Guided Conflict Resolution

I'll help you resolve merge conflicts with semantic analysis and intelligent strategy recommendations.

Arguments: $ARGUMENTS - strategy (ours/theirs/manual) or file path

Conflict Resolution Philosophy

Resolve conflicts intelligently:

• Semantic conflict analysis
• Strategy recommendation (ours/theirs/manual)
• Side-by-side diff display
• Test validation after resolution
• Integration with /test skill

Token Optimization

This skill uses conflict resolution-specific patterns to minimize token usage:

1. Conflict State Caching (600 token savings)

Pattern: Cache conflict detection and file lists

• Store conflict state in .conflict-resolve-cache (5 min TTL)
• Cache: conflicted files, conflict types, merge/rebase status
• Read cached state on subsequent runs (50 tokens vs 650 tokens fresh)
• Invalidate on git status changes
• Savings: 92% on repeated conflict checks during resolution

2. Early Exit for No Conflicts (95% savings)

Pattern: Detect no-conflict state immediately

• Check for MERGE_HEAD or rebase-merge directory (50 tokens)
• If no merge/rebase in progress: return "No conflicts" (80 tokens)
• Distribution: ~40% of runs are conflict status checks
• Savings: 80 vs 2,500 tokens for no-conflict checks

3. Bash-Based Conflict Detection (800 token savings)

Pattern: Use git commands for conflict detection

• List conflicts: git diff --name-only --diff-filter=U (100 tokens)
• Show conflict markers: git diff --check (100 tokens)
• No Task agents for conflict detection
• Savings: 80% vs Task-based conflict analysis

4. Sample-Based Conflict Analysis (1,000 token savings)

Pattern: Analyze first 5 conflicted files in detail

• Full semantic analysis for first 5 files (800 tokens)
• Summary count for remaining conflicts
• Detailed analysis only if explicitly requested
• Savings: 70% vs analyzing every conflicted file

5. Template-Based Resolution Strategies (700 token savings)

Pattern: Use predefined resolution patterns

• Standard strategies: accept ours, accept theirs, manual merge
• Pattern-based recommendations for common conflicts
• No creative strategy generation
• Savings: 80% vs LLM-generated resolution strategies

6. Progressive Conflict Resolution (800 token savings)

Pattern: Resolve one file at a time, not all at once

• Present conflicts incrementally (400 tokens per file)
• Resolve, test, then next file
• Full-batch resolution only if explicitly requested
• Savings: 65% vs all-at-once resolution

7. Grep-Based Conflict Marker Detection (400 token savings)

Pattern: Find conflict markers with Grep

• Grep for <<<<<<<, =======, >>>>>>> (150 tokens)
• Count conflicts without reading full files
• Read only files being resolved
• Savings: 75% vs reading all conflicted files

8. Cached Test Validation (500 token savings)

Pattern: Run minimal tests after resolution

• Cache test command from package.json
• Run only tests for affected files
• Skip full test suite unless requested
• Savings: 70% vs full test suite runs

Real-World Token Usage Distribution

Typical operation patterns:

• Check conflicts (no conflicts): 80 tokens
• Analyze conflicts (5 files): 1,800 tokens
• Resolve conflicts (one file at a time): 1,200 tokens per file
• Full resolution (all files): 3,000 tokens
• Auto-resolve (strategy: ours/theirs): 800 tokens
• Most common: Sample-based analysis or incremental resolution

Expected per-resolution: 1,500-2,500 tokens (50% reduction from 3,000-5,000 baseline) Real-world average: 1,000 tokens (due to early exit, sample analysis, incremental resolution)

Pre-Flight Checks

Before resolving conflicts, I'll verify:

• Git repository exists
• Merge/rebase in progress
• Conflicts present
• Can access conflicted files

First, let me detect and analyze conflicts:

#!/bin/bash
# Detect and analyze merge conflicts

set -e

echo "=== Conflict Detection ==="
echo ""

# 1. Verify git repository
if ! git rev-parse --git-dir > /dev/null 2>&1; then
    echo "Error: Not a git repository"
    exit 1
fi

# 2. Check if merge/rebase in progress
merge_in_progress=0
rebase_in_progress=0

if [ -f "$(git rev-parse --git-dir)/MERGE_HEAD" ]; then
    merge_in_progress=1
    echo "Status: Merge in progress"
elif [ -d "$(git rev-parse --git-dir)/rebase-merge" ] || [ -d "$(git rev-parse --git-dir)/rebase-apply" ]; then
    rebase_in_progress=1
    echo "Status: Rebase in progress"
else
    echo "Status: No merge or rebase in progress"
    echo ""
    echo "No conflicts to resolve"
    exit 0
fi
echo ""

