* feat(data): validate AI transformation and repair boundaries * docs(data): expose AI transformation and repair triggers * docs(data-engineering): preserve the full reference index
data-cleaning
A practical, evidence-first workflow for turning messy data into trustworthy, reviewable datasets.
Why Install This Skill
Messy data is not solved by a handful of dropna() calls. This skill helps an agent discover what is wrong, decide what may safely change, preserve what was observed, and demonstrate that the result still matches the intended grain and meaning.
It works across CSV, JSON, text, DataFrames, SQL extracts, and pipeline boundaries. It combines a repeatable methodology with tool-selection guidance, reusable plans and reports, and a dependency-free profiling script that produces machine-readable evidence before mutation.
What You Get
| Path | Purpose |
|---|---|
SKILL.md |
Core workflow and completion gate |
references/ |
Methodology, operations, validation, tools, sources |
templates/ |
Cleaning plan, decision log, transformation log, exception register, schema contract, quality report |
scripts/profile_dataset.py |
Read-only CSV/TSV/JSONL profiler |
scripts/reconcile_dataset.py |
Read-only key, row-count, and aggregate reconciliation |
scripts/test_* |
Deterministic tests for bundled scripts |
evals/evals.json |
Output-quality evaluation cases |
Quick Start
python3 scripts/profile_dataset.py input.csv --output profile.json
python3 scripts/profile_dataset.py input.csv --max-rows 10000
The profiler does not edit the input. Use its report to fill templates/cleaning-plan.md, then validate the transformed output against templates/schema-contract.yml or a project-specific contract.
For AI-assisted data work, the boundary workflow helps keep uncertain proposals out of trusted datasets. Use the companion record to retain validation and review evidence.
Triggers
- Clean or standardize CSV, JSON, text, spreadsheet exports, or DataFrames
- Diagnose missing values, duplicates, malformed types, dates, encodings, or categories
- Design a reusable cleaning pipeline or data-quality contract
- Choose among pandas, Polars, pyjanitor, Pandera, Great Expectations, OpenRefine, Frictionless, dbt tests, or Spark-scale tools
- Review whether cleaning is reproducible, safe, or leakage-free
Requirements
- Python 3.9+ for the bundled script
- No external dependency for first-pass profiling
- Optional ecosystem tools require their own installations