---
title: "Jenkinsfile Validator Skill"
description: "Use this skill to validate Jenkins pipelines and shared libraries with local scripts first, then optionally enrich findings with plugin documentation."
type: skill
canonical_url: https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/skill-98
source: "Claudary"
difficulty: intermediate
author: "Claude Code Knowledge Pack"
date: 2026-07-10T11:45:57.668Z
license: CC-BY-4.0
attribution: "Jenkinsfile Validator Skill — Claudary (https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/skill-98)"
---

# Jenkinsfile Validator Skill
Use this skill to validate Jenkins pipelines and shared libraries with local scripts first, then optionally enrich findings with plugin documentation.

## Overview

---
name: jenkinsfile-validator
description: Validate, lint, audit, or check Jenkinsfiles and shared libraries.
---

# Jenkinsfile Validator Skill

Use this skill to validate Jenkins pipelines and shared libraries with local scripts first, then optionally enrich findings with plugin documentation.

## Trigger Phrases

Use this skill when requests look like:
- "Validate this Jenkinsfile"
- "Check this pipeline for security issues"
- "Lint my Declarative/Scripted pipeline"
- "Why is this Jenkins pipeline failing syntax checks?"
- "Validate vars/*.groovy or src/**/*.groovy shared library files"

## Scope

This skill validates:
- Declarative pipelines (`pipeline { ... }`)
- Scripted pipelines (`node { ... }` and Groovy-style pipelines)
- Shared library files (`vars/*.groovy`, `src/**/*.groovy`)
- Hardcoded credential patterns
- Pipeline best practices and maintainability signals

## Prerequisites

Run commands from repository root unless noted.

### Required tools
- `bash`
- `grep`
- `sed`
- `awk`
- `head`
- `wc`
- `find` (needed for shared-library directory scans)

### Recommended tools
- `jq` (optional; improves JSON-heavy troubleshooting workflows)

### Script prerequisites
- Scripts live in `devops-skills-plugin/skills/jenkinsfile-validator/scripts/`
- Main orchestrator can run child scripts even if `+x` is missing (it uses `bash` fallback)
- If you want direct execution (`./script.sh`), make scripts executable:

```bash
chmod +x devops-skills-plugin/skills/jenkinsfile-validator/scripts/*.sh
```

### Preflight check (recommended)

```bash
SKILL_DIR="devops-skills-plugin/skills/jenkinsfile-validator"

command -v bash grep sed awk head wc find >/dev/null && echo "required tools: ok" || echo "required tools: missing"
command -v jq >/dev/null && echo "jq: installed (optional)" || echo "jq: missing (optional)"

[ -d "$SKILL_DIR/scripts" ] && echo "scripts dir: ok" || echo "scripts dir: missing"
[ -f "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/validate_jenkinsfile.sh" ] && echo "main validator: ok" || echo "main validator: missing"
```

## Quick Start (Normalized Paths)

Use a single base path variable to avoid path ambiguity.

```bash
SKILL_DIR="devops-skills-plugin/skills/jenkinsfile-validator"
TARGET_JENKINSFILE="Jenkinsfile"

# Full validation (recommended)
bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/validate_jenkinsfile.sh" "$TARGET_JENKINSFILE"
```

### Common options

```bash
SKILL_DIR="devops-skills-plugin/skills/jenkinsfile-validator"
TARGET_JENKINSFILE="Jenkinsfile"

bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/validate_jenkinsfile.sh" --syntax-only "$TARGET_JENKINSFILE"
bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/validate_jenkinsfile.sh" --security-only "$TARGET_JENKINSFILE"
bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/validate_jenkinsfile.sh" --best-practices "$TARGET_JENKINSFILE"
bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/validate_jenkinsfile.sh" --no-security "$TARGET_JENKINSFILE"
bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/validate_jenkinsfile.sh" --no-best-practices "$TARGET_JENKINSFILE"
bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/validate_jenkinsfile.sh" --strict "$TARGET_JENKINSFILE"
bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/validate_jenkinsfile.sh" --assume-declarative "$TARGET_JENKINSFILE"
bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/validate_jenkinsfile.sh" --assume-scripted "$TARGET_JENKINSFILE"
```

