feat(linter): rules:needs: validation (GL044)

Add GL044 to validate jobs listed in rules:needs: overrides (GitLab CI
16.4+). rules:needs: lets a specific rule override the job's top-level
needs: list; any referenced job must exist in the pipeline. Unknown jobs
produce an error; optional: true entries produce a warning, matching the
GL027 behaviour for top-level needs:. Cross-pipeline needs and skipped
jobs (when a context is active) are excluded from checking.

Implementation:
- model.Rule gains a Needs []any field (yaml:"needs")
- checkRulesNeeds(p, skipped) added to needs.go; wired into Lint
- GL044 / RuleRulesNeedsUnknown added to rules.go and explain.go
- 6 unit tests + 2 testdata fixtures; task validate updated

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -5,6 +5,20 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/).
 This project uses [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org).
 
+## [0.2.24] - 2026-06-25
+
+### Added
+
+- **`rules:needs:` validation (GL044)** — validates jobs listed in `rules:needs:` overrides (GitLab CI 16.4+). Each entry must reference a job that exists in the pipeline; `optional: true` entries that reference missing jobs are downgraded to warnings (same behaviour as GL027 for top-level `needs:`). Cross-pipeline needs (maps with a `pipeline:` key) are ignored. Skipped jobs are excluded when a context is provided. `glint explain GL044` documents the rule with a bad-YAML example and fix.
+
+- **`Rule.Needs` model field** — `rules:` entries now parse their `needs:` key into `model.Rule.Needs []any`, making the per-rule needs list available for validation and future evaluation.
+
+## [0.2.23] - 2026-06-25
+
+### Added
+
+- **Context-scoped linting** — when a context is supplied via `--branch`, `--tag`, `--source`, or `--var`, `glint check` now evaluates every job against that context before running lint rules. Jobs that are statically unreachable in the given context (i.e. their `rules:` block resolves to `JobSkipped`) are excluded from `needs:` and `dependencies:` cross-job checks (GL027–GL031). This eliminates false-positive errors for jobs that are intentionally gated to specific pipeline events (e.g. a deploy job with `rules: [{if: '$CI_COMMIT_TAG != ""'}]` does not generate a GL027 error on branch pipelines). Filtering applies only in single-context mode; multi-context mode (`--context`) always checks all jobs.
+
 ## [0.2.22] - 2026-06-25
 
 ### Added

FEATURES.md

@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ description, bad-YAML example, and fix.
 | GL029 | ERR | Circular dependency in `needs:` graph |
 | GL030 | ERR | `dependencies:` references a job that doesn't exist |
 | GL031 | ERR | `dependencies:` references a job in the same or a later stage |
+| GL044 | ERR/WARN | `rules:needs:` references a job that doesn't exist (WARN when `optional: true`) |
 
 ### Expression & reachability
 
@@ -151,6 +152,17 @@ Use `--list-vars` to print the resolved variable table to stderr.
 | `--changes PATH` | Mark PATH as changed; repeatable |
 | `--changes-from REF` | Run `git diff --name-only REF` to auto-detect changed files |
 
+**Context-scoped linting** (single-context mode):
+
+When a context is given, jobs evaluated as `skipped` are excluded from `needs:` and `dependencies:` cross-job checks (GL027–GL031). This eliminates false positives for jobs that are intentionally gated to specific pipeline events:
+
+```yaml
+deploy-job:
+  needs: [build-job]   # GL027 suppressed on branch pipelines; only checked on tag pipelines
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_COMMIT_TAG != ""'
+```
+
 **Multi-context comparison** (`--context`):
 
 Pass `--context KEY=VALUE[,...]` (repeatable) instead of `--branch`/`--tag`/`--source` to evaluate every job across multiple contexts simultaneously. Each `--context` flag defines one column; glint prints a table showing `active`, `manual`, `skipped`, or `blocked` per job per context.

