Algolia Local Development Loop

Overview

This skill combines deterministic offline tests with an optional disposable-index integration test. It makes the local loop useful without pretending a mock reproduces provider ranking, task timing, or authorization.

Prerequisites

• A named repository, environment, and Algolia application or index in scope
• The local lockfile and installed client types as implementation authority
• A safe read-only query or explicitly disposable test target
• Current first-party documentation for any provider behavior that affects the change

Tool Discipline

Use Read, Glob, and Grep to inspect local code, configuration names, tests, and dependency versions. Use WebFetch only for current official Algolia documentation. Use Write or Edit only after identifying the target files, constraints, and verification plan.

Current Contract

• Keep record transformation and query construction in pure functions that can be tested offline.
• Mock only the application-owned client boundary, not internal SDK implementation details.
• Use unique disposable index names for live checks and never reuse production credentials.
• Wait for write tasks and clean up live fixtures explicitly.

Authentication

Offline tests need no credential. Optional live tests use a custom key restricted to the disposable prefix and are disabled when credentials are absent.

Instructions

1. Inspect the current client wrapper, package scripts, fixtures, and test framework.
2. Extract pure record-shaping and query-building functions with focused unit tests.
3. Create a typed adapter and mock its application-level responses and failures.
4. Add an opt-in live test that validates a generated disposable index name.
5. Write known records, wait, query, assert, and clean up while retaining task receipts.
6. Document how developers select offline versus live mode and how stale test indices are reported.

Approval Boundaries

Do not require live credentials for the default test command, share a personal Admin key, or clean up any index outside the validated disposable prefix.

Output

Return the local scripts, test boundary, fixtures, live-test guard, cleanup behavior, and evidence for both credential-free and optional integration modes.

Error Handling

Condition	Response
Credential absent	Run offline tests and report the live test as skipped.
Mock diverges from adapter	Update the adapter contract and its typed fixture together.
Disposable prefix invalid	Fail before any network write.
Cleanup fails	Report the exact retained index for manual review.

Examples

Use this compact input and expected handoff to calibrate scope and evidence quality.

Input:

mode=offline-default; integration=ALGOLIA_LIVE_TEST=1; prefix=dev-$USER-$RUN

Expected handoff:

unit=pass; live=skipped; production-index-access=none

Resources

• Skill-specific official documentation
• JavaScript API client
• JavaScript v5 upgrade
• API keys