Verification before completion

Verification Before Completion

Overview

Claiming work is complete without verification is dishonesty, not efficiency.

Core principle: Evidence before claims, always.

Violating the letter of this rule is violating the spirit of this rule.

The Iron Law

NO COMPLETION CLAIMS WITHOUT FRESH VERIFICATION EVIDENCE

If you haven't run the verification in this message, you cannot claim it passes.

The Gate Function

BEFORE claiming any status or expressing satisfaction:

1. IDENTIFY: What command/check proves this claim?
2. RUN: Execute the FULL verification (fresh, complete)
3. READ: Full output, check results, count failures
4. VERIFY: Does output confirm the claim?
   - If NO: State actual status with evidence
   - If YES: State claim WITH evidence
5. ONLY THEN: Make the claim

Skip any step = lying, not verifying

Common Failures

Claim	Requires	Not Sufficient
Tests pass	Test command output: 0 failures	Previous run, "should pass"
Build succeeds	Build command: exit 0	Linter passing, looks good
Bug fixed	Test original symptom: passes	Code changed, assumed fixed
Experiment worked	Data shows expected result	Protocol completed, assumed success
Finding confirmed	Statistical test: significant	Pattern observed, assumed real
Replication succeeded	Same result within tolerance	Similar result, close enough
Analysis complete	All steps executed, output verified	Script ran without errors
Requirements met	Line-by-line checklist	Tests passing

Red Flags - STOP

• Using "should", "probably", "seems to"
• Expressing satisfaction before verification ("Great!", "Perfect!", "Done!", etc.)
• About to commit/publish/report without verification
• Trusting automated reports without checking
• Relying on partial verification
• Thinking "just this once"
• Tired and wanting work over
• ANY wording implying success without having run verification

Rationalization Prevention

Excuse	Reality
"Should work now"	RUN the verification
"I'm confident"	Confidence ≠ evidence
"Just this once"	No exceptions
"Script passed"	Script success ≠ correct results
"Agent said success"	Verify independently
"I'm tired"	Exhaustion ≠ excuse
"Partial check is enough"	Partial proves nothing
"Different words so rule doesn't apply"	Spirit over letter

Key Patterns

Software - Tests:

✅ [Run test command] [See: 34/34 pass] "All tests pass"
❌ "Should pass now" / "Looks correct"

Software - Build:

✅ [Run build] [See: exit 0] "Build passes"
❌ "Linter passed" (linter doesn't check compilation)

Research - Experiment:

✅ [Check data] [See: effect size X, p < 0.05] "Hypothesis supported"
❌ "Experiment completed" / "Data collected"

Research - Replication:

✅ [Compare results] [See: within 5% of original] "Replication successful"
❌ "Protocol followed correctly"

Requirements:

✅ Re-read requirements → Create checklist → Verify each → Report gaps or completion
❌ "Tests pass, phase complete"

Agent delegation:

✅ Agent reports success → Check actual output → Verify changes → Report actual state
❌ Trust agent report

Why This Matters

From past failures:

• Trust broken: "I don't believe you"
• Broken code shipped: would crash in production
• False findings reported: would fail replication
• Missing requirements shipped: incomplete work
• Time wasted on false completion → redirect → rework
• Violates: "Honesty is a core value."

When To Apply

ALWAYS before:

• ANY variation of success/completion claims
• ANY expression of satisfaction
• ANY positive statement about work state
• Committing, publishing, reporting, sharing
• Moving to next task
• Delegating to agents

Rule applies to:

• Exact phrases
• Paraphrases and synonyms
• Implications of success
• ANY communication suggesting completion/correctness

The Bottom Line

No shortcuts for verification.

Run the check. Read the output. THEN claim the result.

This is non-negotiable.