qe-defect-intelligence

Predicts defect-prone code using change frequency, complexity metrics, and historical bug patterns. Use when predicting defects before they escape, analyzing root causes of test failures, learning from past defect patterns, or implementing proactive quality management.

Best use case

qe-defect-intelligence is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.

Predicts defect-prone code using change frequency, complexity metrics, and historical bug patterns. Use when predicting defects before they escape, analyzing root causes of test failures, learning from past defect patterns, or implementing proactive quality management.

Teams using qe-defect-intelligence 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

$curl -o ~/.claude/skills/qe-defect-intelligence/SKILL.md --create-dirs "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/proffesor-for-testing/agentic-qe/main/.claude/skills/qe-defect-intelligence/SKILL.md"

Manual Installation

  1. Download SKILL.md from GitHub
  2. Place it in .claude/skills/qe-defect-intelligence/SKILL.md inside your project
  3. Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill

How qe-defect-intelligence Compares

Feature / Agentqe-defect-intelligenceStandard Approach
Platform SupportNot specifiedLimited / Varies
Context Awareness High Baseline
Installation ComplexityUnknownN/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this skill do?

Predicts defect-prone code using change frequency, complexity metrics, and historical bug patterns. Use when predicting defects before they escape, analyzing root causes of test failures, learning from past defect patterns, or implementing proactive quality management.

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.

Related Guides

SKILL.md Source

# QE Defect Intelligence

## Purpose

Guide the use of v3's defect intelligence capabilities including ML-based defect prediction, pattern recognition from historical data, and automated root cause analysis.

## Activation

- When predicting defect-prone code
- When analyzing failure patterns
- When performing root cause analysis
- When learning from past defects
- When prioritizing testing based on risk

## Quick Start

```bash
# Predict defects in changed code
aqe defect predict --changes HEAD~5..HEAD

# Analyze failure patterns
aqe defect patterns --period 90d --min-occurrences 3

# Root cause analysis
aqe defect rca --failure "test/auth.test.ts:45"

# Learn from resolved defects
aqe defect learn --source jira --status resolved
```

## Agent Workflow

```typescript
// Defect prediction
Task("Predict defect-prone code", `
  Analyze PR #456 changes and predict defect likelihood:
  - Historical defect correlation
  - Code complexity factors
  - Author experience with module
  - Test coverage gaps
  Flag high-risk changes requiring extra review.
`, "qe-defect-predictor")

// Root cause analysis
Task("Analyze test failure", `
  Investigate recurring failure in AuthService tests:
  - Collect failure history (last 30 days)
  - Identify common patterns
  - Trace to potential root causes
  - Suggest fixes using 5-whys analysis
`, "qe-root-cause-analyzer")
```

## Prediction Models

### 1. Change-Based Prediction

```typescript
await defectPredictor.predictFromChanges({
  changes: prChanges,
  factors: {
    codeChurn: { weight: 0.2 },
    complexity: { weight: 0.25 },
    authorExperience: { weight: 0.15 },
    fileHistory: { weight: 0.2 },
    testCoverage: { weight: 0.2 }
  },
  threshold: {
    high: 0.7,
    medium: 0.4,
    low: 0.2
  }
});
```

### 2. Pattern Learning

```typescript
await patternLearner.learnPatterns({
  source: {
    defects: 'jira:project=MYAPP&type=bug',
    commits: 'git:last-6-months',
    tests: 'test-results:last-1000-runs'
  },
  patterns: [
    'code-smell-to-defect',
    'change-coupling',
    'test-gap-correlation',
    'complexity-defect-density'
  ],
  output: {
    rules: true,
    visualizations: true,
    recommendations: true
  }
});
```

### 3. Root Cause Analysis

```typescript
await rootCauseAnalyzer.analyze({
  failure: testFailure,
  methods: [
    'five-whys',
    'fishbone-diagram',
    'fault-tree',
    'change-impact'
  ],
  context: {
    recentChanges: true,
    environmentDiff: true,
    dependencyChanges: true,
    similarFailures: true
  }
});
```

## Defect Prediction Report

```typescript
interface DefectPrediction {
  file: string;
  riskScore: number;  // 0-1
  riskLevel: 'critical' | 'high' | 'medium' | 'low';
  factors: {
    name: string;
    contribution: number;
    details: string;
  }[];
  historicalDefects: {
    count: number;
    recent: Defect[];
    patterns: string[];
  };
  recommendations: {
    action: string;
    priority: string;
    expectedRiskReduction: number;
  }[];
}
```

## Pattern Categories

| Pattern | Detection | Prevention |
|---------|-----------|------------|
| Null pointer | Static analysis | Null checks, Optional |
| Race condition | Concurrency analysis | Locks, atomic ops |
| Memory leak | Heap analysis | Resource cleanup |
| Off-by-one | Boundary analysis | Loop invariants |
| Injection | Taint analysis | Input validation |

## Root Cause Templates

```yaml
root_cause_analysis:
  five_whys:
    max_depth: 5
    prompt_template: "Why did {effect} happen?"

  fishbone:
    categories:
      - people
      - process
      - tools
      - environment
      - materials
      - measurement

  fault_tree:
    top_event: "Test Failure"
    gate_types: [AND, OR, NOT]
    basic_events: true
```

## Integration with Issue Tracking

```typescript
await defectIntelligence.syncWithTracker({
  source: 'jira',
  project: 'MYAPP',
  sync: {
    defectData: 'bidirectional',
    predictions: 'create-tasks',
    patterns: 'update-labels'
  },
  automation: {
    flagHighRisk: true,
    suggestAssignee: true,
    linkRelated: true
  }
});
```

## Coordination

**Primary Agents**: qe-defect-predictor, qe-pattern-learner, qe-root-cause-analyzer
**Coordinator**: qe-defect-intelligence-coordinator
**Related Skills**: qe-coverage-analysis, qe-quality-assessment

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