README.md

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 <p align="center">
   <a href="LICENSE"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/license-Apache%202.0-blue.svg" alt="License"></a>
-  <a href="CHANGELOG.md"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/release-v0.2.22-blue.svg" alt="Release"></a>
+  <a href="CHANGELOG.md"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/release-v0.2.24-blue.svg" alt="Release"></a>
 </p>
 
 > **Disclaimer:** This tool was built through iterative AI-assisted development with [Claude](https://claude.ai). It is experimental, incomplete, and not intended for production use. Coverage of GitLab CI keywords is best-effort and may lag behind GitLab's evolving spec. Use it at your own discretion — no correctness guarantees are made. Contributions and bug reports are welcome.

ROADMAP.md

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ Pass `--branch`, `--tag`, `--source`, or `--var` to `glint check` or `glint grap
 - ~~**Single `=` operator**~~ — ✓ shipped v0.2.14; bare `=` accepted as alias for `==` in `rules:if:` expressions
 - ~~**`rules:changes:` evaluation**~~ — ✓ shipped v0.2.21; `--changes PATH` and `--changes-from REF` flags; doublestar glob matching (`*` within segment, `**` across segments); permissive when no file list provided
 - ~~**Multi-context simulation**~~ — ✓ shipped v0.2.22; `--context KEY=VALUE[,...]`; repeatable; prints a comparison table of `active`/`manual`/`skipped`/`blocked` per job across all contexts
-- **Context-scoped linting** — skip `needs:`/`dependencies:` cross-checks for jobs that are statically unreachable in the given context
+- ~~**Context-scoped linting**~~ — ✓ shipped v0.2.23; jobs evaluated as `JobSkipped` in the supplied context are excluded from `needs:`/`dependencies:` cross-checks (GL027–GL031) to eliminate false-positive errors for conditionally-gated jobs
 
 ---
 
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ The SVG renderer and terminal tree cover the basic layout. These would bring it
 
 ## Reliability and developer experience
 
-- ~~**Structured rule IDs**~~ — ✓ shipped post-v0.2.0; GL001–GL031 assigned; GL032 added v0.2.11; GL033 added v0.2.15; GL034–GL041 added v0.2.16; output formats (--format json/sarif/junit/github) added v0.2.18; GL042–GL043 added v0.2.20
+- ~~**Structured rule IDs**~~ — ✓ shipped post-v0.2.0; GL001–GL031 assigned; GL032 added v0.2.11; GL033 added v0.2.15; GL034–GL041 added v0.2.16; output formats (--format json/sarif/junit/github) added v0.2.18; GL042–GL043 added v0.2.20; GL044 added v0.2.24
 - ~~**`glint explain <rule-id>`**~~ — ✓ shipped v0.2.20; prints rule description, rationale, bad-YAML example, and fix; `glint explain` (no arg) lists all rules
 - ~~**Semantic versioning and first release**~~ — shipped as `v0.1.0` (2026-06-07)
 - ~~**Subcommand CLI**~~ — shipped as `v0.2.0` (2026-06-11); `glint check` / `glint graph [mode]` with ruff-style `--help`

Taskfile.yml

@@ -113,10 +113,16 @@ tasks:
         ignore_error: false
       - cmd: ./{{.BINARY}} check testdata/inherit_dead_fields.yml
         ignore_error: false
+      - cmd: ./{{.BINARY}} check testdata/rules_needs_valid.yml
+        ignore_error: false
+      - cmd: ./{{.BINARY}} check testdata/rules_needs_invalid.yml
+        ignore_error: true
       - cmd: ./{{.BINARY}} explain GL007
         ignore_error: false
       - cmd: ./{{.BINARY}} explain gl042
         ignore_error: false
+      - cmd: ./{{.BINARY}} explain GL044
+        ignore_error: false
       - cmd: ./{{.BINARY}} explain
         ignore_error: false
 

cmd/glint/main.go

@@ -341,6 +341,8 @@ Examples:
 		}
 	}
 
+	var skipped map[string]bool // jobs excluded from cross-job lint checks
+
 	if len(contexts) > 0 {
 		// Multi-context mode: build one context per --context flag, then print a comparison table.
 		ctxList := make([]*cicontext.Context, 0, len(contexts))
@@ -368,6 +370,17 @@ Examples:
 			if !enrichContext(ctx, p) {
 				fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "%s: [warning] workflow:rules: pipeline would not start for this context\n", path)
 			}
+			// Build skipped set: jobs statically unreachable in this context are
+			// excluded from needs:/dependencies: cross-checks to avoid false positives.
+			skipped = make(map[string]bool)
+			for name, job := range p.Jobs {
+				if cicontext.EvalJob(job, ctx) == cicontext.JobSkipped {
+					skipped[name] = true
+				}
+			}
+			if len(skipped) == 0 {
+				skipped = nil
+			}
 		}
 		if *listVars {
 			printVars(p, ctx)
@@ -379,7 +392,7 @@ Examples:
 		}
 	}
 