# 3. List conflicted files
echo "Conflicted Files:"
conflicted_files=$(git diff --name-only --diff-filter=U)

if [ -z "$conflicted_files" ]; then
    echo "  No conflicted files found"
    exit 0
fi

echo "$conflicted_files" | while read -r file; do
    echo "  • $file"
done
echo ""

# 4. Count conflicts
conflict_count=$(echo "$conflicted_files" | wc -l)
echo "Total Conflicts: $conflict_count"
echo ""

# 5. Categorize conflicts
echo "Conflict Categories:"
echo "$conflicted_files" | awk -F'/' '{
    if ($0 ~ /test/) tests++
    else if ($0 ~ /\.(md|txt)$/) docs++
    else if ($0 ~ /\.(ts|js|tsx|jsx)$/) code++
    else if ($0 ~ /\.(yml|yaml|json|lock)$/) config++
    else if ($0 ~ /package\.json|requirements\.txt|Cargo\.toml/) deps++
    else others++
}
END {
    if (code) print "  Code files: " code
    if (config) print "  Config files: " config
    if (deps) print "  Dependencies: " deps
    if (tests) print "  Test files: " tests
    if (docs) print "  Documentation: " docs
    if (others) print "  Other: " others
}'
echo ""

# 6. Show branches involved
if [ $merge_in_progress -eq 1 ]; then
    echo "Merge Details:"
    echo "  Current: $(git branch --show-current)"
    echo "  Merging: $(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref MERGE_HEAD)"
elif [ $rebase_in_progress -eq 1 ]; then
    echo "Rebase Details:"
    echo "  Onto: $(cat "$(git rev-parse --git-dir)/rebase-merge/onto" 2>/dev/null || echo "unknown")"
fi
echo ""

Phase 1: Analyze Conflict Type

Understand the nature of each conflict:

#!/bin/bash
# Analyze conflict complexity

analyze_conflict() {
    local file="$1"

    echo "=== Analyzing: $file ==="
    echo ""

    # 1. Count conflict markers
    conflict_sections=$(grep -c "^<<<<<<< " "$file" 2>/dev/null || echo "0")
    echo "Conflict Sections: $conflict_sections"
    echo ""

    # 2. Show conflict context
    echo "Conflicts in $file:"
    echo "----------------------------------------"

    # Extract and display each conflict
    awk '
    /^<<<<<<< / { in_conflict=1; ours="" }
    /^=======/ { in_ours=0; in_theirs=1 }
    /^>>>>>>> / {
        in_conflict=0
        in_theirs=0
        conflicts++
        print ""
        next
    }
    in_conflict && !in_theirs {
        if ($0 !~ /^<<<<<<< /) ours = ours $0 "\n"
    }
    in_theirs {
        if ($0 !~ /^=======/ && $0 !~ /^>>>>>>> /) {
            print "OURS   (" conflicts+1 "):"
            print ours
            print "THEIRS (" conflicts+1 "):"
            print $0
            while (getline > 0 && $0 !~ /^>>>>>>> /) {
                if ($0 !~ /^=======/) print $0
            }
            print "---"
        }
    }
    ' "$file"

    echo "----------------------------------------"
    echo ""

    # 3. Detect conflict type
    if grep -q "package.json\|package-lock.json\|yarn.lock" <<< "$file"; then
        echo "Type: Dependency conflict"
        echo "Strategy: Accept theirs, then reinstall"
    elif grep -q "\.md$\|\.txt$\|README" <<< "$file"; then
        echo "Type: Documentation conflict"
        echo "Strategy: Manual merge (both changes likely valid)"
    elif grep -q "test" <<< "$file"; then
        echo "Type: Test conflict"
        echo "Strategy: Keep both, ensure tests pass"
    else
        echo "Type: Code conflict"
        echo "Strategy: Semantic analysis required"
    fi
    echo ""
}

# Analyze first conflicted file
first_conflict=$(echo "$conflicted_files" | head -1)
analyze_conflict "$first_conflict"

Phase 2: Strategy Recommendation

Recommend the best resolution strategy:

Now I'll recommend a resolution strategy:

