Code Migration
Core principle: When you move responsibility from A to B, delete A.
Half-migrations are technical debt. If files_helper.py and path_comp.py both construct paths, every developer must learn which one to use. That ambiguity is the bug.
Migration Checklist
When moving logic from one location to another:
- • Move the code to its canonical location
- • Update all call sites (use grep, not hope)
- • Update skills that reference the old location
- • Add ruff rules to ban imports from the old location
- • Delete the old code (not deprecate - delete)
- • Run validate_skills.py to catch stale references
- • Run tests to confirm nothing broke
If you can't check all boxes, the migration isn't done.
Canonical Owners
Every responsibility has exactly ONE canonical owner:
| Responsibility | Canonical Owner | NOT |
|---|---|---|
| Library path construction | path_comp.py | files_helper.py |
| Wall-clock timestamps | time_helper.now_ms() | time.time() |
| Monotonic intervals | time_helper.internal_ms() | time.monotonic() |
| Essentia calls | ml_backend_essentia_comp.py | anywhere else |
| Logging setup | logging_helper.get_logger() | logging.getLogger() |
| Config access | Injected AppConfig | os.environ, config.yaml |
If two places can do the same thing, one of them is wrong.
Enforcement Stack
Migrations are enforced at every layer:
1. Ruff Rules (Syntax-Level)
Ban dangerous imports before code runs:
# ruff.toml [lint.flake8-tidy-imports.banned-api] "time.time".msg = "Use nomarr.helpers.time_helper.now_ms() for timestamps" "builtins.print".msg = "Use logging via get_logger()"
2. Import-Linter (Architecture-Level)
Prevent layer violations:
helpers cannot import from services workflows cannot import from interfaces only ml_backend_essentia_comp.py may import essentia
3. Skills (Documentation-Level)
Every skill documents what IS canonical, not what WAS.
4. validate_skills.py (Tooling-Level)
Catches stale references in skills:
python scripts/validate_skills.py --check-refs
Anti-Patterns
Deprecation Warnings
# ❌ Wrong - deprecation is procrastination
import warnings
warnings.warn("Use path_comp instead", DeprecationWarning)
If it's deprecated, delete it. Pre-alpha means no backwards compatibility.
Keeping It Around Just In Case
# ❌ Wrong - dead code that looks alive
def old_path_builder(path: str) -> str:
"""DEPRECATED: Use path_comp.build_library_path_from_input()"""
...
Delete it. Git remembers.
TODO: Remove After Migration
# ❌ Wrong - TODOs are lies
# TODO: Remove this once all callers use the new API
def legacy_function():
...
Remove it now. The migration isn't done until it's gone.
Wrapper For Compatibility
# ❌ Wrong - shims become permanent
def get_path(path: str) -> str:
"""Compatibility wrapper."""
return path_comp.build_library_path_from_input(path).absolute
Update the callers directly.
Migration Workflow
Step 1: Identify the Migration
# Find all usages of the old pattern python scripts/discover_import_chains.py nomarr.helpers.files_helper # Or grep for specific functions grep -r "build_path" nomarr/
Step 2: Create the Canonical Location
Move the logic to its proper layer (components for business logic, helpers for pure utilities).
Step 3: Update All Call Sites
# Find all files that import the old module grep -r "from nomarr.helpers.files_helper import" nomarr/
Step 4: Ban the Old Pattern (If Still Exists)
If old code still exists and has callers, add a temporary ruff ban to prevent new usages:
# Add to ruff.toml during migration [lint.flake8-tidy-imports.banned-api] "nomarr.helpers.files_helper.build_path".msg = "Use path_comp.build_library_path_from_input()"
Remove the ban after deleting the old code. Bans for deleted patterns are garbage.
Step 5: Delete the Old Code
git rm nomarr/helpers/old_module.py
Step 6: Update Skills
python scripts/validate_skills.py --check-refs
Step 7: Verify Migration Complete
# Check that all traces are gone python scripts/check_migration.py nomarr.helpers.old_module # If migration plan included a ruff ban, verify it exists python scripts/check_migration.py nomarr.helpers.old_module --expect-ban # Full QC python scripts/run_qc.py pytest
Decision Framework
When you find duplicate responsibilities:
Q: Is there a clear canonical owner?
├─ No → Decide which location should own it
└─ Yes → Q: Does the old location still exist?
├─ Yes → Delete it. Update callers first if needed.
└─ No → Good. Verify skills and rules match reality.
When someone proposes keeping both:
"Can we keep the old one for compatibility?" → No. Pre-alpha. Delete it. "What if something still uses it?" → Find it and update it. That's the migration. "What if we need it later?" → Git remembers. Delete it.
Validation
Before considering a migration complete, run:
python scripts/check_migration.py nomarr.old.pattern
The script validates:
- • Old code is deleted, not deprecated
- • No imports of the old module remain
- • No skill references to old pattern
- • No
# TODO: removecomments remain - • (With
--expect-ban) Ruff ban exists
Manual checks:
- • No wrapper/shim functions exist
- • Tests pass
The migration is done when there's no trace of the old pattern.