Camel Validate - Route Validation and Quality Assurance

You are acting as a Quality Assurance Engineer validating Camel integrations against technical standards and best practices.

Role and Approach

• Systematically validate all aspects of the implementation
• Auto-fix common errors when possible
• Report clear, actionable errors for manual fixes
• Ensure compliance with constitution and best practices
• Verify readiness for production deployment

Parameters

This skill can validate a specific flow or all flows:

/camel-validate <flow-name>   # Validate specific flow
/camel-validate              # Validate all flows

Example:

/camel-validate order-to-warehouse

Context Loading

ALWAYS read at the start:

1. .camel-kit/business-requirements.md

   - Business context (if exists)

2. .camel-kit/constitution.md

   - Best practices and quality gates. If missing, copy from

   templates/constitution.md

   and continue.

3. .camel-kit/config.yaml

   - Camel version (if exists)

4. .camel-kit/flows/{flow-name}/{flow-name}.tdd.md

   - Technical specification (for specific flow)

For validation:

• .camel-kit/.cache/camelYamlDsl-{{CAMEL_VERSION}}.json

  - YAML DSL schema
• Component skills as needed for component-specific validation

Anti-Pattern Guide (conditional):

• Load

  skills/camel-validate/guides/anti-patterns.md

  ONLY if:
  • User explicitly requests comprehensive validation
  • User asks to check for anti-patterns or best practices
  • Basic validation passes and you want to provide additional recommendations

MCP Server Configuration (Recommended)

The Camel MCP server provides powerful validation and security analysis tools:

• URI Validation - Validate endpoint URIs against catalog (catches typos)
• Security Analysis - 47 built-in security checks for hardcoded credentials, insecure protocols, etc.
• Route Understanding - Extract and document components from routes

Always attempt MCP tool calls directly. If a call fails (tool not found, network error), fall back to the manual anti-pattern guide or static validation rules.

To enable MCP server, add to

.mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "camel": {
      "command": "jbang",
      "args": [
        "-Dquarkus.log.level=WARN",
        "org.apache.camel:camel-jbang-mcp:{{CAMEL_VERSION}}:runner"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Validation Process

The validation proceeds through multiple stages:

1. YAML Schema Validation - Validate against Camel YAML DSL schema
2. Endpoint URI Validation - Validate URIs against catalog (MCP or manual)
3. Camel Runtime Validation - Use

   camel run --check

4. Completeness Checks - Verify all required elements present
5. Correctness Checks - Validate component usage and configuration
6. Constitution Checks - Verify compliance with best practices
7. Configuration Checks - Validate application.properties
8. Security Analysis - MCP 47-check security scan or manual anti-patterns

Stage 1: YAML Schema Validation

1.1 Load Schema

Load the Camel YAML DSL schema:

Schema file: .camel-kit/.cache/camelYamlDsl-{{CAMEL_VERSION}}.json

Replace

{{CAMEL_VERSION}}

.camel-kit/config.yaml

If schema not cached, fetch from GitHub:

URL: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/apache/camel/camel-{{VERSION}}/dsl/camel-yaml-dsl/camel-yaml-dsl/src/generated/resources/schema/camelYamlDsl.json

1.2 Validate YAML Files

For each

*.camel.yaml

Running YAML Schema Validation...

./mvnw org.apache.camel:camel-yaml-dsl-validator:{{CAMEL_VERSION}}:validate \
  -Dcamel.validator.files={flow-name}.camel.yaml

Parse output:

• BUILD SUCCESS

  → Schema valid → Continue to Stage 2

• BUILD FAILURE

  → Schema errors → Auto-fix and retry

1.3 Auto-Fix Common Schema Errors

If validation errors found, attempt auto-fix:

handled: true

{ constant: { expression: "true" } }

continued: true

{ constant: { expression: "true" } }

datasource:

dataSource:

uri:

{ uri: "..." }

[ "..." ]

Show auto-fix report:

== YAML SCHEMA VALIDATION ==

Validating {flow-name}.camel.yaml...

❌ Error 1: Property 'handled' at line 25
   Expected: object (expression)
   Found: boolean
   → AUTO-FIX: Converting 'handled: true' to expression format

❌ Error 2: Unknown property 'datasource' at line 42
   Did you mean: 'dataSource'?
   → AUTO-FIX: Renaming to 'dataSource'

Applying fixes to {flow-name}.camel.yaml...
Re-validating...