#!/bin/bash
# Recommend resolution strategy

recommend_strategy() {
    local file="$1"

    echo "=== Resolution Strategy ==="
    echo ""

    # Analyze file content
    file_type=$(basename "$file")

    # Strategy matrix
    case "$file" in
        package.json|package-lock.json|yarn.lock|Gemfile.lock|Cargo.lock)
            echo "Recommended: Accept THEIRS + Reinstall"
            echo "Reason: Dependency locks should be regenerated"
            echo ""
            echo "Steps:"
            echo "  1. git checkout --theirs $file"
            echo "  2. npm install / bundle install / cargo build"
            echo "  3. git add $file"
            strategy="theirs-reinstall"
            ;;

        *.md|*.txt|README*|CHANGELOG*)
            echo "Recommended: MANUAL merge"
            echo "Reason: Documentation - both changes likely valid"
            echo ""
            echo "Steps:"
            echo "  1. Edit file manually"
            echo "  2. Combine both versions"
            echo "  3. Remove conflict markers"
            echo "  4. git add $file"
            strategy="manual"
            ;;

        *test*|*spec*)
            echo "Recommended: Keep BOTH + Validate"
            echo "Reason: Tests - both may be needed"
            echo ""
            echo "Steps:"
            echo "  1. Merge both test cases"
            echo "  2. Ensure tests run"
            echo "  3. git add $file"
            strategy="both"
            ;;

        *.json|*.yml|*.yaml|*.toml)
            echo "Recommended: MANUAL with validation"
            echo "Reason: Config files - semantic meaning important"
            echo ""
            echo "Steps:"
            echo "  1. Edit carefully"
            echo "  2. Validate syntax"
            echo "  3. git add $file"
            strategy="manual-validate"
            ;;

        *)
            echo "Recommended: SEMANTIC analysis"
            echo "Reason: Code conflict - need to understand both changes"
            echo ""
            echo "I'll analyze both versions..."
            strategy="semantic"
            ;;
    esac

    echo ""
    echo "Strategy: $strategy"
}

recommend_strategy "$first_conflict"

Phase 3: Semantic Analysis

For code conflicts, analyze both versions:

For code conflicts, I'll perform semantic analysis:

#!/bin/bash
# Semantic conflict analysis

semantic_analysis() {
    local file="$1"

    echo "=== Semantic Analysis ==="
    echo ""

    # Extract OURS version
    echo "Extracting versions..."
    git show :2:"$file" > "/tmp/conflict-ours.tmp" 2>/dev/null || true
    git show :3:"$file" > "/tmp/conflict-theirs.tmp" 2>/dev/null || true

    # Compare versions
    echo "Version Comparison:"
    echo ""

    echo "OURS (current branch):"
    echo "----------------------------------------"
    head -20 "/tmp/conflict-ours.tmp" || echo "Cannot extract OURS"
    echo "----------------------------------------"
    echo ""

    echo "THEIRS (incoming changes):"
    echo "----------------------------------------"
    head -20 "/tmp/conflict-theirs.tmp" || echo "Cannot extract THEIRS"
    echo "----------------------------------------"
    echo ""

    # Analyze differences
    echo "Key Differences:"
    diff -u "/tmp/conflict-ours.tmp" "/tmp/conflict-theirs.tmp" | head -30 || true
    echo ""

    # Cleanup
    rm -f "/tmp/conflict-ours.tmp" "/tmp/conflict-theirs.tmp"
}

if [ "$strategy" = "semantic" ]; then
    semantic_analysis "$first_conflict"
fi

Phase 4: Interactive Resolution

Guide through manual resolution:

I'll guide you through resolving this conflict:

Option 1: Accept OURS (current branch)

git checkout --ours <file>
git add <file>

Option 2: Accept THEIRS (incoming changes)

git checkout --theirs <file>
git add <file>

Option 3: Manual Edit

1. I'll open the file for you to edit
2. Look for conflict markers:

   <<<<<<< HEAD (ours)
   your changes
   =======
   their changes
   >>>>>>> branch-name (theirs)

3. Edit to combine both or choose one
4. Remove ALL conflict markers
5. Save the file

Option 4: Use Merge Tool

git mergetool

Let me help you resolve this step by step:

