ros2-development ยท diff
git:20260924.ebe27e4 to git:20260925.fb0aeeb
25 added, 7 removed. Audit A to A.
---
name: ros2-development
description: "Implement or change ROS 2 Jazzy packages, nodes, interfaces, launch files and configuration in a colcon workspace. Use for building and validating a development change, including tests that report success without running. For a live QoS, TF, IMU or odometry fault, use ros2-troubleshooting."
---
# ROS 2 development
Work from the workspace's actual package graph and installed artifacts. This
skill supplies a development workflow and a check for empty test runs; it does
not prescribe a new workspace layout or replace the project's build conventions.
## Build the affected package graph
Use `colcon list` to identify package names and build types. Build the changed
package and its workspace dependencies with `colcon build --packages-up-to
<package>`. `--packages-select` alone does not build its dependencies. For a
message or public API change, include affected consumers in the build and tests.
Preserve the project's existing build/install flags and dependency versions.
Build in a shell with the intended underlay, not the workspace's old overlay.
Use a separate shell to source the resulting `install/setup.bash` and inspect
`ros2 pkg prefix <package>`: otherwise an older installed copy can appear to
validate the source change.
## Require tests to have run
`colcon test` and `colcon test-result` can both succeed with zero tests. Use a
fresh result directory so a previous passing report cannot satisfy this run:
```bash
# After building, in the workspace root. Replace my_package with actual names.
+ # For pytest packages; omit --python-testing pytest for other test frameworks.
results="$(mktemp -d /tmp/ros2-test-results.XXXXXX)"
colcon test --packages-select my_package --return-code-on-test-failure \
- --test-result-base "$results" &&
+ --python-testing pytest --test-result-base "$results" &&
python3 "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/scripts/check_test_results.py" "$results" \
- --packages my_package
+ --packages my_package --require-test my_package::test_changed_behavior
```
- The bundled check uses installed `colcon test-result`, accepts JUnit/CTest
- formats it supports, and requires at least one non-skipped test in **each named
- package**. Exit **0** means those reports contain executed, passing tests;
- **1** means a test failure; **2** means missing, empty or unparseable evidence.
+ Replace `test_changed_behavior` with the actual regression test for the change;
+ repeat `--require-test PACKAGE::ID` when more than one test is needed. It matches
+ a full JUnit `classname.name` or a dot-delimited suffix, or a CTest name. Omitting
+ a pytest `[parameter]` suffix selects that test's parameter group and requires
+ at least one non-skipped case. The output lists observed test IDs and states.
+ For ament CMake tests, the checker follows the current CTest wrapper's recorded
+ JUnit path and checks the inner cases, even if that path was configured in the
+ build directory. A passed wrapper cannot substitute for all-skipped inner tests.
+
+ The bundled check uses installed `colcon test-result` and requires at least one
+ non-skipped test in **each named package**, plus the requested tests. Exit **0**
+ means those reports contain executed, passing tests; **1** means a recorded test
+ or test-process failure/error; **2** means missing, empty or unparseable evidence.
+ An ament CTest crash/timeout is a recorded failure. Colcon's Python
+ `pytest.missing_result` placeholder alone is inconclusive: inspect the test log
+ to distinguish a runner problem from a crash before editing the implementation.
+ Without `--require-test`, even linters alone can satisfy the check. A test name
+ does not establish assertion quality: choose a regression that would reject the
+ reported defect, or exercise the changed behaviour with a runtime probe. Do not
+ describe style checks or a vacuous smoke test as functional verification.
It reads reports and sends no ROS commands. Keep the printed result directory
- when reporting a failure. A package intentionally without tests is not a failed
+ when reporting a failure. Inspect `colcon test`'s own exit status and diagnostics
+ as well; reports cannot clear an invocation error. A package intentionally without tests is not a failed
implementation; state the missing coverage and verify its changed behaviour.
For a Python package that uses pytest, pass `--python-testing pytest` to
`colcon test` (or use the workspace's explicit equivalent). Do not rely on
`setup.py`'s `tests_require` to select the runner: newer setuptools can ignore
that field and colcon can select a different framework, collecting no tests.
## Verify the installed behaviour
Choose the smallest runtime check that exercises the change. A successful build
does not prove that a launch file, parameter file or executable was installed.
Use [verification.md](references/verification.md) for the relevant artifact:
Python/C++ nodes, interfaces, launch/config, or lifecycle and sensor behaviour.
Check the observable result again after a correction; keep a failed probe
separate from a confirmed defect in the implementation.
## Evidence
The result checker is tested against passing, failing, empty and skipped
reports, including fresh-directory separation in real Python and CMake colcon fixtures. This workflow is new: an
agent comparison has **not** established a performance gain from its prose.
Official semantics: [package selection](https://colcon.readthedocs.io/en/released/reference/package-selection-arguments.html),
[test](https://colcon.readthedocs.io/en/released/reference/verb/test.html),
[test results](https://colcon.readthedocs.io/en/released/reference/verb/test-result.html).