diff --git a/docs/haf-app-testing.md b/docs/haf-app-testing.md
index a826d67ed3741cc3607bd57d3adfcabe0246f2c7..ac601c18599d76235f3dc70203683666cc742b51 100644
--- a/docs/haf-app-testing.md
+++ b/docs/haf-app-testing.md
@@ -348,6 +348,73 @@ sync:
     - # Full sync logic
 ```
 
+## Early Exit Templates
+
+Early exit templates let jobs run but exit immediately when no work is needed. Unlike skip rules, these jobs show as "passed" in the pipeline.
+
+### .haf_app_early_exit_on_skip
+
+Exit early when `AUTO_SKIP_SYNC=true` or `AUTO_SKIP_BUILD=true`:
+
+```yaml
+build_something:
+  script:
+    - !reference [.haf_app_early_exit_on_skip, script]
+    - # Actual build logic (only runs if not skipped)
+```
+
+### .haf_app_early_exit_on_quick_test
+
+Exit early when `QUICK_TEST=true`:
+
+```yaml
+prepare_data:
+  script:
+    - !reference [.haf_app_early_exit_on_quick_test, script]
+    - # Data preparation (skipped in quick test mode)
+```
+
+### .haf_app_early_exit_on_cached
+
+Exit early on either condition (QUICK_TEST or AUTO_SKIP):
+
+```yaml
+sync:
+  script:
+    - !reference [.haf_app_early_exit_on_cached, script]
+    - # Sync logic (skipped if using cached data)
+```
+
+## Skip Pattern Presets
+
+Pre-configured skip patterns for common HAF app types.
+
+### .haf_app_skip_patterns_standard
+
+Standard patterns for HAF apps without a GUI:
+
+```yaml
+detect_changes:
+  extends:
+    - .haf_app_detect_changes
+    - .haf_app_skip_patterns_standard
+```
+
+Skips: `tests/`, `docs/`, `*.md`, `README`, `CHANGELOG`, `LICENSE`, `CLAUDE`, `.gitlab-ci`
+
+### .haf_app_skip_patterns_with_gui
+
+For HAF apps with a frontend GUI:
+
+```yaml
+detect_changes:
+  extends:
+    - .haf_app_detect_changes
+    - .haf_app_skip_patterns_with_gui
+```
+
+Skips: All standard patterns plus `gui/`
+
 ## Quick Test Mode
 
 For rapid iteration, set these variables to skip full HAF sync:
diff --git a/templates/haf_app_testing.gitlab-ci.yml b/templates/haf_app_testing.gitlab-ci.yml
index 417d743fb46297019b371d25c40205923ac9251e..1cab222e010042ef9d0e3dcba83d1e695ad631e7 100644
--- a/templates/haf_app_testing.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/templates/haf_app_testing.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -587,6 +587,79 @@ include:
       when: never
     - when: on_success
 
+# =============================================================================
+# EARLY EXIT TEMPLATES
+# =============================================================================
+# These templates allow jobs to RUN but EXIT EARLY when no work is needed.
+# Use these when you want the job to appear as "passed" rather than "skipped".
+#
+# Difference from .skip_on_* rules:
+#   - .skip_on_* rules: Job never runs (shows as "skipped" in pipeline)
+#   - .early_exit_*: Job runs but exits immediately (shows as "passed")
+#
+# Use early exit when:
+#   - You need the job to exist for dependency chains
+#   - You want explicit "nothing to do" feedback in logs
+#   - The job has artifacts that downstream jobs expect (even if empty)
+
+# Early exit script for docs/tests-only changes
+# Use with !reference in your script section:
+#   script:
+#     - !reference [.haf_app_early_exit_on_skip, script]
+#     - # Your actual work here...
+.haf_app_early_exit_on_skip:
+  script:
+    - |
+      if [[ "${AUTO_SKIP_SYNC:-false}" == "true" ]] || [[ "${AUTO_SKIP_BUILD:-false}" == "true" ]]; then
+        echo "=== Early Exit: No work needed ==="
+        echo "Only documentation, tests, or non-critical files changed."
+        echo "Exiting with success."
+        exit 0
+      fi
+
+# Early exit for QUICK_TEST mode
+.haf_app_early_exit_on_quick_test:
+  script:
+    - |
+      if [[ "${QUICK_TEST:-false}" == "true" ]]; then
+        echo "=== Early Exit: QUICK_TEST mode ==="
+        echo "Using pre-cached data, skipping this job."
+        exit 0
+      fi
+
+# Combined early exit (either condition)
+.haf_app_early_exit_on_cached:
+  script:
+    - |
+      if [[ "${QUICK_TEST:-false}" == "true" ]]; then
+        echo "=== Early Exit: QUICK_TEST mode ==="
+        echo "Using pre-cached data, skipping this job."
+        exit 0
+      fi
+      if [[ "${AUTO_SKIP_SYNC:-false}" == "true" ]] || [[ "${AUTO_SKIP_BUILD:-false}" == "true" ]]; then
+        echo "=== Early Exit: No work needed ==="
+        echo "Only documentation, tests, or non-critical files changed."
+        exit 0
+      fi
+
+# =============================================================================
+# SKIP PATTERN PRESETS
+# =============================================================================
+# Common skip pattern configurations for different app types.
+# Override HAF_APP_SKIP_PATTERNS in your detect_changes job.
+
+# Standard HAF app patterns (tests, docs, markdown, CI config)
+# Use: extends: .haf_app_skip_patterns_standard
+.haf_app_skip_patterns_standard:
+  variables:
+    HAF_APP_SKIP_PATTERNS: '^tests/|^docs/|\.md$|^README|^CHANGELOG|^LICENSE|^CLAUDE|^\.gitlab-ci'
+
+# HAF app with GUI (adds gui/ directory to skip list)
+# Use: extends: .haf_app_skip_patterns_with_gui
+.haf_app_skip_patterns_with_gui:
+  variables:
+    HAF_APP_SKIP_PATTERNS: '^tests/|^docs/|^gui/|\.md$|^README|^CHANGELOG|^LICENSE|^CLAUDE|^\.gitlab-ci'
+
 # =============================================================================
 # SYNC JOB COMPONENTS
 # =============================================================================