#!/bin/bash
# Interactive conflict resolution

resolve_interactive() {
    local file="$1"
    local strategy="${2:-ask}"

    echo "=== Resolving: $file ==="
    echo ""

    if [ "$strategy" = "ours" ]; then
        echo "Accepting OURS (current branch)..."
        git checkout --ours "$file"
        git add "$file"
        echo "✓ Resolved with OURS"

    elif [ "$strategy" = "theirs" ]; then
        echo "Accepting THEIRS (incoming changes)..."
        git checkout --theirs "$file"
        git add "$file"
        echo "✓ Resolved with THEIRS"

    elif [ "$strategy" = "manual" ]; then
        echo "Opening file for manual edit..."
        echo ""
        echo "Conflict markers to remove:"
        echo "  <<<<<<< HEAD"
        echo "  ======="
        echo "  >>>>>>> branch-name"
        echo ""

        # Show conflict sections
        grep -n -A3 -B3 "^<<<<<<< \|^=======\|^>>>>>>> " "$file" | head -30

        echo ""
        echo "After editing:"
        echo "  1. Save file"
        echo "  2. Verify no conflict markers remain"
        echo "  3. Run: git add $file"

    elif [ "$strategy" = "ask" ]; then
        echo "Choose resolution:"
        echo "  1. Accept OURS (current branch)"
        echo "  2. Accept THEIRS (incoming changes)"
        echo "  3. Manual edit"
        echo "  4. Show diff"
        echo "  5. Skip this file"
        echo ""
        read -p "Selection [1-5]: " choice

        case $choice in
            1) resolve_interactive "$file" "ours" ;;
            2) resolve_interactive "$file" "theirs" ;;
            3) resolve_interactive "$file" "manual" ;;
            4)
                git diff "$file"
                resolve_interactive "$file" "ask"
                ;;
            5) echo "Skipped: $file" ;;
            *) echo "Invalid choice"; resolve_interactive "$file" "ask" ;;
        esac
    fi
}

# Resolve each conflicted file
echo "$conflicted_files" | while read -r file; do
    resolve_interactive "$file" "${ARGUMENTS}"
    echo ""
done

Phase 5: Validation

Validate conflict resolution:

#!/bin/bash
# Validate conflict resolution

validate_resolution() {
    echo "=== Validation ==="
    echo ""

    # 1. Check for remaining conflict markers
    echo "1. Checking for conflict markers..."
    if git diff --check 2>&1 | grep -q "conflict"; then
        echo "  ⚠ Conflict markers still present"
        git diff --check
        return 1
    else
        echo "  ✓ No conflict markers"
    fi
    echo ""

    # 2. Check if all conflicts resolved
    echo "2. Checking for unresolved conflicts..."
    unresolved=$(git diff --name-only --diff-filter=U)
    if [ -n "$unresolved" ]; then
        echo "  ⚠ Unresolved conflicts:"
        echo "$unresolved"
        return 1
    else
        echo "  ✓ All conflicts resolved"
    fi
    echo ""

    # 3. Validate file syntax
    echo "3. Syntax validation..."
    for file in $(git diff --name-only --cached); do
        case "$file" in
            *.json)
                if command -v jq > /dev/null 2>&1; then
                    if jq empty "$file" 2>/dev/null; then
                        echo "  ✓ $file - valid JSON"
                    else
                        echo "  ✗ $file - invalid JSON"
                        return 1
                    fi
                fi
                ;;
            *.yml|*.yaml)
                if command -v yamllint > /dev/null 2>&1; then
                    if yamllint "$file" 2>/dev/null; then
                        echo "  ✓ $file - valid YAML"
                    else
                        echo "  ⚠ $file - YAML warnings"
                    fi
                fi
                ;;
            package.json)
                if command -v npm > /dev/null 2>&1; then
                    if npm install --package-lock-only 2>/dev/null; then
                        echo "  ✓ package.json - dependencies valid"
                    else
                        echo "  ✗ package.json - dependency issues"
                        return 1
                    fi
                fi
                ;;
        esac
    done
    echo ""

    # 4. Build check
    echo "4. Build verification..."
    if [ -f "package.json" ] && grep -q "\"build\":" package.json; then
        if npm run build > /dev/null 2>&1; then
            echo "  ✓ Build successful"
        else
            echo "  ⚠ Build failed"
            echo "  Review resolved files"
            return 1
        fi
    else
        echo "  ⓘ No build command found"
    fi
    echo ""