-	findings := linter.Lint(p)
+	findings := linter.Lint(p, skipped)
 	findings = applyConfig(findings, glintCfg, p.Suppressions)
 	errCount, _ := countSeverities(findings)
 

cmd/glint/main_test.go

@@ -823,6 +823,71 @@ build-job:
 	}
 }
 
+// ── context-scoped linting ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+func TestCmdCheck_ContextScopedLinting_SuppressesSkippedJob(t *testing.T) {
+	// deploy-job has needs: [nonexistent] but is gated to tag pipelines only.
+	// With --branch main the job is skipped → GL027 should be suppressed.
+	content := `
+stages: [build, deploy]
+build-job:
+  stage: build
+  script: make
+deploy-job:
+  stage: deploy
+  script: make deploy
+  needs: [nonexistent-job]
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_COMMIT_TAG != ""'
+      when: on_success
+    - when: never
+`
+	path := writePipeline(t, content)
+
+	// Without context (permissive default branch=main): deploy-job IS skipped
+	// by rules evaluation → needs cross-check suppressed → exit 0.
+	code := captureExit(t)
+	cmdCheck([]string{"--branch", "main", path})
+	if *code == 1 {
+		t.Error("skipped job's needs: error should be suppressed in context-scoped lint")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCmdCheck_ContextScopedLinting_ActiveJobStillErrors(t *testing.T) {
+	// Same pipeline but with --tag set: deploy-job is active → GL027 fires.
+	content := `
+stages: [build, deploy]
+build-job:
+  stage: build
+  script: make
+deploy-job:
+  stage: deploy
+  script: make deploy
+  needs: [nonexistent-job]
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_COMMIT_TAG != ""'
+      when: on_success
+    - when: never
+`
+	path := writePipeline(t, content)
+
+	code := captureExit(t)
+	cmdCheck([]string{"--tag", "v1.0.0", path})
+	if *code != 1 {
+		t.Error("active job's bad needs: should still produce GL027 error")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCmdCheck_ContextScopedLinting_SkippedSet_IsNilWhenAllActive(t *testing.T) {
+	// All jobs active → skipped set is nil → no regression in normal behaviour.
+	code := captureExit(t)
+	path := writePipeline(t, minimalPipeline)
+	cmdCheck([]string{"--branch", "main", path})
+	if *code == 1 {
+		t.Error("valid pipeline with all-active jobs should not produce errors")
+	}
+}
+
 // ── parseContextSpec ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 func TestParseContextSpec(t *testing.T) {

internal/linter/dependencies.go

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"git.k3nny.fr/glint/internal/model"
 )
 
-func checkDependencies(p *model.Pipeline) []Finding {
+func checkDependencies(p *model.Pipeline, skipped map[string]bool) []Finding {
 	stageIndex := make(map[string]int, len(p.Stages))
 	for i, s := range p.Stages {
 		stageIndex[s] = i
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ func checkDependencies(p *model.Pipeline) []Finding {
 
 	var findings []Finding
 	for name, job := range p.Jobs {
+		if skipped[name] {
+			continue
+		}
 		if len(job.Dependencies) == 0 {
 			continue
 		}

