| name | ductum-onboard |
| description | Onboard an existing repository into the Ductum factory using the DB-backed Ductum CLI. Use when the user says "onboard this repo to Ductum", "add this project to the factory", "make this repo Ductum-ready", or asks how to create/import specs for another repo. Never use ductum.yaml. |
Ductum Onboard
Use the Ductum CLI and the live Factory database. Do not write ductum.yaml, do not inspect SQLite directly, and do not call the API with curl unless the user is explicitly debugging an API bug.
Process
- Confirm the target repo root:
git -C <path> rev-parse --show-toplevel
- Read the repo's existing context:
AGENTS.md
.github/copilot-instructions.md
README.md
- package/build files such as
package.json, pyproject.toml, go.mod, Cargo.toml
- CI files under
.github/workflows/
- Choose the Ductum project name.
Use the repo basename unless the user gives a name. Keep it stable; this is the Factory Project.
- Register the repo through the CLI:
ductum project create <project> --repo /absolute/path/to/repo --merge-mode human
ductum project agent assign <project> <agent-name> --role builder
If the Project already exists:
ductum repository add <project> --repo /absolute/path/to/repo
- Create a Ductum spec in the target repo.
Prefer:
specs/current/<initiative>/
README.md
P0-...
P1-...
Every stage file should include:
- Goal
- Scope
- Files likely touched
- Explicit non-goals
- Acceptance tests
- Verification commands
- Dependencies
- Risks / rollback notes
- Implementation prompt
- Review prompt
- Import the spec:
ductum spec import /absolute/path/to/repo/specs/current/<initiative> --project <project>
If the spec is an intake YAML/example path that should pass the contract gate:
ductum spec intake <project> /absolute/path/to/spec-or-directory --import
- Dispatch work only after import:
ductum status
ductum task list <spec-or-project-ref>
ductum attempt start <task-id> --agent <builder-agent> --project <project>
ductum watch <run-id>
Review must use a different model from the builder. Prefer Opus 4.8 reviewers for important work.
What Not To Do
- Do not create or edit
ductum.yaml.
- Do not print YAML blocks for the user to paste.
- Do not write
.edictum/workflow-profile.yaml unless the repo already intentionally uses a custom WorkflowProfile and the user asked for it.
- Do not add
.ductum/ to the target repo by default; Ductum stores local factory state under the Factory data directory.
- Do not invent verification commands. Read the repo's package/CI files and put real commands in the spec.
- Do not implement production code while onboarding unless the user explicitly asks for implementation.
Output
End with:
- project name
- repo path
- spec path created or found
- exact
ductum spec import or ductum spec intake command
- exact first
ductum attempt start command if tasks are already imported
- any missing repo context or verification gap