| name | frappe-app-dev |
| description | Builds full-stack Frappe Framework applications end-to-end. Use this skill any time the user mentions: creating or modifying a DocType, writing a controller or lifecycle hook, adding a whitelisted API, setting up a new Frappe app or bench site, building a desk form or list view, creating portal pages, writing background jobs or scheduled tasks, managing permissions or roles, writing Frappe tests, or working with frappe.db / frappe.qb. Also applies when the user says things like "how do I hook into save", "add a field to a DocType", "create a REST endpoint in Frappe", "run bench migrate", or "install an app on a site" — even if they don't explicitly say "Frappe". |
Frappe Full-Stack App Builder
Global Rules
- Use bare
bench. Not ./env/bin/bench. Not a full path.
- Do not run
which bench, bench --version, bench --help, or check frappe version. No discovery commands.
- Do not delegate bench detection to a subagent. Run
ls apps/ sites/ Procfile yourself.
- Do not create DocType folders with
mkdir. Frappe creates them via bench migrate.
- Run
bench start in a background process only.
- Before running
bench start, check if it's already running in an existing terminal. Do not start a second instance.
- Always pass
--site <site> explicitly to bench commands. Never run bare bench migrate.
Flow Selection
Determine which flow applies, then read ONLY the relevant file:
Creating a brand new app
Read new-app.md — covers bench setup, app scaffolding, site creation, and installation.
Working on an existing app
Read existing-app.md — covers finding the bench, locating the app, confirming site, and extending features.
Feature References
Load ONLY the references needed for the current task:
| Topic | When to load | File |
|---|
| Site management | Finding/creating/managing sites | site-management.md |
| DocTypes | Creating/modifying DocTypes, fields, naming | doctypes.md |
| Controllers | Document lifecycle, server logic | controllers.md |
| Whitelisted APIs | REST endpoints, @frappe.whitelist() | api.md |
| Database & ORM | frappe.db, queries, raw SQL | database.md |
| Caching | Redis, frappe.cache | caching.md |
| Realtime | WebSocket, publish_realtime | realtime.md |
| Background jobs | frappe.enqueue, scheduled jobs | background-jobs.md |
| Hooks | hooks.py patterns | hooks.md |
| Permissions | Roles, DocType permissions, has_permission | permissions.md |
| Testing | Writing & running tests | testing.md |
| Frontend & UI | Desk UI, Vue SPA, portal pages | frontend.md (router → 3 sub-files) |
| Bench CLI | All bench commands reference | bench-operations.md |