internal/linter/explain.go

@@ -816,4 +816,41 @@ my-job:
 my-job:
   script: echo hi`,
 	},
+
+	RuleRulesNeedsUnknown: {
+		Title:    "'rules:needs:' references unknown job",
+		Severity: Error,
+		Description: "A job listed in a rule's 'needs:' override does not exist in " +
+			"the pipeline. 'rules:needs:' (GitLab CI 16.4+) overrides the top-level " +
+			"'needs:' list when that specific rule matches. GitLab will refuse to " +
+			"create the pipeline if any referenced job is missing.",
+		Example: `stages: [build, test]
+
+build:
+  stage: build
+  script: make
+
+test:
+  stage: test
+  script: make test
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == "main"
+      needs: [build, lint]   # lint does not exist`,
+		Fix: `stages: [build, test]
+
+lint:
+  stage: build
+  script: make lint
+
+build:
+  stage: build
+  script: make
+
+test:
+  stage: test
+  script: make test
+  rules:
+    - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == "main"
+      needs: [build, lint]`,
+	},
 }

internal/linter/keywords_test.go

@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ func TestCheckNeeds(t *testing.T) {
 				Needs: []any{"build-job"}},
 		},
 	}
-	if len(checkNeeds(p)) != 0 { t.Error("valid needs: clean") }
+	if len(checkNeeds(p, nil)) != 0 { t.Error("valid needs: clean") }
 
 	// needs unknown job
 	p2 := &model.Pipeline{
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ func TestCheckNeeds(t *testing.T) {
 			"test-job": {Name: "test-job", Stage: "test", Needs: []any{"nonexistent"}},
 		},
 	}
-	if len(checkNeeds(p2)) != 1 { t.Error("unknown needs: error") }
+	if len(checkNeeds(p2, nil)) != 1 { t.Error("unknown needs: error") }
 
 	// optional: true for unknown job → warning not error
 	p3 := &model.Pipeline{
@@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ func TestCheckNeeds(t *testing.T) {
 				Needs: []any{map[string]any{"job": "ghost", "optional": true}}},
 		},
 	}
-	findings := checkNeeds(p3)
+	findings := checkNeeds(p3, nil)
 	if len(findings) != 1 || findings[0].Severity != Warning {
 		t.Error("optional unknown needs: warning")
 	}
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ func TestCheckNeeds(t *testing.T) {
 				Needs: []any{map[string]any{"pipeline": "other", "job": "j"}}},
 		},
 	}
-	if len(checkNeeds(p4)) != 0 { t.Error("cross-pipeline: clean") }
+	if len(checkNeeds(p4, nil)) != 0 { t.Error("cross-pipeline: clean") }
 
 	// needs later stage → error
 	p5 := &model.Pipeline{
@@ -501,7 +501,7 @@ func TestCheckNeeds(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 	// Only cross-stage ordering violations should be found
-	_ = checkNeeds(p5)
+	_ = checkNeeds(p5, nil)
 }
 
 func TestCheckNeeds_Cycle(t *testing.T) {
@@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ func TestCheckNeeds_Cycle(t *testing.T) {
 			"b": {Name: "b", Needs: []any{"a"}},
 		},
 	}
-	findings := checkNeeds(p)
+	findings := checkNeeds(p, nil)
 	for _, f := range findings {
 		if f.Rule == RuleNeedsCycle { return }
 	}
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ func TestCheckDependencies(t *testing.T) {
 				Dependencies: []string{"build-job"}},
 		},
 	}
-	if len(checkDependencies(p)) != 0 { t.Error("valid deps: clean") }
+	if len(checkDependencies(p, nil)) != 0 { t.Error("valid deps: clean") }
 
 	// unknown dep
 	p2 := &model.Pipeline{
@@ -537,7 +537,7 @@ func TestCheckDependencies(t *testing.T) {
 			"test-job": {Name: "test-job", Stage: "test", Dependencies: []string{"ghost"}},
 		},
 	}
-	if len(checkDependencies(p2)) != 1 { t.Error("unknown dep: error") }
+	if len(checkDependencies(p2, nil)) != 1 { t.Error("unknown dep: error") }
 
