Frequently Asked Questions

July 25, 2025 · View on GitHub

Do I need to set up a CONDUCTOR_GITHUB_TOKEN?

No! Code Conductor uses GitHub's built-in authentication (${{ github.token }}) for all workflows. This token is automatically available in GitHub Actions with no setup required.

You only need a Personal Access Token (PAT) if you want:

  • Higher API rate limits (5,000/hour vs 1,000/hour)
  • Cross-repository access
  • Ability to trigger other workflows

For detailed token information, see .conductor/GITHUB_TOKEN_SETUP.md.

Why does Code Conductor require Python?

Python is required only for the conductor orchestration scripts, not for your project's CI/CD. Here's what this means:

  • ✅ Required: Python 3.9-3.12 to run conductor commands
  • ❌ NOT added: Python test runners (pytest)
  • ❌ NOT added: Python linters (flake8, black)
  • ❌ NOT added: Python security scanners (safety)
  • ❌ NOT added: Any Python-specific CI/CD workflows

Your project's existing CI/CD remains unchanged. Code Conductor only adds three language-agnostic GitHub workflows for task orchestration.

Does Code Conductor add Python CI/CD to my JavaScript/TypeScript/Go project?

No! Code Conductor is language-agnostic. It detects your project's technology stack and configures roles accordingly, but it does NOT add language-specific CI/CD workflows.

The only workflows added are:

  1. conductor.yml - Task orchestration and health checks
  2. conductor-cleanup.yml - Stale worktree cleanup
  3. pr-review.yml - AI code reviews (if enabled)

These workflows only run conductor scripts and do not test, lint, or build your code.

What if I see Python test failures in my CI?

If you're seeing Python test failures like:

============================= test session starts ==============================
collected 0 items
============================ no tests ran in 0.02s =============================
Error: Process completed with exit code 5.

This is NOT from Code Conductor. Check if:

  1. You accidentally copied CI workflows from the Code Conductor repository itself
  2. You have existing Python CI workflows in your project
  3. Another tool added Python-specific workflows

Code Conductor's template workflows do not include any Python testing commands.

Can I use Code Conductor without installing Python?

Currently, Python is required because the conductor scripts are written in Python. We chose Python for:

  • Maximum compatibility across all platforms
  • Easy installation via standard package managers
  • Reliable YAML and JSON processing
  • Strong GitHub API support

Future versions may offer alternative implementations, but Python remains the most universal choice.

Do I need to manage Python dependencies for my non-Python project?

No, the Python dependencies are isolated to Code Conductor's functionality:

  • pyyaml - For configuration file handling
  • Standard library modules only

These are only used by conductor scripts and do not affect your project's dependencies.

How do I know which workflows were added by Code Conductor?

Code Conductor only adds workflows from its templates:

  • .github/workflows/conductor.yml
  • .github/workflows/conductor-cleanup.yml
  • .github/workflows/pr-review.yml (if code-reviewer role is enabled)

Any other workflows (especially those running pytest, flake8, etc.) are from other sources.

Can I remove the Python dependency from Code Conductor?

The conductor scripts require Python to run. However, you can:

  1. Run agents from the Conductor app (macOS) which handles Python internally
  2. Use containerized environments where Python is pre-installed
  3. Install Python in your CI environment only (not locally)

The Python requirement is minimal and doesn't affect your project's runtime or deployment.