How I Validate an Evidence-Backed YAML Catalog Contribution Before Opening a Pull Request

Description and use

A step‑by‑step process for validating YAML catalog entries: from reading repository rules to creating immutable commit links, ensuring accuracy, no duplication, and policy compliance.

Problem

Ensuring that YAML catalog contributions are factually accurate, sourced, non-duplicative, and compliant with repository rules before opening a pull request.

Outcome

The workflow ensures that each YAML contribution is fully sourced, non-duplicative, structurally valid, and compliant with repository policies, resulting in faster reviews and higher data quality.

Workflow

• Read repository contract (CONTRIBUTING.md, PR template, existing files)
• Establish source of truth (vendor website, canonical URL)
• Search for duplicates (repo, PRs, issues)
• Preserve exact source fidelity (field-by-field comparison)
• Validate structure with repository verifier and taxonomy
• Enforce one-file scope (diff inspection)
• Check DCO sign-off
• Run overclaim check (adversarial review)
• Create immutable review evidence (commit SHA links)

Evidence

The method kept a small change reviewable and stopped unsupported claims from hiding inside structurally valid YAML.

Source

I used the verifier and taxonomy pinned by the repository. Its documented preflight validates the changed dependency closure against the merge base.

Source