 	// dep in same or later stage → error
 	p3 := &model.Pipeline{
@@ -547,7 +547,23 @@ func TestCheckDependencies(t *testing.T) {
 			"test-job2": {Name: "test-job2", Stage: "test", Dependencies: []string{"test-job1"}},
 		},
 	}
-	if len(checkDependencies(p3)) != 1 { t.Error("same stage dep: error") }
+	if len(checkDependencies(p3, nil)) != 1 { t.Error("same stage dep: error") }
+}
+
+func TestCheckDependencies_SkippedJob(t *testing.T) {
+	p := &model.Pipeline{
+		Jobs: map[string]model.Job{
+			"skipped-job": {Name: "skipped-job", Stage: "test", Dependencies: []string{"ghost"}},
+		},
+	}
+	// Without skipping: reports unknown dependency.
+	if len(checkDependencies(p, nil)) == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("expected GL030 without skipped set, got none")
+	}
+	// With job skipped: suppressed.
+	if len(checkDependencies(p, map[string]bool{"skipped-job": true})) != 0 {
+		t.Error("expected no findings for skipped job")
+	}
 }
 
 // ── checkCacheKeyFiles ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

internal/linter/linter.go

@@ -52,15 +52,18 @@ func (f Finding) String() string {
 
 // Lint runs all rules against p and returns findings sorted by (File, Line, Rule).
 // Findings with no File (pipeline-level) sort before file-scoped ones.
-func Lint(p *model.Pipeline) []Finding {
+// skipped is an optional set of job names to exclude from cross-job checks
+// (needs:, dependencies:); pass nil to check all jobs.
+func Lint(p *model.Pipeline, skipped map[string]bool) []Finding {
 	var findings []Finding
 	findings = append(findings, checkStages(p)...)
 	findings = append(findings, checkDuplicateStages(p)...)
 	findings = append(findings, checkDefault(p)...)
 	findings = append(findings, checkWorkflow(p)...)
 	findings = append(findings, checkJobs(p)...)
-	findings = append(findings, checkNeeds(p)...)
-	findings = append(findings, checkDependencies(p)...)
+	findings = append(findings, checkNeeds(p, skipped)...)
+	findings = append(findings, checkRulesNeeds(p, skipped)...)
+	findings = append(findings, checkDependencies(p, skipped)...)
 	findings = append(findings, checkVariableRefs(p)...)
 	findings = append(findings, checkRulesIfReachability(p)...)
 	findings = append(findings, checkInheritCompleteness(p)...)

internal/linter/needs.go

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ type needEntry struct {
 	optional bool // true when the needs entry carries optional: true
 }
 
-func checkNeeds(p *model.Pipeline) []Finding {
+func checkNeeds(p *model.Pipeline, skipped map[string]bool) []Finding {
 	var findings []Finding
 
 	// Build a stage-index map for ordering checks.
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ func checkNeeds(p *model.Pipeline) []Finding {
 	needsGraph := make(map[string][]string)
 
 	for name, job := range p.Jobs {
+		if skipped[name] {
+			continue
+		}
 		if len(job.Needs) == 0 {
 			continue
 		}
@@ -82,6 +85,44 @@ func checkNeeds(p *model.Pipeline) []Finding {
 	return findings
 }
 
+// checkRulesNeeds validates rules:needs: entries across all jobs. Each entry
+// in a rule's needs: list must reference a job that exists in the pipeline.
+// Cross-pipeline needs (maps with a "pipeline" key) are ignored. Skipped jobs
+// are excluded from checking (same semantics as top-level needs: via GL027).
+func checkRulesNeeds(p *model.Pipeline, skipped map[string]bool) []Finding {
+	var findings []Finding
+	for name, job := range p.Jobs {
+		if skipped[name] {
+			continue
+		}
+		for i, rule := range job.Rules {
+			if len(rule.Needs) == 0 {
+				continue
+			}
+			for _, entry := range parseNeedEntries(rule.Needs) {
+				if _, exists := p.Jobs[entry.job]; !exists {
+					sev := Error
+					if entry.optional {
+						sev = Warning
+					}
+					findings = append(findings, Finding{
+						Severity: sev,
+						Rule:     RuleRulesNeedsUnknown,
+						Job:      name,
+						File:     job.File,
+						Line:     job.Line,
+						Message: fmt.Sprintf(
+							"rules[%d].needs: references unknown job %q",
+							i, entry.job,
+						),
+					})
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return findings
+}
+
 // parseNeedEntries extracts needs entries from a needs: list, preserving the
 // optional flag. Each element is a plain string (job name) or a map with a
 // "job" key. Cross-pipeline needs (maps with a "pipeline" key) are skipped.

