Crate Recon

---
name: crate-recon
description: Research Rust crate candidates and their feature, API, dependency, license, build, and runtime paths for any project. Use before dependency alignment when a unit may introduce a Rust crate, use a lower backend crate, replace a capability, or hand-write behavior that an existing crate might cover.
---

# Crate Recon

Use this skill to produce compact evidence, not a dependency decision. The
consumer is usually `dependency-alignment`.

## Evidence Ladder

1. Search crates by capability, not package-name parity.
2. Include user-named candidates even if they are not in the top search results.
3. Check current docs and feature flags from primary sources when network access
   is available.
4. Use Cargo metadata/tree/info to prove resolved versions and dependency paths.
5. Record license, build requirements, native/runtime risk, maintenance signals,
   and API fit.

Do not reject an umbrella crate before checking whether a feature-selected lower
dependency owns the useful capability.

## Script

Use the bundled script when appropriate:

```bash
python skills/foundations/crate-recon/scripts/crate_recon.py <capability>
```

If network or registry access is unavailable, record that explicitly and return
the best local/manual evidence.

## Report Shape

```yaml
capability: "what the project needs"
mode: agent # agent | manual | disabled | blocked
candidates:
  - crate: name
    version: null
    fit: direct | backend | partial | poor | unknown
    useful_features: []
    dependency_paths: []
    api_evidence: []
    license: null
    build_runtime_risk: []
    maintenance_notes: []
recommendation_input:
  viable_direct: []
  viable_backend: []
  unresolved_questions: []
  do_not_use: []
```

## Non-Negotiables

- Recon does not add dependencies or edit lockfiles.
- Recon does not decide adapter vs handwritten replacement; alignment does.
- Disabled recon is recorded as `user_disabled`, not as completed evidence.
- `/tmp` research is disposable until promoted into a project-controlled record.