---
name: nathan-standards
description: Development standards for the Nathan n8n-Jira agent automation system.
  Covers n8n workflows, Python patterns, and project conventions.
author: Joseph OBrien
status: unpublished
updated: '2025-12-23'
version: 1.0.1
tag: skill
type: skill
---

# Nathan Development Standards

Standards and patterns for developing within the Nathan project - an n8n-Jira agent automation system.

## When to Use

Invoke this skill when:

- Creating or modifying n8n workflow JSON files
- Writing Python code for the Nathan helpers or templating modules
- Designing webhook command contracts
- Building workflow registry configurations
- Implementing spec-driven features via agent-os

## Project Architecture

Nathan follows a layered architecture:

```text
External Service (Jira) <-- n8n Workflows <-- Python Agent Service
                             (credentials)      (webhook calls)
```

**Core Principle**: n8n owns all external credentials. Python services call n8n webhooks with shared secret authentication.

## n8n Workflow Standards

For detailed workflow patterns, load `references/n8n-workflow-patterns.md`.

### Standard Workflow Structure

Every webhook workflow must follow this pattern:

```text
Webhook --> Validate Secret --> Operation --> Respond to Webhook
               |                   |              |
               v                   v              v
           Unauthorized       Error Response   Success Response
           Response (401)     (500)            (200)
```

### Required Node Pattern

```json
{
  "id": "validate-secret",
  "name": "Validate Secret",
  "type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
  "typeVersion": 2,
  "parameters": {
    "conditions": {
      "conditions": [{
        "leftValue": "={{ $json.headers['x-n8n-secret'] }}",
        "rightValue": "={{ $env.N8N_WEBHOOK_SECRET }}",
        "operator": { "type": "string", "operation": "equals" }
      }]
    }
  }
}
```

### Response Format

All responses must follow this shape:

```json
{ "success": true, "data": {...}, "status_code": 200, "error": null }
{ "success": false, "data": {}, "status_code": 500, "error": "message" }
```

### JQL Expression Escaping

In n8n expressions within JSON, escape properly:

| Wrong | Correct |
|-------|---------|
| `.map(x => "${x}")` | `.map(x => '"' + x + '"')` |
| `.join('\n')` | `.join('\\n')` |
| `.replaceAll('\n', ' ')` | `.replaceAll('\\n', ' ')` |

## Python Standards

For detailed patterns, load `references/python-patterns.md`.

### Module Structure

```text
nathan/
  helpers/           # Shared utilities (workflow registry, etc.)
  workflows/         # n8n workflow JSON + registry.yaml per category
  templating/        # YAML-to-JSON template engine
  scripts/           # Standalone runnable scripts
```

### Code Style

```python
# Required imports pattern
from __future__ import annotations
from typing import Any
from pathlib import Path
import logging

logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)

# Type hints required, use T | None not Optional[T]
async def trigger_workflow(url: str, params: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any]:
    ...
```

### Registry Pattern

```yaml
# registry.yaml
version: "1.0.0"
description: "Registry description"

commands:
  command_name:
    endpoint: /webhook/endpoint-path
    method: POST
    required_params:
      - param1
    optional_params:
      - param2
    description: What this command does
    example:
      param1: "value"
```

## Spec-Driven Development

Use agent-os commands for feature development:

1. `/shape-spec` - Initialize and shape specification
2. `/write-spec` - Write detailed spec document
3. `/create-tasks` - Generate task list from spec
4. `/orchestrate-tasks` - Delegate to subagents

Specs live in `agent-os/specs/[spec-name]/` with:

- `spec.md` - Feature specification
- `tasks.md` - Implementation tasks with checkboxes
- `orchestration.yml` - Subagent delegation config

## Quick Reference

### Common Commands

```bash
uv sync                              # Install dependencies
uv run pytest                        # Run tests
uv run pytest path/to/test.py -v     # Single test file
uvx ruff check .                     # Lint
uvx ruff format .                    # Format
docker compose -f docker-compose.n8n.yml up -d  # Start n8n
```

### Environment Variables

| Variable | Purpose |
|----------|---------|
| `N8N_WEBHOOK_SECRET` | Shared secret for webhook auth |
| `N8N_API_KEY` | n8n Public API key |
| `JIRA_DOMAIN` | Jira Cloud domain |
| `JIRA_EMAIL` | Jira account email |
| `JIRA_API_TOKEN` | Jira API token |

### File Naming Conventions

| Type | Convention | Example |
|------|------------|---------|
| Workflow JSON | `kebab-case.json` | `jira-get-ticket.json` |
| Python modules | `snake_case.py` | `n8n_workflow_registry.py` |
| Test files | `test_*.py` | `test_parser.py` |
| Registry | `registry.yaml` | per workflow category |