internal/linter/needs_test.go

@@ -6,6 +6,154 @@ import (
 	"git.k3nny.fr/glint/internal/model"
 )
 
+// TestCheckNeeds_SkippedJob verifies that a skipped job's needs: violations are suppressed.
+func TestCheckNeeds_SkippedJob(t *testing.T) {
+	p := &model.Pipeline{
+		Stages: []string{"build", "deploy"},
+		Jobs: map[string]model.Job{
+			"skipped-job": {
+				Name:   "skipped-job",
+				Stage:  "build",
+				Script: []any{"echo"},
+				Needs:  []any{"nonexistent-job"},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	// Without skipping: should report unknown needs.
+	withoutSkip := checkNeeds(p, nil)
+	if len(withoutSkip) == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("expected GL027 without skipped set, got none")
+	}
+	// With job skipped: no findings.
+	withSkip := checkNeeds(p, map[string]bool{"skipped-job": true})
+	if len(withSkip) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("expected no findings for skipped job, got %v", withSkip)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCheckRulesNeeds_UnknownJob verifies that an unknown job in rules:needs: produces GL044.
+func TestCheckRulesNeeds_UnknownJob(t *testing.T) {
+	p := &model.Pipeline{
+		Stages: []string{"build", "test"},
+		Jobs: map[string]model.Job{
+			"build-job": {
+				Name:   "build-job",
+				Stage:  "build",
+				Script: []any{"make"},
+			},
+			"test-job": {
+				Name:   "test-job",
+				Stage:  "test",
+				Script: []any{"make test"},
+				Rules: []model.Rule{
+					{
+						If:    `$CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == "main"`,
+						Needs: []any{"build-job", "nonexistent"},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	findings := checkRulesNeeds(p, nil)
+	var got bool
+	for _, f := range findings {
+		if f.Rule == RuleRulesNeedsUnknown && f.Severity == Error {
+			got = true
+		}
+	}
+	if !got {
+		t.Errorf("expected GL044 error for unknown rules:needs: job; got %v", findings)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCheckRulesNeeds_KnownJob verifies no finding when all rules:needs: jobs exist.
+func TestCheckRulesNeeds_KnownJob(t *testing.T) {
+	p := &model.Pipeline{
+		Stages: []string{"build", "test"},
+		Jobs: map[string]model.Job{
+			"build-job": {Name: "build-job", Stage: "build", Script: []any{"make"}},
+			"test-job": {
+				Name:   "test-job",
+				Stage:  "test",
+				Script: []any{"make test"},
+				Rules:  []model.Rule{{Needs: []any{"build-job"}}},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	if findings := checkRulesNeeds(p, nil); len(findings) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("expected no findings for valid rules:needs:; got %v", findings)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCheckRulesNeeds_Optional verifies that optional: true downgrades to Warning.
+func TestCheckRulesNeeds_Optional(t *testing.T) {
+	p := &model.Pipeline{
+		Jobs: map[string]model.Job{
+			"test-job": {
+				Name:   "test-job",
+				Script: []any{"make test"},
+				Rules: []model.Rule{
+					{Needs: []any{map[string]any{"job": "ghost", "optional": true}}},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	findings := checkRulesNeeds(p, nil)
+	if len(findings) != 1 || findings[0].Severity != Warning {
+		t.Errorf("optional unknown rules:needs: should produce Warning; got %v", findings)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCheckRulesNeeds_CrossPipeline verifies that cross-pipeline needs are ignored.
+func TestCheckRulesNeeds_CrossPipeline(t *testing.T) {
+	p := &model.Pipeline{
+		Jobs: map[string]model.Job{
+			"test-job": {
+				Name:   "test-job",
+				Script: []any{"make test"},
+				Rules: []model.Rule{
+					{Needs: []any{map[string]any{"pipeline": "other", "job": "j"}}},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	if findings := checkRulesNeeds(p, nil); len(findings) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("cross-pipeline rules:needs: should be ignored; got %v", findings)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCheckRulesNeeds_SkippedJob verifies that a skipped job's rules:needs: violations are suppressed.
+func TestCheckRulesNeeds_SkippedJob(t *testing.T) {
+	p := &model.Pipeline{
+		Jobs: map[string]model.Job{
+			"test-job": {
+				Name:   "test-job",
+				Script: []any{"make test"},
+				Rules:  []model.Rule{{Needs: []any{"nonexistent"}}},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	if findings := checkRulesNeeds(p, map[string]bool{"test-job": true}); len(findings) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("skipped job: expected no findings; got %v", findings)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestCheckRulesNeeds_NoNeeds verifies no findings when rules have no needs: override.
+func TestCheckRulesNeeds_NoNeeds(t *testing.T) {
+	p := &model.Pipeline{
+		Jobs: map[string]model.Job{
+			"test-job": {
+				Name:   "test-job",
+				Script: []any{"make test"},
+				Rules:  []model.Rule{{When: "on_success"}},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	if findings := checkRulesNeeds(p, nil); len(findings) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("rules without needs: should produce no findings; got %v", findings)
+	}
+}
+
 // TestCheckNeeds_StageOrder verifies that a job needing a job in a later stage
 // produces RuleNeedsStageOrder (line 64-76 in needs.go).
 func TestCheckNeeds_StageOrder(t *testing.T) {
@@ -25,7 +173,7 @@ func TestCheckNeeds_StageOrder(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 		},
 	}
-	findings := checkNeeds(p)
+	findings := checkNeeds(p, nil)
 	var gotStageOrder bool
 	for _, f := range findings {
 		if f.Rule == RuleNeedsStageOrder {

