project-kickstarter

name	project-kickstarter
description	Proactively detects product/project descriptions and guides users through SpecWeave increment planning. Activates when user provides product name, features, tech stack, timeline, or problem description. Keywords: project, product, SaaS, app, MVP, build, new project, features, tech stack, core functionality, monetization, timeline, I want to build, let's build, quick build, core features.

Project Kickstarter - Generic Pattern-Based Auto-Detection

Purpose

The project-kickstarter skill is a generic, pattern-based detection system that:

• ✅ Works for ANY product/project (not hardcoded for specific products)
• ✅ Detects structural patterns (features list, tech stack, timeline, etc.)
• ✅ Integrates with detector to check SpecWeave context
• ✅ Routes to appropriate SpecWeave workflow automatically

Not product-specific! This skill recognizes the STRUCTURE of product descriptions, not specific products.

When to Activate

CRITICAL CONTEXT: When working in a SpecWeave-initialized project (.specweave/ directory exists), ANY product/feature description MUST be interpreted as "create an increment for this."

This skill activates when:

1. User is in SpecWeave project (.specweave/ directory exists) AND
2. Message contains 3+ of these signals:
   • Project Name/Description: "Project: RosterSync", "I want to build X"
   • Features List: Bullet points or numbered list of features (3+ items)
   • Tech Stack: Languages, frameworks, databases, platforms mentioned
   • Timeline/Scope: "MVP", "2 weeks", "Phase 1", "Quick build"
   • Problem Statement: "For teams...", "Helps users...", "Solves..."
   • Business Model: "Freemium", "$X/mo", "B2B", "Consumer"

Key Insight: If user is in a SpecWeave folder and describes a product, they're implicitly asking "create a SpecWeave increment for this."

Pattern Recognition

SpecWeave Context Multiplier: When .specweave/ exists, apply +2 confidence boost to signal count.

High Confidence (5-6 signals OR 3-4 signals + SpecWeave context) → Auto-Route

Example 1: In SpecWeave project

Working directory: /project-with-specweave/ (.specweave/ exists)

User: "Project: RosterSync - Team scheduling SaaS
Core features: roster management, availability calendar, scheduling
Tech stack: .NET 8, Next.js 14+, PostgreSQL
MVP time: 2-3 weeks
Monetization: Freemium ($10/mo)"

Detected signals: ✅ Name, ✅ Features, ✅ Tech, ✅ Timeline, ✅ Business (5 signals)
SpecWeave context: ✅ +2 bonus
Adjusted confidence: 5 + 2 = 7/6 = 100% → AUTO-ROUTE to increment planning

Example 2: In SpecWeave project (fewer signals still triggers)

Working directory: /project-with-specweave/ (.specweave/ exists)

User: "I want to build a task manager with React and Node.js"

Detected signals: ✅ Intent ("build"), ✅ Type ("task manager"), ✅ Tech stack (3 signals)
SpecWeave context: ✅ +2 bonus
Adjusted confidence: 3 + 2 = 5/6 = 83% → AUTO-ROUTE to increment planning

Medium Confidence (3-4 signals, no SpecWeave context) → Clarify Then Route

Working directory: /regular-project/ (no .specweave/)

User: "I want to build a task manager with React and Node.js"

Detected signals: ✅ Intent ("build"), ✅ Type ("task manager"), ✅ Tech stack
SpecWeave context: ❌ No bonus
Confidence: 3/6 = 50% → ASK 1-2 clarifying questions, THEN route

Low Confidence (<3 signals) → Don't Activate

User: "What do you think about using PostgreSQL?"

Detected signals: ✅ Tech mention
Confidence: 1/6 = 17% → Regular conversation (not product planning)

Workflow

Step 1: Detect Pattern

Scan user message for the 6 signals above.

Step 2: Calculate Confidence

• 5-6 signals = High (>80%)
• 3-4 signals = Medium (50-80%)
• 0-2 signals = Low (<50%)

Step 3: Route Based on Confidence

High Confidence:

"I see you're describing [ProjectName] - a [type] project with [key features].

