Dependency Analyzer

What it does

The Dependency Analyzer skill helps AI agents understand and manage project dependencies within codebases. It parses dependency files like package.json, requirements.txt, go.mod, Cargo.toml, and pom.xml to identify outdated packages, analyze version numbers using semantic versioning (SemVer), and check for potential breaking changes. The skill also performs a security audit by scanning for known vulnerabilities in dependencies.

When to use it

• Identifying Outdated Packages: Determine which project dependencies are no longer the latest versions.
• Assessing Upgrade Risks: Evaluate whether updating a dependency will introduce breaking changes to your code.
• Security Audits: Quickly identify packages with known security vulnerabilities and suggest updates.
• Migration Planning: Understand migration requirements when upgrading major versions of dependencies.
• Automated Reporting: Generate reports summarizing the health of project dependencies, including outdated packages and potential vulnerabilities.

Key capabilities

• Parses common dependency file formats (package.json, requirements.txt, go.mod, Cargo.toml, pom.xml).
• Analyzes version numbers using semantic versioning (SemVer) principles.
• Identifies major version bumps and flags them as potentially breaking changes.
• Checks changelogs for "BREAKING CHANGE" markers and reviews migration guides.
• Scans for known vulnerabilities in dependencies and suggests security updates.
• Generates reports listing outdated packages, identified breaking changes, and suggested update strategies.

Example prompts

• “Analyze the dependencies in my package.json file.”
• “Check if there are any major version upgrades available for my project’s dependencies.”
• "Find and report on security vulnerabilities within my project's dependencies."

Tips & gotchas

• The skill relies on accurate dependency files being present in the project directory.
• Major version updates often require code changes due to potential breaking changes; always test thoroughly after applying updates.
• The skill integrates with a "Security Architect Agent" for reviewing security vulnerabilities and ensuring compliance.