### Shared library validation

```bash
SKILL_DIR="devops-skills-plugin/skills/jenkinsfile-validator"

bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/validate_shared_library.sh" vars/myStep.groovy
bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/validate_shared_library.sh" vars/
bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/validate_shared_library.sh" src/
bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/validate_shared_library.sh" /path/to/shared-library
```

### Regression and local CI checks

```bash
SKILL_DIR="devops-skills-plugin/skills/jenkinsfile-validator"
bash "$SKILL_DIR/tests/run_local_ci.sh"
```

`run_local_ci.sh` is the supported local/CI entrypoint for regression coverage. It runs:
- `bash -n` syntax checks for all `scripts/*.sh` and `tests/*.sh` files
- `tests/test_validate_jenkinsfile.sh` regression scenarios

## Deterministic Validation Flow

### 1) Detect pipeline type
- `pipeline {` => Declarative validator
- `node (...)` or `node {` => Scripted validator
- Unknown => fails closed by default (`ERROR [TypeDetection]`)
- Override intentionally ambiguous files with `--assume-declarative` or `--assume-scripted`

### 2) Run syntax validation
- Declarative: `validate_declarative.sh`
- Scripted: `validate_scripted.sh`

### 3) Run security scan
- `common_validation.sh check_credentials`

### 4) Run best practices check
- `best_practices.sh`

### 5) Aggregate and return final status
- Unified summary with pass/fail per phase and final exit code

### 6) Run regression suite after script changes
- `bash tests/run_local_ci.sh`
- Intended for both local pre-commit checks and CI job wiring

## Individual Script Commands (Advanced)

```bash
SKILL_DIR="devops-skills-plugin/skills/jenkinsfile-validator"
TARGET_JENKINSFILE="Jenkinsfile"

# Type detection
bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/common_validation.sh" detect_type "$TARGET_JENKINSFILE"

# Syntax-only by type
bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/validate_declarative.sh" "$TARGET_JENKINSFILE"
bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/validate_scripted.sh" "$TARGET_JENKINSFILE"

# Security-only
bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/common_validation.sh" check_credentials "$TARGET_JENKINSFILE"

# Best-practices-only
bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/best_practices.sh" "$TARGET_JENKINSFILE"
```

## Exit Code and Log Interpretation

### Main orchestrator: `validate_jenkinsfile.sh`
- `0`: Validation passed
- `1`: Validation failed (syntax/security errors, or warnings in `--strict` mode)
- `2`: Usage or environment error (bad args, missing file, missing required tools)

### Sub-scripts
- `validate_declarative.sh`: `0` pass (errors=0), `1` usage/file/validation failure
- `validate_scripted.sh`: `0` pass (errors=0), `1` usage/file/validation failure
- `common_validation.sh check_credentials`: `0` no credential errors, `1` credential issues found
- `validate_shared_library.sh`: `0` pass, `1` validation errors found, `2` invalid input target
- `best_practices.sh`: `1` only for usage/file errors; content findings are reported in logs and score output

### Log severity patterns
- `ERROR [Line N]: ...` => must fix
- `WARNING [Line N]: ...` => should review
- `INFO [Line N]: ...` => optional improvement
- Summary banners (`VALIDATION PASSED/FAILED`) determine final interpretation quickly

### Practical interpretation rules
- For CI gating, rely on main orchestrator exit code.
- Use `--strict` when warnings should fail pipelines.
- When `best_practices.sh` is run standalone, read report sections (`CRITICAL ISSUES`, `IMPROVEMENTS RECOMMENDED`, score); do not rely only on exit code.

