---
type: reference
title: "RuboCop: per-cop Exclude lists mask offenses even for explicitly passed paths"
summary: Why `rubocop <file>` can report "no offenses" on a todo-baselined file that is full of them, and how to verify real cleanliness during a .rubocop_todo.yml burn-down.
tags:
  - type/reference
  - tool/rubocop
  - domain/ruby
scope: global
last_updated: 2026-07-10
date: 2026-07-10
source: credvault
---

# RuboCop: per-cop Exclude masks explicit paths

Passing a file path explicitly to RuboCop does **not** bypass per-cop `Exclude:` lists
(the kind `.rubocop_todo.yml` generates). Only `AllCops: Exclude` globs are bypassed for
explicitly named files; `--force-exclusion` relates to `AllCops: Exclude` too, not to
per-cop excludes.

Consequence: during a todo burn-down, `bundle exec rubocop path/to/file.rb` reports
"no offenses detected" on a baselined file **even if it is full of offenses**. An agent
verifying its refactor this way will falsely conclude the file was already clean and do
nothing (this happened on the credvault Sandi Metz burn-down, 2026-07-10).

## How to verify real cleanliness

Either:

1. Lint against a config with the todo stripped:
   ```bash
   grep -v "^inherit_from" .rubocop.yml > /tmp/rubocop-no-todo.yml
   bundle exec rubocop -c /tmp/rubocop-no-todo.yml <files>
   ```
   (Works when `.rubocop.yml`'s only inherit is the todo; otherwise remove just that entry.)
2. Or copy the file to a throwaway name not listed in any Exclude and lint the copy.

The definitive end-state check is regenerating the todo
(`rubocop --regenerate-todo --no-exclude-limit`) and confirming it comes out empty.
