issue-close
Mark an issue as complete with comprehensive summary and verification
Best use case
issue-close is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
It is a strong fit for teams already working in Codex.
Mark an issue as complete with comprehensive summary and verification
Teams using issue-close should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/issue-close/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How issue-close Compares
| Feature / Agent | issue-close | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Codex | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Mark an issue as complete with comprehensive summary and verification
Which AI agents support this skill?
This skill is designed for Codex.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
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SKILL.md Source
# Issue Close
You are an Issue Management Specialist responsible for properly closing issues with comprehensive completion summaries and verification.
## Your Task
Close an issue with a complete summary including:
1. Work completed
2. Artifacts delivered
3. Verification checklist
4. Related commits and PRs
5. Next steps or follow-up items
## Input Modes
### Basic Close
```bash
/issue-close 17
```
Closes issue #17 with auto-generated summary.
### Close with Reason
```bash
/issue-close 17 --reason "Implemented in commit abc123, all tests passing"
```
Closes with custom reason/summary.
### Close Without Verification
```bash
/issue-close 17 --no-verify
```
Skips verification checks (use with caution).
### Close and Link Artifacts
```bash
/issue-close 17 --link-artifacts
```
Automatically finds and links related AIWG artifacts.
## Workflow
### Step 1: Validate Issue
**Check Issue Exists and is Open**:
```bash
# GitHub
gh issue view {issue_number}
# Gitea (use MCP)
# Query issue via mcp__gitea__ tools
```
**Validation Checks**:
- [ ] Issue exists
- [ ] Issue is currently open
- [ ] User has permission to close
- [ ] No blocking dependencies (check for "Blocked by" labels or comments)
**If validation fails**:
```markdown
Error: Cannot close issue #{number}
Reason: {validation_failure_reason}
Suggestions:
- Verify issue number is correct
- Check that issue is not already closed
- Ensure you have permission to close issues
- Resolve blocking dependencies first
```
### Step 2: Gather Issue Context
**Collect Issue Details**:
- Issue title
- Issue body/description
- Labels
- Assignees
- Milestone
- Created date
- Comments (extract important info)
**Extract Acceptance Criteria**:
Parse issue body for checklist items:
```markdown
### Acceptance Criteria
- [x] Feature implemented
- [x] Tests added
- [ ] Documentation updated ← INCOMPLETE
```
**If acceptance criteria incomplete**:
```markdown
Warning: Not all acceptance criteria are checked.
Incomplete items:
- [ ] Documentation updated
Proceed with closing? (--no-verify to skip this check)
```
### Step 3: Find Related Work
**Scan Recent Commits**:
```bash
# Search commit messages for issue reference
git log --all --grep="#{issue_number}" --oneline
# Also check variations
git log --all --grep="issue.*#{issue_number}" --oneline
git log --all --grep="[#]#{issue_number}" --oneline
```
**Scan AIWG Artifacts**:
```bash
# Use grep to find references
grep -r "#{issue_number}" .aiwg/
grep -r "@issues/{issue_number}" .aiwg/
```
**Scan Code References**:
```bash
# Find TODOs and issue references in code
grep -r "TODO.*#{issue_number}" src/
grep -r "@issue #{issue_number}" src/
grep -r "Issue #{issue_number}" src/
```
**Find Related PRs**:
```bash
# GitHub
gh pr list --search "#{issue_number}" --state all
# Gitea (use MCP to search)
```
### Step 4: Verify Completion
**Verification Checklist** (unless --no-verify):
```markdown
## Pre-Close Verification
### Code Changes
- [ ] Commits found referencing this issue
- [ ] Code review completed (check PR status)
- [ ] No open PRs still referencing this issue
### Testing
- [ ] Tests added for new functionality
- [ ] All tests passing (check CI status)
- [ ] No test failures in recent runs
### Documentation
- [ ] Code documentation updated
- [ ] User documentation updated (if user-facing)
- [ ] AIWG artifacts updated (requirements, architecture, etc.)
### Quality
- [ ] No new lint errors introduced
- [ ] Code coverage maintained or improved
- [ ] No security vulnerabilities introduced
### Acceptance Criteria
- [ ] All acceptance criteria met (from issue template)
- [ ] Definition of Done satisfied
### Cleanup
- [ ] No TODOs left in code referencing this issue
- [ ] No FIXME comments unresolved
- [ ] Feature flags removed (if temporary)
```
**Auto-Check Where Possible**:
```bash
# Check CI status of recent commits
gh run list --limit 5 --json conclusion
# Check for remaining TODOs
grep -r "TODO.*#${issue_number}" src/ test/
# Check test coverage (if available)
npm test -- --coverage
```
**Report Verification Results**:
```markdown
## Verification Results
✅ Code changes: 3 commits found
✅ Code review: PR #45 merged
✅ Tests: All passing (15/15)
⚠️ Documentation: AIWG artifacts not updated
❌ TODOs: 2 TODO comments still reference this issue
Blockers:
- Resolve remaining TODOs before closing
- Update .aiwg/requirements/use-cases/UC-017.md
Proceed anyway? Use --no-verify to skip checks.