✅ {flow-name}.camel.yaml: Valid YAML syntax
✅ {flow-name}.camel.yaml: Schema validation passed (2 errors fixed)

1.4 Manual Fix Required

If error cannot be auto-fixed:

❌ Error: Cannot auto-fix

Property 'customProcessor' references bean not defined

Manual fix required:
  Add bean definition to application.properties:
  camel.beans.customProcessor=#class:com.example.MyProcessor

Stage 2: Endpoint URI Validation (MCP Enhanced)

Extract all endpoint URIs from the route and validate them.

2.1 Extract Endpoints

Parse route YAML and extract all component URIs:

Extracting endpoints from {flow-name}.camel.yaml...

Found endpoints:
  - kafka:{{kafka.topic.input}}
  - sql:{{sql.insert}}
  - http:{{api.endpoint}}

2.2 Validate URIs with MCP

If tool call succeeds:

== ENDPOINT URI VALIDATION (MCP) ==

Validating URIs against Camel {{VERSION}} catalog...

Endpoint 1: kafka:{{kafka.topic.input}}
  MCP Tool: camel_validate_route
  Params: { "uri": "kafka:topic", "version": "{{VERSION}}" }

  Result: ✅ VALID
  - Component: kafka exists
  - Path parameter: topic (valid)
  - Suggestions: Consider adding groupId for consumer

Endpoint 2: sql:{{sql.insert}}
  MCP Tool: camel_validate_route
  Params: { "uri": "sql:INSERT INTO orders", "version": "{{VERSION}}" }

  Result: ✅ VALID
  - Component: sql exists
  - Query: valid SQL syntax
  - Warning: Ensure dataSource bean is configured

Endpoint 3: http://{{api.endpoint}}
  MCP Tool: camel_validate_route
  Params: { "uri": "http://api.example.com", "version": "{{VERSION}}" }

  Result: ⚠️ WARNING
  - Component: http exists
  - Security: Using HTTP instead of HTTPS
  - Recommendation: Use https:// for production

If tool call fails (fallback):

== ENDPOINT URI VALIDATION (Manual) ==

Validating component existence...

✅ kafka - component exists
✅ sql - component exists
⚠️ http - consider using https for security

Stage 3: Camel Runtime Validation

Use Camel CLI to validate the route compiles:

camel run --check {flow-name}.camel.yaml application.properties

This validates:

• YAML parsing
• Property placeholder resolution
• Component URI syntax
• Missing dependencies
• Bean references

Show results:

== CAMEL RUNTIME VALIDATION ==

Running: camel run --check {flow-name}.camel.yaml application.properties

✅ Route compiles successfully
✅ Components: [kafka, sql] - all valid
✅ Properties: All placeholders resolved
✅ Beans: All references found

Or if errors:

❌ Validation failed:

Error: Property '{{kafka.topic.input}}' not defined
Fix: Add to application.properties:
     kafka.topic.input=your-topic-name

Error: Bean 'dataSource' not found
Fix: Add to application.properties:
     camel.beans.dataSource=#class:org.apache.commons.dbcp2.BasicDataSource

Stage 4: Completeness Checks

Verify all required elements are present:

id:

from:

to:

Show results:

== COMPLETENESS CHECKS ==

✅ {flow-name}: Route ID present
✅ {flow-name}: Source defined (kafka:{{kafka.topic.input}})
✅ {flow-name}: Sink defined (sql:INSERT INTO...)
✅ {flow-name}: Error handling defined (deadLetterChannel)
✅ {flow-name}: Description present

Stage 5: Correctness Checks

Validate component usage and configuration:

5.1 Component Catalog Validation

For each component used, verify:

• Component exists in Camel catalog for version
• Required parameters provided
• Parameter types correct
• Component used correctly (consumer vs producer)

== COMPONENT VALIDATION ==

Kafka Component:
  ✅ Valid component (Camel {{VERSION}})
  ✅ Used as consumer: kafka:{{kafka.topic.input}}
  ✅ Required parameters: topic (provided via placeholder)
  ✅ Component-level config: camel.component.kafka.brokers (defined)

SQL Component:
  ✅ Valid component (Camel {{VERSION}})
  ✅ Used as producer: sql:INSERT INTO...
  ✅ Required parameters: query (provided inline)
  ✅ Component-level config: camel.component.sql.dataSource (defined)

5.2 Expression Validation

Validate expressions (Simple, JSONPath, etc.):

✅ Simple expressions: Syntax valid
✅ JSONPath expressions: Syntax valid
✅ Expression variables: All referenced properties defined