SpecWeave works best when we start with a proper increment plan. I'm going to:
1. Clarify any ambiguities (1-2 questions max)
2. Create a SpecWeave increment with complete specs

Let's start: [Ask 1 clarifying question if needed, otherwise proceed]"

[Automatically invoke /sw:inc or spec-driven-brainstorming]

Medium Confidence:

"It looks like you're planning a new project. To help you best, I need to understand:
1. [Ask about missing signals: features? timeline? tech stack?]

Once I have these details, I'll guide you through SpecWeave's increment planning process."

[Wait for response, then route to the planning workflow]

Low Confidence: Don't activate. Let other skills handle it.

Step 4: Detect External PM Tool (NEW v0.8.0)

Purpose: Check if user has external project management tool (GitHub/Jira/ADO) and offer sync

Signals to Detect:

1. Environment Variables:

   • GITHUB_TOKEN → GitHub Issues
   • JIRA_URL or JIRA_API_TOKEN → Jira
   • AZURE_DEVOPS_PAT → Azure DevOps

2. Git Remote:

   • Remote URL contains github.com → GitHub
   • Remote URL contains dev.azure.com → Azure DevOps

3. Existing Config:

   • .specweave/config.json has externalPM.tool set

4. File Patterns:

   • .github/ directory → GitHub
   • Git commits contain PROJ-123 → Jira
   • Files mention ADO work item IDs #12345 → ADO

When to Ask:

• New project (no .specweave/config.json): Always ask
• Existing project with no PM tool: Ask once, save preference
• Existing project with PM tool: Skip (already configured)

Interactive Prompt:

Great! Before we create the increment, quick question:

**Do you use an external project management tool?**

Options:
1. **GitHub Issues** (Recommended - detected GitHub repo)
2. **Jira**
3. **Azure DevOps**
4. **None** (Just SpecWeave)

I can automatically sync increment progress with your PM tool if configured.

If User Selects GitHub/Jira/ADO:

1. Check if plugin installed (/plugin list --installed | grep specweave-{tool})
2. If not installed → Suggest: "Install {tool} plugin for sync?"
3. If installed → Test connection (API key valid?)
4. Save preference to .specweave/config.json
5. Proceed with increment creation
6. Auto-create external issue when increment created

If User Selects None:

1. Save preference: externalPM.enabled: false
2. Proceed with increment creation (local only)

Example Flow:

User: "Build SaaS app with user authentication"

project-kickstarter:
1. Detects: High confidence (project description)
2. Checks: Git remote = github.com/myorg/myapp
3. Detects: GITHUB_TOKEN environment variable set
4. Asks: "Do you use GitHub Issues for project management?"
5. User: "Yes"
6. Checks: specweave-github plugin installed? Yes
7. Tests: GitHub API connection? ✅ Success
8. Saves: externalPM.tool = "github" to config
9. Creates increment: /sw:inc "User authentication"
10. Auto-creates: GitHub Issue #42 linked to increment

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Step 5: Hand Off

Based on clarity of requirements:

• Clear requirements (detailed features, tech stack known) → /sw:inc directly
• Unclear requirements (vague features, tech stack uncertain) → spec-driven-brainstorming first

Examples

Example 1: Auto-Route (High Confidence)

User:

Project: RosterSync - Team scheduling & availability management SaaS
Quick build for sports teams, esports orgs, or any team-based groups to manage player/member availability, practice schedules, and lineup confirmations.
Core features:
- Team roster management
- Availability calendar (who's available when)
- Event/practice scheduling with auto-notifications
- Simple lineup builder
- Basic analytics on attendance patterns

Tech stack:
- .NET 8 Web API (backend)
- Next.js 14+ (frontend with App Router)
- PostgreSQL (local dev, easy cloud migration)
- Auth: .NET Identity or simple JWT

MVP time: 2-3 weeks
Monetization: Freemium (5 teams free, $10/mo for unlimited)

project-kickstarter detects:

• ✅ Name: "RosterSync"
• ✅ Features: 5 core features listed
• ✅ Tech stack: .NET 8, Next.js 14+, PostgreSQL
• ✅ Timeline: "2-3 weeks"
• ✅ Problem: "sports teams, esports orgs"
• ✅ Business model: "Freemium ($10/mo)"

Confidence: 6/6 = 100% → AUTO-ROUTE

Response:

Perfect! I can see you have a well-defined product concept for RosterSync - a team scheduling SaaS.