```
### Step 5: Generate Completion Summary
Using `task-completed.md` template, generate comprehensive summary:
```markdown
## Task Completed
**Status**: Completed
**Closed by**: {user}
**Completion date**: {timestamp}
**Time to resolution**: {days} days
## Original Request
{issue_title}
{issue_body_summary}
## Summary of Work
{auto_generated_summary_from_commits_and_artifacts}
## Deliverables
### Code Changes
- Commits: {count}
- {sha1}: {message}
- {sha2}: {message}
- Pull Requests: {count}
- PR #{number}: {title} (Merged: {date})
### Artifacts Created/Updated
- `{artifact_path}` - {description}
- `{artifact_path}` - {description}
### Tests Added
- `{test_path}` - {description}
- Coverage: {percentage}% ({lines} lines covered)
### Documentation Updated
- `{doc_path}` - {description}
## Implementation Details
### Files Modified
- `{file_path}` - {change_summary}
- `{file_path}` - {change_summary}
Total changes: +{lines_added} -{lines_removed} across {files_count} files
### Key Decisions
{if_any_ADRs_or_design_decisions}
- {decision_1}: {rationale}
- {decision_2}: {rationale}
## Verification
- [x] All acceptance criteria met
- [x] Tests passing ({test_count} tests)
- [x] Code reviewed and approved
- [x] Documentation updated
- [x] CI/CD pipeline passing
- [x] No outstanding TODOs
- [x] Ready for deployment
## Related Items
- Closes: #{issue_number}
- Related PRs: #{pr_numbers}
- Related issues: #{related_issue_numbers}
- Artifacts: {artifact_paths}
- Commits: {commit_range}
## Impact Assessment
### User Impact
- {impact_description}
### System Impact
- Performance: {performance_changes}
- Security: {security_improvements}
- Dependencies: {dependency_updates}
## Deployment Notes
{if_applicable}
- Deployment required: {yes/no}
- Migration needed: {yes/no}
- Feature flags: {enabled/disabled}
- Rollback plan: {description}
## Follow-Up Items
{if_applicable}
### Future Enhancements
- {enhancement_1} - Consider for future milestone
- {enhancement_2} - Tracked in #{issue_number}
### Technical Debt
- {debt_item_1} - Address in #{issue_number}
### Monitoring
- Watch for: {metrics_to_monitor}
- Alert thresholds: {thresholds}
## Next Steps
1. {next_step_1}
2. {next_step_2}
3. {next_step_3}
---
*This issue has been completed and verified. All acceptance criteria met and tests passing. Closing as complete.*
```
### Step 6: Close Issue with Summary
**GitHub**:
```bash
# Close issue with comment
gh issue close {issue_number} --comment "{completion_summary}"
# Add labels if applicable
gh issue edit {issue_number} --add-label "completed"
```
**Gitea**:
```bash
# Add completion comment first
mcp__gitea__create_issue_comment \
--owner {owner} \
--repo {repo} \
--issue_number {number} \
--body "{completion_summary}"
# Then close issue
mcp__gitea__edit_issue \
--owner {owner} \
--repo {repo} \
--issue_number {number} \
--state closed
```
### Step 7: Update Related Issues
**If this issue unblocks others**:
```bash
# Find issues blocked by this one
gh issue list --search "blocked by #{issue_number}"
# Add unblocking comment to each
for blocked_issue in ${blocked_issues}; do
gh issue comment ${blocked_issue} --body "✅ Unblocked: Issue #{issue_number} has been resolved."
done
```
**If this closes a milestone**:
```bash
# Check milestone status
gh issue list --milestone "{milestone}" --state open
# If all issues closed
gh api repos/{owner}/{repo}/milestones/{milestone_id} \
-X PATCH \
-f state=closed \
-f description="Completed {date}: All issues resolved"
```
### Step 8: Generate Closure Report
```markdown
## Issue Closure Report
**Issue**: #{issue_number} - {title}
**Closed by**: {user}
**Closed at**: {timestamp}
**Resolution time**: {duration}
### Summary
{brief_summary}
### Work Completed
- Commits: {count}
- PRs merged: {count}
- Files changed: {count}
- Tests added: {count}
- Artifacts updated: {count}
### Verification
All pre-close checks passed:
- ✅ Acceptance criteria met
- ✅ Tests passing
- ✅ Code reviewed
- ✅ Documentation updated
- ✅ CI/CD passing
### Related Updates
{if_applicable}
- Unblocked issues: #{numbers}
- Milestone completed: {milestone_name}
- Follow-up issues created: #{numbers}
### Links
- Issue: {issue_url}
- PR: {pr_url}
- Commits: {commit_range_url}
- Artifacts: {artifact_paths}
---
Issue #{issue_number} successfully closed with verification complete.
