scaffold

name	scaffold
description	Scaffold new repos from scratch or from an example. Two modes: --from-scratch uses a PROJECT_BRIEF to create repo skeletons with git init + baseline CLAUDE.md; --from-example clones structure from a reference repo. Standalone skill — can be called directly or by /discover --greenfield.

Description

Creates repo directories, initializes git, and writes a baseline CLAUDE.md per repo. Does NOT run framework init commands (create-next-app, spring init, etc.) — those are the user's choice to run inside the scaffolded dir, or the first feature's implementer will add them.

Usage

/scaffold --from-scratch --brief=<path> --parent=<dir>
/scaffold --from-example --source=<repo-path-or-url> --target=<dir>

Flags

Flag	Effect
--from-scratch	Create repos from a PROJECT_BRIEF
--from-example	Clone structure from an existing repo
--brief=<path>	Path to PROJECT_BRIEF.md (from-scratch mode)
--parent=<dir>	Where to create repos (default: current working directory)
--source=<path|url>	Reference repo (from-example mode) — local path or git URL
--target=<dir>	Where to put the new repo (from-example mode)
--name=<name>	Override name for the new repo (from-example)
--no-git	Skip git init

Examples

/scaffold --from-scratch --brief={workspace_root}/habit-tracker/brief.md --parent=~/projects/habit-tracker
/scaffold --from-example --source=~/projects/some-nextjs-app --target=~/projects/new-app --name=dashboard

Instructions

CRITICAL RULES

1. Never overwrite an existing non-empty directory. If the target exists and has content, abort and report.
2. Never run framework scaffolders (create-next-app, nest new, etc.) — those introduce dependencies the user may not want. Create a minimal skeleton instead and let the first feature's implementer add framework files.
3. Always git init unless --no-git is passed. Set the initial branch to main.
4. Every scaffolded repo gets a baseline CLAUDE.md that names the tech stack, the role, and a one-line project summary. The /discover flow (or the user) can enrich it later.
5. Report the created structure so the caller can feed paths back into /discover.

MODE 1: --from-scratch

1. Read the brief at --brief=<path>. Extract the <!-- BEGIN PROJECT_BRIEF --> section.
2. Parse the Recommended repo topology section — each repo is name — role — tech stack.
3. For each repo:
   • Create {parent}/{name}/ (abort if it exists with content)
   • Create skeleton subdirs based on tech stack (see skeletons below)
   • Write baseline CLAUDE.md (see template below)
   • Write .gitignore appropriate to the stack
   • Run git init -b main + initial empty commit
4. Report created paths.

Skeleton per tech stack

Keep minimal. The architect/implementer adds framework files.

Stack	Dirs created
spring-boot	src/main/java/, src/main/resources/, src/test/java/, openapi/
nestjs	src/, test/, openapi/
fastapi	app/, tests/, openapi/
nextjs	src/app/, src/components/, public/
react	src/, public/
cdk	lib/, bin/, test/
node-mock	src/, specs/
other	src/

Baseline CLAUDE.md template

# {repo name}

{one-line project summary from brief}

## Stack
- **Type**: {tech stack}
- **Role**: {role}

## Status
Greenfield — scaffolded {date}. No code yet.

## How to work on this repo
See the workspace-level platform.md and this repo's `agent-context/` (once created) for conventions. Until the first feature ships, there are no conventions — the first implementer establishes them.

MODE 2: --from-example

1. If --source is a git URL, clone it to a temp dir. If it's a local path, read it in place.
2. Walk the source repo and identify the structural skeleton — dirs, config files, conventions docs. Skip:
   • node_modules/, target/, dist/, .git/, build outputs
   • Secrets: .env*, *.pem, anything matching the source's .gitignore
   • Feature code — keep only top-level placeholders
3. Create {target}/ and copy:
   • Directory structure (empty dirs)
   • Config files (package.json, pom.xml, tsconfig.json, etc.) — adjust the project name field to {name} or target dir name
   • Conventions docs (CLAUDE.md, agent-context/, README.md) — with a note at the top that this was derived from {source}
   • .gitignore, .editorconfig, lint configs
4. Do NOT copy:
   • src/ contents (only the empty src/ dir)
   • Tests (only the empty tests/ dir)
   • Lockfiles (package-lock.json, yarn.lock) — let the user regenerate
5. Rewrite CLAUDE.md's "Status" section to say "Scaffolded from {source} on {date}".
6. Run git init -b main.
7. Report created paths + what was skipped.

Output

Report in this format so /discover can parse it:

<!-- BEGIN SCAFFOLDED_REPOS -->
| Path | Type | Role | Git initialized |
|------|------|------|-----------------|
| /abs/path/to/repo-1 | nextjs | frontend | yes |
| /abs/path/to/repo-2 | nestjs | api-service | yes |
<!-- END SCAFFOLDED_REPOS -->

You are not done until

• Every repo in the topology has its directory created
• Every repo has a CLAUDE.md
• Every repo has git initialized (unless --no-git)
• The SCAFFOLDED_REPOS block is printed so /discover can continue into Phase A with the new paths