How to Contribute to Agent-Reach: A Complete Developer Guide

To contribute to Agent-Reach, fork the repository, create a feature branch, implement changes following the Channel contract in agent_reach/channels/base.py, run the full test suite with pytest, and submit a Pull Request adhering to the guidelines in CONTRIBUTING.md.

Agent-Reach is an open-source platform-channel architecture that enables agents to interact with various command-line backends through a unified interface. Learning how to contribute to Agent-Reach involves understanding its modular channel system, abstract base classes, and standardized testing protocols. This guide provides the exact file paths, method signatures, and workflow commands required to successfully submit features, bug fixes, or new platform integrations.

Prerequisites and Repository Setup

Begin by forking the Panniantong/Agent-Reach repository to your GitHub account. Clone your fork locally and navigate to the project directory.

git clone https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/Agent-Reach.git
cd Agent-Reach

Install the package in editable mode with development dependencies. This configuration allows you to test changes immediately without reinstalling and includes testing, linting, and type-checking tools.

pip install -e ".[dev]"

Optionally install pre-commit hooks to automatically enforce code quality standards before each commit.

pre-commit install

Understanding the Agent-Reach Architecture

Before modifying code, familiarize yourself with the core components that handle request routing and platform abstraction.

Component	Role	Source Location
CLI Entry Point	Parses user commands and arguments	agent_reach/cli.py
Core Router	Dispatches read/search requests to appropriate channels based on URL patterns	agent_reach/core.py
Channel Contract	Abstract base class defining the interface for all platform adapters	agent_reach/channels/base.py (lines 45-60 contain the ordered_backends helper)
Doctor	Diagnostic tool verifying backend health for each channel	agent_reach/doctor.py
Test Suite	Validates channel contracts, CLI behavior, and routing logic	tests/test_channels.py, tests/test_cli.py

The Channel contract in agent_reach/channels/base.py is the critical abstraction for contributors. All platform adapters must inherit from the Channel class and implement three key elements: the can_handle(url) method for URL recognition, the check(config) method for health verification, and the backends attribute listing candidate command-line tools in priority order.

How to Add a New Channel to Agent-Reach

Adding support for a new platform (channel) requires implementing the abstract contract and registering the component across the system.

1. Create the channel file under agent_reach/channels/
2. Subclass Channel and implement can_handle(url) to recognize platform URLs
3. Define backends as an ordered list of command-line tool names
4. Override check(self, config=None) to probe backend availability (the base implementation returns a simple "ok" status)
5. Add unit tests in tests/test_channels.py to verify URL matching and backend detection
6. Update the doctor in agent_reach/doctor.py to include health checks for your new channel
7. Document the integration in the docs/ folder and optionally add skill files in agent_reach/skill/

Here is the minimal implementation skeleton for a new channel:

# agent_reach/channels/example.py

from .base import Channel

class ExampleChannel(Channel):
    name = "example"
    description = "Example platform demonstrating channel creation"
    backends = ["example-cli", "example-fallback"]
    tier = 1  # indicates free key or simple config requirement

    def can_handle(self, url: str) -> bool:
        return "example.com" in url

    def check(self, config=None):
        # Probe the primary backend; extend for real health checks

        status, msg = super().check(config)
        return status, msg

Development Workflow and Testing

Follow this workflow to ensure your contribution meets the project's quality standards.

Create a feature branch using a descriptive name that reflects the change scope.

git checkout -b add-new-channel-example

Implement your changes following the patterns established in existing channel files. Maintain consistency with the Channel abstract base class defined in agent_reach/channels/base.py.

Run the full test suite to verify existing functionality remains intact and new features work correctly.

pytest

Execute linting and type checking to catch style issues and type errors before submission.

ruff check agent_reach tests
ruff format agent_reach tests
mypy agent_reach

Commit and push your changes with a clear, conventional commit message.

git add .
git commit -m "feat(channels): add Example platform support"
git push origin add-new-channel-example

Open a Pull Request on GitHub against the main repository. Ensure your PR includes tests, documentation updates, and follows the formatting guidelines specified in CONTRIBUTING.md.

Summary

• Fork and clone the Panniantong/Agent-Reach repository before beginning development
• All platform adapters must inherit from Channel in agent_reach/channels/base.py and implement the can_handle and check methods
• New channels require corresponding unit tests in tests/test_channels.py and registration in agent_reach/doctor.py
• Run pytest, ruff check, and mypy to validate code quality before submitting
• Follow the detailed contribution guidelines in CONTRIBUTING.md for branch naming, commit message formats, and documentation requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Channel contract in Agent-Reach?

The Channel contract is an abstract base class defined in agent_reach/channels/base.py that standardizes how platform adapters integrate with the system. It requires implementing can_handle(url) for URL recognition, check(config) for backend health verification, and defining an ordered_backends list that specifies which command-line tools to attempt for that platform.

How do I test my changes locally before submitting a Pull Request?

Install the package in editable mode with pip install -e ".[dev]" to access development dependencies, then execute pytest to run the full test suite. Additionally, run ruff check agent_reach tests for linting and mypy agent_reach for static type analysis to ensure your code adheres to the project's quality standards.

Where should I add unit tests for a new platform channel?

Add unit tests in tests/test_channels.py to verify that your channel correctly handles URLs and detects backends. If your changes affect command-line behavior, also update tests/test_cli.py. The test suite validates that all channels properly implement the abstract methods defined in agent_reach/channels/base.py.

How do I register a new channel with the diagnostic system?

After creating your channel class in agent_reach/channels/, modify agent_reach/doctor.py to include your new channel in the diagnostic routine. This registration enables the doctor command to verify your channel's backend health status alongside existing platform adapters.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}