## Fallback Behavior

### Missing optional tools
- If `jq` is missing, continue validation; treat as non-blocking.

### Non-executable child scripts
- Main orchestrator warns and falls back to `bash <script>` execution.

### Missing child scripts
- Main orchestrator reports runner error and returns failure for that phase.

### Unknown plugin steps
Use this order:
1. Check local reference: `devops-skills-plugin/skills/jenkinsfile-validator/references/common_plugins.md`
2. Context7 lookup:
   - `mcp__context7__resolve-library-id` with query like `jenkinsci <plugin-name>-plugin`
   - `mcp__context7__query-docs` for usage and parameters
3. Web fallback: [plugins.jenkins.io](https://plugins.jenkins.io/) and official Jenkins docs

### Offline/air-gapped mode
- Run all local validators.
- If plugin docs cannot be fetched, report: "Plugin docs lookup skipped due to environment constraints; local validation only."

## Plugin Documentation Lookup Workflow

When plugin-specific validation is requested:
1. Identify unknown steps from Jenkinsfile or validator logs.
2. Check `references/common_plugins.md` first.
3. If missing, use Context7 (`resolve-library-id` then `query-docs`).
4. If still missing, use web search against official plugin index/docs.
5. Return required parameters, optional parameters, version-sensitive notes, and security guidance.

## References

Local references:
- `devops-skills-plugin/skills/jenkinsfile-validator/references/declarative_syntax.md`
- `devops-skills-plugin/skills/jenkinsfile-validator/references/scripted_syntax.md`
- `devops-skills-plugin/skills/jenkinsfile-validator/references/best_practices.md`
- `devops-skills-plugin/skills/jenkinsfile-validator/references/common_plugins.md`

External references:
- [Jenkins Pipeline Syntax](https://www.jenkins.io/doc/book/pipeline/syntax/)
- [Pipeline Development Tools](https://www.jenkins.io/doc/book/pipeline/development/)
- [Pipeline Best Practices](https://www.jenkins.io/doc/book/pipeline/pipeline-best-practices/)
- [Jenkins Plugins](https://plugins.jenkins.io/)

## Reporting Template

Use this structure in validation responses:

```text
Validation Target: <path>
Pipeline Type: <Declarative|Scripted|Shared Library|Unknown>

Findings:
- ERROR [Line X]: <issue>
- WARNING [Line Y]: <issue>
- INFO [Line Z]: <suggestion>

Phase Results:
- Syntax: <PASSED|FAILED|SKIPPED>
- Security: <PASSED|FAILED|SKIPPED>
- Best Practices: <PASSED|REVIEW NEEDED|SKIPPED>

Exit Code: <0|1|2>
Next Actions:
1. <highest-priority fix>
2. <second fix>
```

## Example Flows

### Example 1: Full Jenkinsfile validation

```bash
SKILL_DIR="devops-skills-plugin/skills/jenkinsfile-validator"
bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/validate_jenkinsfile.sh" Jenkinsfile
```

Expected behavior:
- Runs syntax + security + best practices
- Prints per-phase results and unified summary
- Returns `0/1/2` per orchestrator rules

### Example 2: Shared library directory validation

```bash
SKILL_DIR="devops-skills-plugin/skills/jenkinsfile-validator"
bash "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/validate_shared_library.sh" examples/shared-library
```

Expected behavior:
- Validates both `vars/` and `src/` files
- Aggregates issues with line references
- Returns `1` when errors are present

### Example 3: Unknown plugin step follow-up

Input step:
```groovy
nexusArtifactUploader artifacts: [[...]], nexusUrl: 'https://nexus.example.com'
```

Flow:
1. Validate locally first.
2. If step behavior is unclear, resolve docs via Context7.
3. If unavailable, use plugin site docs.
4. Report usage guidance and security-safe parameter patterns.

## Done Criteria

The skill usage is complete when all are true:
- Commands use normalized paths (`$SKILL_DIR/scripts/...`) with no cwd ambiguity.
- Prerequisites and optional dependencies are explicit.
- Exit-code semantics and log-severity interpretation are documented.
- Fallback behavior is defined for missing tools/docs and constrained environments.
- At least one runnable example exists for full validation and shared-library validation.
- Reporting format is deterministic and actionable.

---

Source: [Claudary](https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/skill-98) · https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com