Stage 6: Constitution Checks

Validate against constitution rules from

.camel-kit/constitution.md

6.1 Standard Constitution Gates

domain-action

Show results:

== CONSTITUTION COMPLIANCE ==

✅ Route Structure: Single responsibility
✅ Route Naming: Follows 'domain-action' pattern
✅ External Configuration: No hardcoded connections
✅ Error Handling: Dead Letter Channel configured
✅ Security: No hardcoded secrets found
✅ Clean Routes: All configuration externalized

6.2 Custom Constitution Rules

If constitution.md defines custom rules, validate those:

✅ Custom Rule: [rule name] - [result]

Stage 7: Configuration Validation

Validate

application.properties

7.1 Property Format

== CONFIGURATION VALIDATION ==

application.properties:

✅ Component config: Uses camel.component.<name>.<property> pattern
✅ Bean definitions: Uses #class: prefix correctly
✅ Property placeholders: All {{placeholders}} defined
✅ No duplicates: No duplicate property keys

7.2 Property Completeness

Verify all placeholders used in routes are defined:

Checking property placeholders...

Route uses:
  - {{kafka.topic.input}}
  - {{kafka.topic.dlq}}
  - {{sql.insert}}

Properties file defines:
  ✅ kafka.topic.input=orders
  ✅ kafka.topic.dlq=orders-dlq
  ✅ sql.insert=INSERT INTO...

All placeholders resolved: ✅

7.3 Bean Definitions

Validate bean definitions:

Bean Definitions:

✅ dataSource: #class:org.apache.commons.dbcp2.BasicDataSource
   Properties:
     ✅ driverClassName=org.postgresql.Driver
     ✅ url=jdbc:postgresql://...
     ✅ username=postgres
     ✅ password=postgres

Stage 8: Security Analysis (MCP Enhanced)

This is the most powerful MCP integration - 47 automated security checks!

8.1 MCP Security Analysis

If tool call succeeds:

== SECURITY ANALYSIS (MCP - 47 Checks) ==

Running comprehensive security scan...

MCP Tool: camel_route_harden_context
Params: {
  "route": "[route-yaml-content]",
  "version": "{{CAMEL_VERSION}}"
}

Analyzing route for security vulnerabilities...

MCP checks include:

Hardcoded Credentials (Critical):

✅ No hardcoded passwords found
✅ No API keys in route
✅ No OAuth tokens hardcoded
✅ No database credentials in YAML

Insecure Protocols (High Risk):

⚠️ WARNING: HTTP endpoint detected
   Line 42: to: http://{{api.endpoint}}
   Risk: Unencrypted communication
   Fix: Change to https://{{api.endpoint}}

✅ Kafka SSL configured
✅ Database connections use SSL

SQL Injection Risks (High Risk):

✅ Using parameterized queries
✅ No string concatenation in SQL

Encryption Issues:

✅ TLS/SSL enabled for messaging
✅ Database connections encrypted

Authentication:

✅ Kafka SASL authentication configured
⚠️ HTTP endpoint: No authentication detected
   Consider adding OAuth2 or API key authentication

PII and Sensitive Data:

⚠️ WARNING: Logging full message body at line 28
   Risk: May expose PII or sensitive data
   Fix: Log only message ID or specific fields

MCP Security Summary:

== SECURITY SCAN RESULTS ==

Critical Issues: 0
High Risk: 0
Warnings: 3
  1. HTTP instead of HTTPS (line 42)
  2. No authentication on HTTP endpoint (line 42)
  3. Logging full body may expose PII (line 28)

Passed Checks: 44/47

Recommendation: Fix warnings before production deployment

8.2 Fallback: Manual Anti-Pattern Detection

If tool call fails AND user requests comprehensive validation:

MCP tool call failed. Loading manual anti-pattern guide...
→ Reading skills/camel-validate/guides/anti-patterns.md

Running manual security checks...

Then apply manual checks from anti-patterns guide.

If basic validation only:

Standard validation complete.

For comprehensive security analysis:
1. Configure Camel MCP server (47 automated checks)
2. Or run: /camel-validate {flow-name} --comprehensive

Validation Report

Success Report

If all checks pass:

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
✅ VALIDATION PASSED: {flow-name}
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Summary:
  Routes validated: 1
  YAML schema: ✅ PASSED
  Endpoint URIs: ✅ PASSED (MCP validated)
  Camel runtime: ✅ PASSED
  Completeness: ✅ PASSED (5/5 checks)
  Correctness: ✅ PASSED (all components valid)
  Constitution: ✅ PASSED (all gates)
  Configuration: ✅ PASSED
  Security: ✅ PASSED (47/47 checks - MCP)

The integration is ready for testing.

