zhanghandong/rust-skills/m05-type-driven

Claude Code and agent skill by zhanghandong/rust-skills

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CRITICAL: Use for type-driven design. Triggers: type state, PhantomData, newtype, marker trait, builder pattern, make invalid states unrepresentable, compile-time validation, sealed trait, ZST, 类型状态, 新类型模式, 类型驱动设计

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npx vskill@latest install zhanghandong/rust-skills/m05-type-driven

SKILL.md

Type-Driven Design

Layer 1: Language Mechanics

Core Question

How can the type system prevent invalid states?

Before reaching for runtime checks:

  • Can the compiler catch this error?
  • Can invalid states be unrepresentable?
  • Can the type encode the invariant?

Error → Design Question

PatternDon't Just SayAsk Instead
Primitive obsession"It's just a string"What does this value represent?
Boolean flags"Add an is_valid flag"Can states be types?
Optional everywhere"Check for None"Is absence really possible?
Validation at runtime"Return Err if invalid"Can we validate at construction?

Thinking Prompt

Before adding runtime validation:

  1. Can the type encode the constraint?
  • Numeric range → bounded types or newtypes
  • Valid states → type state pattern
  • Semantic meaning → newtype
  1. When is validation possible?
  • At construction → validated newtype
  • At state transition → type state
  • Only at runtime → Result with clear error
  1. Who needs to know the invariant?
  • Compiler → type-level encoding
  • API users → clear type signatures
  • Runtime only → documentation

Trace Up ↑

When type design is unclear:

"Need to validate email format"
↑ Ask: Is this a domain value object?
↑ Check: m09-domain (Email as Value Object)
↑ Check: domain-* (validation requirements)
SituationTrace ToQuestion
What types to createm09-domainWhat's the domain model?
State machine designm09-domainWhat are valid transitions?
Marker trait usagem04-zero-costStatic or dynamic dispatch?

Trace Down ↓

From design to implementation:

"Need type-safe wrapper for primitives"
↓ Newtype: struct UserId(u64);
"Need compile-time state validation"
↓ Type State: Connection<Connected>
"Need to track phantom type parameters"
↓ PhantomData: PhantomData<T>
"Need capability markers"
↓ Marker Trait: trait Validated {}
"Need gradual construction"
↓ Builder: Builder::new().field(x).build()

Quick Reference

PatternPurposeExample
NewtypeType safetystruct UserId(u64);
Type StateState machineConnection<Connected>
PhantomDataVariance/lifetimePhantomData<&'a T>
Marker TraitCapability flagtrait Validated {}
BuilderGradual constructionBuilder::new().name("x").build()
Sealed TraitPrevent external implmod private { pub trait Sealed {} }

Pattern Examples

Newtype
rust
struct Email(String); // Not just any string
impl Email {
pub fn new(s: &str) -> Result<Self, ValidationError> {
// Validate once, trust forever
validate_email(s)?;
Ok(Self(s.to_string()))
}
}
Type State
rust
struct Connection<State>(TcpStream, PhantomData<State>);
struct Disconnected;
struct Connected;
struct Authenticated;
impl Connection<Disconnected> {
fn connect(self) -> Connection<Connected> { ... }
}
impl Connection<Connected> {
fn authenticate(self) -> Connection<Authenticated> { ... }
}

Decision Guide

NeedPattern
Type safety for primitivesNewtype
Compile-time state validationType State
Lifetime/variance markersPhantomData
Capability flagsMarker Trait
Gradual constructionBuilder
Closed set of implsSealed Trait
Zero-sized type markerZST struct

Anti-Patterns

Anti-PatternWhy BadBetter
Boolean flags for statesRuntime errorsType state
String for semantic typesNo type safetyNewtype
Option for uninitializedUnclear invariantBuilder
Public fields with invariantsInvariant violationPrivate + validated new()

Related Skills

WhenSee
Domain modelingm09-domain
Trait designm04-zero-cost
Error handling in constructorsm06-error-handling
Anti-patternsm15-anti-pattern

Security

  • Security scanPassed, 95 of 100Pattern checks on the skill's files.
  • Model reviewPassed

Quality evaluation

  • Task evaluationWarning, 75 of 100Marginal. 1 run. Evaluated 8 months ago.

Source

Popularity

Repository stars
924
Repository forks
84
7-day trend score
34

Stars and forks are for the whole GitHub repository, not this skill alone. Refreshed 20 Mar 2026, 7 months ago.

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