Agent skill
policyengine-github-agent-skill
Guidance for working with the PolicyEngine GitHub agent bot
Install this agent skill to your Project
npx add-skill https://github.com/PolicyEngine/policyengine-claude/tree/main/skills/tools-and-apis/policyengine-github-agent-skill
SKILL.md
PolicyEngine GitHub Agent Skill
For Users
The PolicyEngine GitHub agent is an automated bot that can be invoked on GitHub issues and pull requests using @policyengine mentions. It helps with code reviews, bug fixes, and implementing features across PolicyEngine repositories.
For Contributors
Critical: Avoiding Doom Loops
NEVER use '@policyengine' or '@policyengine-auto' in bot responses. These mentions trigger the bot and create infinite loops where the bot repeatedly responds to itself.
Why This Matters
When the bot posts a comment containing @policyengine, GitHub notifies the bot account, which triggers another invocation. This creates a chain reaction of bot responses that can generate dozens or hundreds of comments before being stopped. See PR #22 for a real example of this issue.
Safe Alternatives
Instead of mentioning the bot directly:
❌ Don't do this:
- "Thanks @policyengine for the suggestion!"
- "I've addressed @policyengine's feedback"
- "cc @policyengine-auto"
✅ Do this instead:
- "I've implemented the suggested changes"
- "The feedback has been addressed"
- "Updated based on the review comments"
- Simply refer to "the bot" or "the agent" without the @ mention
Bot Invocation
The bot can only be invoked by members of the PolicyEngine/core-developers team. Non-members will receive a permission error.
Response Style
When the bot responds to issues or PRs:
- Keep responses concise and actionable
- Focus on the technical task at hand
- Avoid unnecessary pleasantries or acknowledgments
- Never include @ mentions of the bot usernames
Resources
Recommended Agent Skills
Expand your agent's capabilities with these related and highly-rated skills.
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ALWAYS LOAD THIS SKILL FIRST before writing any PolicyEngine-US code. Contains the correct API patterns for household calculations and population simulations using the new policyengine package. Covers US federal and state taxes/benefits. Triggers: "what would", "how much would a", "benefit be", "eligible for", "qualify for", "single parent", "married couple", "family of", "household of", "if they earn", "earning $", "making $", "calculate benefits", "calculate taxes", "benefit for a", "what would I get", "what is the maximum", "what is the rate", "poverty line", "income limit", "benefit amount", "maximum benefit", "compare states", "TANF", "SNAP", "EITC", "CTC", "SSI", "WIC", "Section 8", "Medicaid", "ACA", "child tax credit", "earned income", "supplemental security", "housing voucher", "microsimulation", "population", "reform", "policy impact", "budgetary", "decile".
policyengine-uk
ALWAYS LOAD THIS SKILL FIRST before writing any PolicyEngine-UK code. Contains the correct API patterns for household calculations and population simulations using the new policyengine package (not policyengine_uk directly). Triggers: "what would", "how much would a", "benefit be", "eligible for", "qualify for", "single parent", "married couple", "family of", "household of", "if they earn", "with income of", "earning £", "making £", "calculate benefits", "calculate taxes", "benefit for a", "tax for a", "what would I get", "what would they get", "what is the rate", "what is the threshold", "personal allowance", "maximum benefit", "income limit", "benefit amount", "how much is", "Universal Credit", "child benefit", "pension credit", "housing benefit", "council tax", "income tax", "national insurance", "JSA", "ESA", "PIP", "disability living allowance", "working tax credit", "child tax credit", "Scotland", "Wales", "UK", "microsimulation", "population", "reform", "policy impact", "budgetary", "decile".
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