---
description: AST-based linter for reproducible-research Python — 47 built-in rules across 7 categories — STX-I* (imports, e.g. enforce `import scitex as stx`, no star imports, stdlib ordering), STX-IO* (forbid raw `pd.read_csv` / `np.load` / `pickle` / `fig.savefig` → use `stx.io.save` / `stx.io.load`), STX-P* (path handling — no hardcoded `/home/...`, always resolve via `stx.path`), STX-PA* (plot/axes — axis labels/units required, no `plt.show()` in scripts), STX-S* (stats — report effect sizes + CIs alongside p-values, FDR correction for multiple tests), STX-FM* (figure/matplotlib — DPI, tight_layout, colorblind-safe palette), STX-ST* (structure — `@stx.session` entrypoint, `if __name__ == "__main__"` guard, file-size thresholds). Public API — `list_rules(category=...)`. Plugin-loader discovers third-party rule packs. 3 MCP tools — `linter_check` (lint files), `linter_check_source` (lint a string), `linter_list_rules` (browse catalog). Drop-in replacement for `flake8` / `ruff` / `pylint` / `pycodestyle` when you want the *scientific-reproducibility* rule set specifically — it does NOT replace general-purpose linters, it complements them. Use whenever the user asks to "lint my scitex code", "check scitex conventions", "is this using stx.io correctly?", "what scitex rules does this violate?", "list linter rules", "show STX-IO001 meaning", "enforce reproducible-research style", or mentions STX-*, scitex-linter, scitex conventions, reproducibility lint.
allowed-tools: mcp__scitex__linter_*
primary_interface: hook
interfaces:
  python: 1
  cli: 2
  mcp: 1
  skills: 2
  hook: 3
  http: 0
---

# scitex-linter

> **Interfaces:** Python ⭐ · CLI ⭐⭐ · MCP ⭐ · Skills ⭐⭐ · Hook ⭐⭐⭐ (primary) · HTTP —

Code convention checker for SciTeX ecosystem packages.

## Installation & import (two equivalent paths)

The same module is reachable via two install paths. Both forms work at
runtime; which one a user has depends on their install choice.

```python
# Standalone — pip install scitex-linter
import scitex_linter
scitex_linter.list_rules(...)

# Umbrella — pip install scitex
import scitex.linter
scitex.linter.list_rules(...)
```

`pip install scitex-linter` alone does NOT expose the `scitex` namespace;
`import scitex.linter` raises `ModuleNotFoundError`. To use the
`scitex.linter` form, also `pip install scitex`.

See [../../general/02_interface-python-api.md] for the ecosystem-wide
rule and empirical verification table.

## Sub-skills

### Core
- [01_quick-start.md](01_quick-start.md) — Basic usage
- [02_rule-catalog.md](02_rule-catalog.md) — All built-in rules

### Workflows
- [10_cli-reference.md](10_cli-reference.md) — CLI commands
- [11_mcp-tools.md](11_mcp-tools.md) — MCP tools for AI agents

## CLI

```bash
scitex-linter check [path]
scitex-linter list-rules
```

## MCP Tools

| Tool | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `linter_check` | Check files for convention violations |
| `linter_check_source` | Check source code string |
| `linter_list_rules` | List available rules |