internal/linter/rules.go

@@ -154,4 +154,8 @@ const (
 	// pipeline has no 'default:' block, making the declaration a no-op. Also fires
 	// when 'inherit: default: [list]' names fields not set in the default: block.
 	RuleInheritNoDefault = "GL043"
+
+	// GL044: a rules:needs: entry references a job that does not exist in the pipeline.
+	// rules:needs: overrides the top-level needs: when a specific rule matches (GitLab CI 16.4+).
+	RuleRulesNeedsUnknown = "GL044"
 )

internal/linter/samba_test.go

@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ func TestSambaCI(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Logf("extends warning: job %q extends unknown %q", w.Job, w.Base)
 	}
 
-	findings := linter.Lint(p)
+	findings := linter.Lint(p, nil)
 
 	for _, f := range findings {
 		if f.Severity == linter.Error {
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ func TestSambaCIEntryFiles(t *testing.T) {
 				t.Logf("extends warning: job %q extends unknown %q", w.Job, w.Base)
 			}
 
-			findings := linter.Lint(p)
+			findings := linter.Lint(p, nil)
 			for _, f := range findings {
 				if f.Severity == linter.Error {
 					t.Errorf("unexpected error finding: %s", f)

internal/model/pipeline.go

@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ type Rule struct {
 	Changes   any            `yaml:"changes"`   // []string or {paths,compare_to} map
 	Exists    any            `yaml:"exists"`    // []string or map form
 	Variables map[string]any `yaml:"variables"` // set/override variables when rule matches (GitLab CI 15.0+)
+	Needs     []any          `yaml:"needs"`     // override needs: when this rule matches (GitLab CI 16.4+)
 }
 
 // ReservedKeys are top-level GitLab CI keys that are NOT job definitions.

testdata/rules_needs_invalid.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+stages:
+  - build
+  - test
+
+build-job:
+  stage: build
+  script: make
+
+test-job:
+  stage: test
+  script: make test
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == "main"'
+      needs: [build-job, nonexistent-job]   # nonexistent-job does not exist → GL044
+    - when: on_success

testdata/rules_needs_valid.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+stages:
+  - build
+  - test
+
+build-job:
+  stage: build
+  script: make
+
+lint-job:
+  stage: build
+  script: make lint
+
+test-job:
+  stage: test
+  script: make test
+  rules:
+    - if: '$CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == "main"'
+      needs: [build-job, lint-job]   # both exist → clean
+    - when: on_success