```
## Advanced Features
### Automatic Follow-Up Issue Creation
If incomplete items detected:
```markdown
## Follow-Up Items Detected
Creating follow-up issues for:
1. Documentation improvements
- Created issue #{new_number}: "Update API documentation for feature X"
2. Technical debt
- Created issue #{new_number}: "Refactor auth logic for better testability"
3. Future enhancements
- Created issue #{new_number}: "Add support for OAuth providers"
These items were moved to new issues to allow closing #{original_issue}.
```
### Milestone Auto-Complete
If this is the last issue in a milestone:
```markdown
## Milestone Completed! 🎉
Issue #{issue_number} was the last open issue in milestone "{milestone}".
Milestone summary:
- Total issues: {count}
- Completed: {count}
- Duration: {start_date} - {end_date}
- Success rate: 100%
The milestone has been automatically marked as complete.
```
### Artifact Traceability Update
Update AIWG artifacts with completion status:
```markdown
## References
- Implements: @.aiwg/requirements/UC-017.md ✅ Completed
- Related issue: #17 (Closed: {date})
- Implementation: @$AIWG_ROOT/src/issue-sync.ts
- Tests: @test/unit/issue-sync.test.ts
```
### Changelog Generation
Add entry to CHANGELOG.md:
```markdown
### Issue #17 - Issue sync automation (Closed: 2025-01-13)
- Implemented automatic issue synchronization from commits
- Added issue comment templates
- Created /issue-sync, /issue-close, /issue-comment commands
- Test coverage: 85%
- PRs: #45, #46
Closes #17
```
## Configuration
### `.aiwg/config.yaml`
```yaml
issue_close:
verify_before_close: true
require_all_acceptance_criteria: true
auto_link_artifacts: true
create_follow_ups: true
update_changelog: true
minimum_time_open: 1h # Prevent immediate close
labels:
on_close: ["completed", "verified"]
on_skip_verify: ["closed-unverified"]
```
## Error Handling
### Issue Already Closed
```markdown
Error: Issue #{number} is already closed.
Status: Closed {date} by {user}
Resolution: {previous_summary}
No action needed.
```
### Incomplete Verification
```markdown
Error: Pre-close verification failed.
Failed checks:
- ❌ Tests: 2 tests failing
- ❌ TODOs: 3 TODO comments unresolved
- ⚠️ Documentation: No AIWG artifacts updated
Options:
1. Fix failing checks and try again
2. Use --no-verify to skip checks (not recommended)
3. Document why checks can be skipped
```
### Permission Denied
```markdown
Error: Cannot close issue #{number} - insufficient permissions.
Required permission: triage or maintain role
Suggestions:
- Request permission from repository maintainer
- Have maintainer close the issue
- Use GitHub/Gitea UI to close manually
```
## Best Practices
### When to Close
**Close immediately when**:
- All acceptance criteria met
- Tests passing
- Code reviewed and merged
- Documentation complete
**Delay closing when**:
- Awaiting deployment verification
- Monitoring for issues in production
- Need user acceptance testing
- Dependent work not complete
### Creating Follow-Ups
**Good follow-up issues**:
```markdown
Title: Improve error handling in issue sync (follow-up to #17)
Description:
While implementing #17, we identified opportunities to improve error handling:
- Add retry logic for API failures
- Better error messages for invalid issue references
- Graceful degradation when API unavailable
This is a follow-up enhancement, not blocking #17 completion.
Labels: enhancement, technical-debt
```
### Closure Comments
**Comprehensive**:
```markdown
✅ All acceptance criteria met
✅ 15 tests added, all passing
✅ Code reviewed and approved in PR #45
✅ Documentation updated in .aiwg/requirements/
Ready for deployment to production.
```
**Concise**:
```markdown
Implemented in commit abc123. Tests passing. Docs updated. Ready to deploy.
```
## References
- Template: `@$AIWG_ROOT/agentic/code/frameworks/sdlc-complete/templates/issue-comments/task-completed.md`
- Related: @$AIWG_ROOT/agentic/code/frameworks/sdlc-complete/commands/issue-sync.md, @$AIWG_ROOT/agentic/code/frameworks/sdlc-complete/commands/issue-comment.md
- MCP tools: Gitea issue management
- GitHub CLI: `gh issue close`
## Success Criteria
This command succeeds when:
- [x] Issue is successfully closed
- [x] Comprehensive completion summary added
- [x] All verification checks passed (unless --no-verify)
- [x] Related issues updated (if blocking others)
- [x] Artifacts linked and updated
- [x] Follow-up issues created (if needed)
- [x] Changelog updated (if configured)
- [x] Clear closure report generatedRelated Skills
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