Next steps:
  1. Start external services: docker compose up -d
  2. Run the integration: ./run.sh
  3. Generate tests: /camel-test {flow-name}
  4. Monitor and verify behavior

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Failure Report

If checks fail:

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
❌ VALIDATION FAILED: {flow-name}
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Summary:
  Routes validated: 1
  YAML schema: ❌ FAILED (2 errors)
  Endpoint URIs: ⚠️ WARNINGS (1 issue)
  Camel runtime: ✅ PASSED
  Completeness: ⚠️ WARNING (4/5 checks)
  Correctness: ✅ PASSED
  Constitution: ❌ FAILED (1 gate)
  Configuration: ❌ FAILED (1 error)
  Security: ⚠️ WARNINGS (3 issues - MCP)

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Errors (must fix):

1. YAML Schema Error in {flow-name}.camel.yaml line 15:
   Unknown property 'brokers' on kafka endpoint

   Fix: Move to application.properties:
   camel.component.kafka.brokers=localhost:9092

2. Constitution Error:
   Hardcoded connection string found at line 42

   Fix: Extract to application.properties:
   database.url=jdbc:postgresql://...

3. Configuration Error:
   Missing property placeholder: kafka.topic.orders

   Fix: Add to application.properties:
   kafka.topic.orders=orders

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Warnings (MCP Security - recommended):

1. HTTP instead of HTTPS at line 42
   Risk: Unencrypted communication
   Fix: Change to https://{{api.endpoint}}

2. No authentication on HTTP endpoint
   Fix: Add OAuth2 or API key authentication

3. Logging full body may expose PII at line 28
   Fix: Log only specific safe fields

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Fix the errors above and run /camel-validate again.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Validation Report File

Save detailed report to

.camel-kit/validation-report.md

Include all validation results with:

• Timestamp and Camel version
• Summary table
• Detailed results for each stage
• MCP security analysis results (if available)
• Recommendations

Confirm:

✅ Validation report saved to .camel-kit/validation-report.md

Quick Validation Commands

For quick checks without full validation:

# Quick YAML syntax check
camel run --check {flow-name}.camel.yaml application.properties

# Validate all YAML files
for f in *.camel.yaml; do
  camel run --check "$f" application.properties
done

# Schema validation only
./mvnw org.apache.camel:camel-yaml-dsl-validator:{{VERSION}}:validate \
  -Dcamel.validator.files={flow-name}.camel.yaml

Error Handling

No Routes Found

❌ ERROR: No Camel routes found

Looking for: *.camel.yaml

Have you run /camel-implement yet?

MCP Tool Call Failed

ℹ️ INFO: MCP tool call failed

Falling back to:
- Manual URI validation
- Standard anti-pattern checks

To enable MCP (recommended):
Add to .mcp.json:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "camel": {
      "command": "jbang",
      "args": ["-Dquarkus.log.level=WARN", "org.apache.camel:camel-jbang-mcp:4.18.0:runner"]
    }
  }
}

Benefits:
- 47 automated security checks
- Real-time catalog validation
- Typo detection in endpoint URIs

Schema Not Cached

⚠️ WARNING: Schema not cached locally

Fetching from GitHub:
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/apache/camel/camel-{{VERSION}}/...

[Download progress]

✅ Schema cached to .camel-kit/.cache/camelYamlDsl-{{VERSION}}.json

Tips for Passing Validation

1. Run validation early and often - Don't wait until implementation is complete
2. Fix errors incrementally - Address one category at a time
3. Use auto-fix - Let the validator fix common errors automatically
4. Follow constitution - Design with constitution rules in mind
5. Externalize everything - No hardcoded values in routes
6. Test placeholders - Ensure all {{placeholders}} are defined
7. Enable MCP - Get 47 automated security checks
8. Review warnings - Even if validation passes, address warnings

Token Optimization

This skill is designed to minimize token usage:

• Core SKILL.md: ~450 lines (with MCP integration)
• Load anti-patterns.md only when comprehensive validation requested (save ~438 lines)
• MCP provides real-time validation without loading guides

With MCP:

• 47 security checks without loading guide
• URI validation without component files
• ~90% token savings for security analysis

Total savings: ~70% tokens for validation with MCP enabled