Code Hardcode Audit

---
name: code-hardcode-audit
description: Detects hardcoded values, magic numbers, duplicate constants, and leaked secrets using Ruff, Semgrep, jscpd, and gitleaks. Use when auditing for hardcodes, magic numbers, PLR2004, constant detection, secret scanning, or before release.
allowed-tools: Bash, Read, Write, Glob, Grep
---

# Code Hardcode Audit

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when the user mentions:

- "hardcoded values", "hardcodes", "magic numbers"
- "constant detection", "find constants"
- "duplicate constants", "DRY violations"
- "code audit", "hardcode audit"
- "PLR2004", "semgrep", "jscpd", "gitleaks"
- "secret scanning", "leaked secrets", "API keys"
- "passwords in code", "credential leaks"

## Quick Start

```bash
# Full audit (all tools, both outputs)
uv run --script scripts/audit_hardcodes.py -- src/

# Python magic numbers only (fastest)
uv run --script scripts/run_ruff_plr.py -- src/

# Pattern-based detection (URLs, ports, paths)
uv run --script scripts/run_semgrep.py -- src/

# Copy-paste detection
uv run --script scripts/run_jscpd.py -- src/

# Secret scanning (API keys, tokens, passwords)
uv run --script scripts/run_gitleaks.py -- src/
```

## Tool Overview

| Tool             | Detection Focus                 | Language Support | Speed  |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------- | ---------------- | ------ |
| **Ruff PLR2004** | Magic value comparisons         | Python           | Fast   |
| **Semgrep**      | URLs, ports, paths, credentials | Multi-language   | Medium |
| **jscpd**        | Duplicate code blocks           | Multi-language   | Slow   |
| **gitleaks**     | Secrets, API keys, passwords    | Any (file-based) | Fast   |

## Output Formats

### JSON (--output json)

```json
{
  "summary": {
    "total_findings": 42,
    "by_tool": { "ruff": 15, "semgrep": 20, "jscpd": 7 },
    "by_severity": { "high": 5, "medium": 25, "low": 12 }
  },
  "findings": [
    {
      "id": "MAGIC-001",
      "tool": "ruff",
      "rule": "PLR2004",
      "file": "src/config.py",
      "line": 42,
      "column": 8,
      "message": "Magic value used in comparison: 8123",
      "severity": "medium",
      "suggested_fix": "Extract to named constant"
    }
  ],
  "refactoring_plan": [
    {
      "priority": 1,
      "action": "Create constants/ports.py",
      "finding_ids": ["MAGIC-001", "MAGIC-003"]
    }
  ]
}
```

### Compiler-like Text (--output text)

```
src/config.py:42:8: PLR2004 Magic value used in comparison: 8123 [ruff]
src/probe.py:15:1: hardcoded-url Hardcoded URL detected [semgrep]
src/client.py:20-35: Clone detected (16 lines, 95% similarity) [jscpd]

Summary: 42 findings (ruff: 15, semgrep: 20, jscpd: 7)
```

## CLI Options

```
--output {json,text,both}  Output format (default: both)
--tools {all,ruff,semgrep,jscpd,gitleaks}  Tools to run (default: all)
--severity {all,high,medium,low}  Filter by severity (default: all)
--exclude PATTERN  Glob pattern to exclude (repeatable)
--parallel  Run tools in parallel (default: true)
```

## References

- [Tool Comparison](./references/tool-comparison.md) - Detailed tool capabilities
- [Output Schema](./references/output-schema.md) - JSON schema specification
- [Troubleshooting](./references/troubleshooting.md) - Common issues and fixes

## Related

- ADR-0046: Semantic Constants Abstraction
- ADR-0047: Code Hardcode Audit Skill
- `code-clone-assistant` - PMD CPD-based clone detection (DRY focus)