handles, presigned URLs. Triggers: `storage.put`, `storage.get`, `storage.use`, `StorageFile`, `storageConfigurations`, `getPresignedUrl`, `getPresignedUploadUrl`; "save an uploaded file", "switch between local and S3", "generate a presigned URL", "read file metadata"; typical import `import { storage } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: multipart parsing + image chain — `@warlock.js/core/upload-file/SKILL.md`; image transforms — `@warlock.js/core/process-image/SKILL.md`; storage config shape — `@warlock.js/core/configure-app/SKILL.md`; competing libs `@aws-sdk/client-s3`, `multer`, `formidable`.

Handle multipart file uploads — read via `request.file()` or `request.validated()`, validate with `v.file()`, save via `UploadedFile.save()` or the storage layer, transform images inline. Triggers: `UploadedFile`, `request.file`, `v.file`, `.save`, `.saveAs`, `.resize`, `.format`, `.quality`, `.image`, `.mimeType`, `.maxSize`; "accept a file upload", "validate file size and mime", "save to S3 or local disk", "resize an uploaded image on save"; typical import `import type { UploadedFile, RequestHandler } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: storage drivers + presigned URLs — `@warlock.js/core/store-file/SKILL.md`; image-only transforms — `@warlock.js/core/process-image/SKILL.md`; schema rules — `@warlock.js/core/validate-input/SKILL.md`; competing libs `multer`, `formidable`, `busboy`.

Multi-locale translations via `groupedTranslations` (declare keys), `t()` / `request.t()` / `request.trans()` (look up), `request.getLocaleCode()` (detect locale from headers/query), `getLocalized` (pick the right value from a localized-array column). Triggers: `groupedTranslations`, `t`, `request.t`, `request.trans`, `request.transFrom`, `request.getLocaleCode`, `request.setLocaleCode`, `getLocalized`; "add a translation key", "resolve a localized error message", "detect request locale", "pick the right per-locale column value"; typical import `import { t, getLocalized } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: resource output — `@warlock.js/core/define-resource/SKILL.md`; module scaffold — `@warlock.js/core/create-module/SKILL.md`; competing libs `i18next`, `react-intl`, raw `@mongez/localization`.

Attach built-in HTTP middleware to routes via the `middleware` namespace from `@warlock.js/core` — rateLimit, concurrencyLimit, maxBodySize, idempotency, maintenance, ipFilter, cache. Plus `X-Request-Id` correlation, wired automatically. Triggers: `middleware.rateLimit`, `middleware.concurrencyLimit`, `middleware.maxBodySize`, `middleware.idempotency`, `middleware.maintenance`, `middleware.ipFilter`, `middleware.cache`, `X-Request-Id`, `Idempotency-Key`; "add rate limiting", "dedupe writes by idempotency key", "cap concurrent requests", "block IPs", "cache a GET response"; typical import `import { middleware } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: author custom middleware — `@warlock.js/core/write-middleware/SKILL.md`; cache singleton — `@warlock.js/cache/cache-basics/SKILL.md`; competing libs `@fastify/rate-limit` direct, `express-rate-limit`, `helmet`.

Three schema-side helpers — `useHashedPassword()` (bcrypt on save) attaches via `.addTransformer(...)`; `useComputedSlug(field?, scope?)` (auto-slug from another field) and `useComputedModel(callback)` (arbitrary computed-on-save value) attach via `v.computed(...)`. Triggers: `useHashedPassword`, `useComputedSlug`, `useComputedModel`, `.addTransformer`, `v.computed`, `ComputedCallback`; "auto-hash a password field", "auto-slug from title on save", "derive a value at write time", "declarative model transformers"; typical import `import { useHashedPassword, useComputedSlug } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: bcrypt setup details — `@warlock.js/core/hash-password/SKILL.md`; repository writes — `@warlock.js/core/use-repository/SKILL.md`; output filtering — `@warlock.js/core/define-resource/SKILL.md`; competing patterns: manual `await hashPassword(input)` in services, ORM lifecycle hooks.