    # 5. Test check
    echo "5. Test verification..."
    if [ -f "package.json" ] && grep -q "\"test\":" package.json; then
        echo "  Running tests..."
        if npm test 2>&1 | tail -10; then
            echo "  ✓ Tests passing"
        else
            echo "  ⚠ Tests failing"
            echo "  Conflict resolution may need adjustment"
            return 1
        fi
    else
        echo "  ⓘ No test command found"
    fi
    echo ""

    echo "✓ All validations passed"
    return 0
}

validate_resolution

Phase 6: Complete Resolution

Finalize the merge/rebase:

#!/bin/bash
# Complete merge or rebase

complete_resolution() {
    echo "=== Complete Resolution ==="
    echo ""

    # Check resolution type
    if [ -f "$(git rev-parse --git-dir)/MERGE_HEAD" ]; then
        echo "Completing merge..."

        # Show what will be committed
        echo "Changes to commit:"
        git diff --cached --stat
        echo ""

        # Generate merge commit message
        merge_msg="Merge branch '$(git rev-parse --abbrev-ref MERGE_HEAD)'"

        echo "Committing merge..."
        git commit -m "$merge_msg" || git commit --no-edit

        echo "✓ Merge complete"

    elif [ -d "$(git rev-parse --git-dir)/rebase-merge" ] || [ -d "$(git rev-parse --git-dir)/rebase-apply" ]; then
        echo "Continuing rebase..."

        # Continue rebase
        git rebase --continue

        echo "✓ Rebase continued"
        echo ""
        echo "If more conflicts exist, run /conflict-resolve again"

    else
        echo "No merge or rebase in progress"
    fi
}

if validate_resolution; then
    complete_resolution
else
    echo "⚠ Validation failed"
    echo "Fix issues before completing resolution"
    exit 1
fi

Conflict Resolution Patterns

Common Scenarios:

1. Package Lock Conflicts:

/conflict-resolve theirs
npm install  # Regenerate lock
git add package-lock.json

2. Documentation Conflicts:

/conflict-resolve manual
# Edit file to combine both versions
git add README.md

3. Code Conflicts:

/conflict-resolve
# Analyze semantic differences
# Choose appropriate strategy
# Validate with tests

4. Config Conflicts:

/conflict-resolve manual
# Carefully merge configurations
# Validate syntax
git add config.yml

Integration with Other Skills

Complete Workflow:

# 1. Conflict detected during merge/rebase
git merge feature-branch  # Conflicts!

# 2. Resolve conflicts
/conflict-resolve

# 3. Validate with tests
/test

# 4. Complete merge
git commit

# Or during branch-finish
/branch-finish  # May trigger conflict-resolve

Advanced Strategies

Three-Way Merge:

# Show base, ours, and theirs
git show :1:file  # Base (common ancestor)
git show :2:file  # Ours (current branch)
git show :3:file  # Theirs (incoming)

Merge Tool Integration:

# Configure merge tool
git config merge.tool vimdiff

# Use during resolution
git mergetool <file>

Abort Options:

# Abort merge
git merge --abort

# Abort rebase
git rebase --abort

# Restore original state
git reset --hard ORIG_HEAD

Safety Mechanisms

Before Resolution:

• Verify git state
• List all conflicts
• Analyze conflict types
• Recommend strategies

During Resolution:

• Validate syntax
• Check for conflict markers
• Verify file integrity
• Test after each resolution

After Resolution:

• Run test suite
• Verify build succeeds
• Check no markers remain
• Confirm all files resolved

Error Handling

If resolution fails:

• I'll explain the error clearly
• Show remaining conflicts
• Provide abort options
• Suggest next steps

Common Errors:

• Markers remain: Edit file completely
• Syntax invalid: Validate JSON/YAML
• Tests fail: Review resolution logic
• Build fails: Check dependencies

What I'll Actually Do

1. Detect Conflicts - Identify all conflicted files
2. Analyze Type - Understand nature of conflicts
3. Recommend Strategy - Suggest best approach
4. Guide Resolution - Step-by-step assistance
5. Validate - Syntax, build, tests
6. Complete - Finish merge/rebase
7. Test - Integration with /test skill

Important: I will NEVER:

• Auto-resolve without analysis
• Skip validation
• Ignore test failures
• Leave conflict markers
• Complete invalid resolutions
• Add AI attribution

Conflict resolution will be safe, validated, and thorough.

Credits: Conflict resolution strategies based on Git best practices, semantic merge techniques, and safe validation workflows.