SpecWeave works by creating a complete increment specification first (spec.md, plan.md, tasks.md, tests.md), then implementing incrementally.

I'm going to use SpecWeave's increment planning process to:
1. Create the product specification (WHAT & WHY)
2. Design the technical architecture (HOW)
3. Break down implementation tasks (STEPS)
4. Define test strategy

Since you've provided the tech stack (.NET 8 + Next.js 14+), I'll structure this as a full-stack increment.

Creating increment now with /sw:inc...

[Invokes /sw:inc "RosterSync team scheduling SaaS"]

Example 2: Clarify Then Route (Medium Confidence)

User:

I want to build a price tracking system that monitors crypto prices in real-time

project-kickstarter detects:

• ✅ Intent: "I want to build"
• ✅ Type: "price tracking system"
• ✅ Domain: "crypto prices"
• ❌ Features: Not specified
• ❌ Tech stack: Not specified
• ❌ Timeline: Not specified

Confidence: 3/6 = 50% → CLARIFY THEN ROUTE

Response:

Great! A real-time crypto price tracking system is a solid project.

To help you plan this properly, I need a bit more context:

1. **Features:** Beyond real-time price monitoring, what should it do?
   - Just display prices, or also alerts/notifications?
   - Historical data tracking?
   - Portfolio tracking?
   - Price predictions/analysis?

2. **Tech Stack:** Do you have a preferred stack, or should I recommend one?
   - Frontend: React, Next.js, Vue, or other?
   - Backend: Node.js, Python, .NET, or other?
   - Database: PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis?

3. **Timeline/Scope:** Is this a quick MVP or a production-ready system?

Please share what you have in mind, and I'll create a complete SpecWeave increment plan for you.

Example 3: Don't Activate (Low Confidence)

User:

What do you think about using PostgreSQL vs MongoDB for this project?

project-kickstarter detects:

• ✅ Tech mention: "PostgreSQL", "MongoDB"
• ❌ Project name: Not mentioned
• ❌ Features: Not mentioned
• ❌ Timeline: Not mentioned
• ❌ Problem: Not mentioned
• ❌ Business: Not mentioned

Confidence: 1/6 = 17% → DON'T ACTIVATE

This is a technical question, not a project description. Let other skills or general conversation handle it.

Integration Architecture

Workflow:

User message → detector (checks .specweave/ exists)
                    ↓
              project-kickstarter (pattern detection)
                    ↓
         [3+ signals detected?]
                    ↓ YES
         [Calculate confidence with SpecWeave context bonus]
                    ↓
         [Route to /sw:inc or spec-driven-brainstorming]

Calls:

• detector - Checks if .specweave/ directory exists (SpecWeave context)
• /sw:inc - For clear requirements (high confidence)
• Spec-driven brainstorming - For unclear requirements (medium confidence)
• Planning workflow - Directly if enough detail provided

Called By:

• Automatically when pattern detected in SpecWeave folder
• skill-router when routing ambiguous "build X" requests

Key Design:

• ✅ Generic pattern matching (not product-specific)
• ✅ Context-aware (SpecWeave folder = higher confidence)
• ✅ Confidence-based routing (no false positives)
• ✅ User can opt-out with explicit instructions

Opt-Out Mechanism

Users can override auto-routing with explicit instructions:

• "Just brainstorm first" → Uses spec-driven-brainstorming
• "Don't plan yet" → Regular conversation
• "Quick discussion" → No automatic routing
• "Let's explore ideas first" → spec-driven-brainstorming

Success Criteria

• ✅ Users with product descriptions are automatically guided to increment planning
• ✅ No "I forgot to use /sw:inc" scenarios
• ✅ Confidence >80% routes immediately (no friction)
• ✅ Confidence 50-80% clarifies then routes (1-2 questions max)
• ✅ Confidence <50% doesn't activate (avoids false positives)
• ✅ Users can opt out with explicit instructions

Related Skills

• spec-driven-brainstorming: For unclear requirements needing exploration
• increment-planner: Creates the actual increment structure
• skill-router: Routes ambiguous requests to appropriate skills

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This skill solves the "I described my product but SpecWeave didn't help me plan it" problem by proactively detecting project descriptions and routing to increment planning.