Author seal schemas, attach them to controllers via `controller.validation = { schema }`, infer types via `Infer<typeof schema>`, and layer DB-aware (`unique`/`exists`) and file validators on top. Triggers: `v.object`, `v.string`, `v.email`, `Infer`, `controller.validation`, `.unique`, `.exists`, `uniqueExceptCurrentId`, `request.validated`; "validate a request body", "attach a schema to a controller", "DB-aware unique rule", "infer schema types"; typical import `import { v, type Infer } from "@warlock.js/seal"`. Skip: schema authoring foundations — `@warlock.js/seal/seal-basics/SKILL.md`; controller wiring — `@warlock.js/core/create-controller/SKILL.md`; file rules deep-dive — `@warlock.js/core/upload-file/SKILL.md`; competing libs `zod`, `joi`, `yup`, `class-validator`.

Framework-wide invariants for projects built on @warlock.js/core — module layout, canonical imports, layered flow, file naming, and the non-negotiable rules every other warlock skill assumes. Triggers: `src/app/<module>`, `routes.ts`, `main.ts`, `Request<TSchema>`, `RequestHandler`, `GuardedRequestHandler`, `app/<module>/...`; "where do files go in this project", "canonical Warlock imports", "module layout rules", "controller-service-repository layering"; typical import `import { router, type RequestHandler } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: scaffold a new module — `@warlock.js/core/create-module/SKILL.md`; route shape — `@warlock.js/core/register-route/SKILL.md`; controller shape — `@warlock.js/core/create-controller/SKILL.md`; competing patterns: `express` ad-hoc layouts, `@nestjs/common` decorator-driven structure.

Configure Socket.IO via `src/config/socket.ts`, reach the live server through `getSocketServer()` (or `app.socket` post-bootstrap), register `connection` handlers once the late-phase socket connector has booted, emit from controllers/services, use rooms and namespaces. Triggers: `app.socket`, `getSocketServer`, `SocketOptions`, `socket.io` `Server`, `socket.join`, `socket.to`, `io.of`, `io.use`; "add realtime chat", "emit socket events from a service", "use rooms and namespaces", "per-socket JWT auth". Skip: connector lifecycle — `@warlock.js/core/add-connector/SKILL.md`; app context accessors — `@warlock.js/core/use-app-context/SKILL.md`; competing libs `ws`, `socket.io` direct without Warlock connector, `uWebSockets.js`.

Author a custom `warlock <my-cmd>` command via the `command()` factory — name, description, action, options, preload, then register in `warlock.config.ts > cli.commands` or drop in `src/app/<module>/commands/`. Triggers: `command`, `CLICommand`, `CLICommandPreload`, `CLICommandOption`, `preload`, `preAction`, `persistent`, `colors`; "write a custom warlock command", "one-off maintenance task", "ship a CLI from a package", "framework built-in commands"; typical import `import { command } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: framework dev/build/start — `@warlock.js/core/run-app/SKILL.md`; warlock.config.ts wiring — `@warlock.js/core/configure-app/SKILL.md`; competing libs `commander`, `yargs`, `oclif`.

Author HTTP middleware for @warlock.js/core — the `(request, response)` signature, short-circuit by returning a response, enrich the request with extra fields, register per-route, per-group, or app-wide. Triggers: `Middleware`, `MiddlewareResponse`, `router.group`, `guarded`, `request.detectIp`, `authMiddleware`; "write a custom middleware", "short-circuit a request", "enrich the request with extra fields", "per-route vs per-group middleware"; typical import `import type { Middleware } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: built-in middleware catalog — `@warlock.js/core/use-middleware/SKILL.md`; route attachment — `@warlock.js/core/register-route/SKILL.md`; response helpers — `@warlock.js/core/send-response/SKILL.md`; competing patterns: `express` `(req, res, next)` middleware, Fastify `preHandler` hooks.

Author `useCase()` pipelines for business logic — guards, schema, before/after middleware, retry, benchmark, broadcast, lifecycle callbacks; transport-agnostic and observable by default. Input is inferred from the `schema`. Triggers: `useCase`, `UseCaseContext`, `UseCaseResult`, `retry`, `benchmark`, `broadcast`, `description`, `globalUseCasesEvents`, `UseCaseBroadcastChannel`; "encapsulate a business operation", "share logic between HTTP and CLI", "add guards and lifecycle hooks", "broadcast a use case result", "transport-agnostic pipeline"; typical import `import { useCase } from "@warlock.js/core"`. Skip: thin handler shape — `@warlock.js/core/create-controller/SKILL.md`; schema details — `@warlock.js/core/validate-input/SKILL.md`; the standalone retry util — `@warlock.js/core/retry-operation/SKILL.md`; competing libs `@nestjs/cqrs`, `inversify`, hand-rolled service classes.