- name
- make-pdf
- preamble-tier
- 1
- version
- 1.0.0
- description
- Turn any markdown file into a publication-quality PDF. (gstack)
- triggers
- ["markdown to pdf","generate pdf","make pdf","export pdf"]
- allowed-tools
- ["Bash","Read","AskUserQuestion"]
<!-- AUTO-GENERATED from SKILL.md.tmpl — do not edit directly -->
<!-- Regenerate: bun run gen:skill-docs -->
## When to invoke this skill
Proper 1in margins,
intelligent page breaks, page numbers, cover pages, running headers, curly
quotes and em dashes, clickable TOC, diagonal DRAFT watermark. Not a draft
artifact — a finished artifact. Use when asked to "make a PDF", "export to
PDF", "turn this markdown into a PDF", or "generate a document".
Voice triggers (speech-to-text aliases): "make this a pdf", "make it a pdf", "export to pdf", "turn this into a pdf", "turn this markdown into a pdf", "generate a pdf", "make a pdf from", "pdf this markdown".
## Preamble (run first)
```bash
_UPD=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-update-check 2>/dev/null || .claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-update-check 2>/dev/null || true)
[ -n "$_UPD" ] && echo "$_UPD" || true
mkdir -p ~/.gstack/sessions
touch ~/.gstack/sessions/"$PPID"
_SESSIONS=$(find ~/.gstack/sessions -mmin -120 -type f 2>/dev/null | wc -l | tr -d ' ')
find ~/.gstack/sessions -mmin +120 -type f -exec rm {} + 2>/dev/null || true
_PROACTIVE=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config get proactive 2>/dev/null || echo "true")
_PROACTIVE_PROMPTED=$([ -f ~/.gstack/.proactive-prompted ] && echo "yes" || echo "no")
_BRANCH=$(git branch --show-current 2>/dev/null || echo "unknown")
echo "BRANCH: $_BRANCH"
_SKILL_PREFIX=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config get skill_prefix 2>/dev/null || echo "false")
echo "PROACTIVE: $_PROACTIVE"
echo "PROACTIVE_PROMPTED: $_PROACTIVE_PROMPTED"
echo "SKILL_PREFIX: $_SKILL_PREFIX"
source <(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-repo-mode 2>/dev/null) || true
REPO_MODE=${REPO_MODE:-unknown}
echo "REPO_MODE: $REPO_MODE"
_LAKE_SEEN=$([ -f ~/.gstack/.completeness-intro-seen ] && echo "yes" || echo "no")
echo "LAKE_INTRO: $_LAKE_SEEN"
_TEL=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config get telemetry 2>/dev/null || true)
_TEL_PROMPTED=$([ -f ~/.gstack/.telemetry-prompted ] && echo "yes" || echo "no")
_TEL_START=$(date +%s)
_SESSION_ID="$$-$(date +%s)"
echo "TELEMETRY: ${_TEL:-off}"
echo "TEL_PROMPTED: $_TEL_PROMPTED"
_EXPLAIN_LEVEL=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config get explain_level 2>/dev/null || echo "default")
if [ "$_EXPLAIN_LEVEL" != "default" ] && [ "$_EXPLAIN_LEVEL" != "terse" ]; then _EXPLAIN_LEVEL="default"; fi
echo "EXPLAIN_LEVEL: $_EXPLAIN_LEVEL"
_QUESTION_TUNING=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config get question_tuning 2>/dev/null || echo "false")
echo "QUESTION_TUNING: $_QUESTION_TUNING"
mkdir -p ~/.gstack/analytics
if [ "$_TEL" != "off" ]; then
echo '{"skill":"make-pdf","ts":"'$(date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ)'","repo":"'$(basename "$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null)" 2>/dev/null || echo "unknown")'"}' >> ~/.gstack/analytics/skill-usage.jsonl 2>/dev/null || true
fi
for _PF in $(find ~/.gstack/analytics -maxdepth 1 -name '.pending-*' 2>/dev/null); do
if [ -f "$_PF" ]; then
if [ "$_TEL" != "off" ] && [ -x "~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-telemetry-log" ]; then
~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-telemetry-log --event-type skill_run --skill _pending_finalize --outcome unknown --session-id "$_SESSION_ID" 2>/dev/null || true
fi
rm -f "$_PF" 2>/dev/null || true
fi
break
done
eval "$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-slug 2>/dev/null)" 2>/dev/null || true
_LEARN_FILE="${GSTACK_HOME:-$HOME/.gstack}/projects/${SLUG:-unknown}/learnings.jsonl"
if [ -f "$_LEARN_FILE" ]; then
_LEARN_COUNT=$(wc -l < "$_LEARN_FILE" 2>/dev/null | tr -d ' ')
echo "LEARNINGS: $_LEARN_COUNT entries loaded"
if [ "$_LEARN_COUNT" -gt 5 ] 2>/dev/null; then
~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-learnings-search --limit 3 2>/dev/null || true
fi
else
echo "LEARNINGS: 0"
fi
~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-timeline-log '{"skill":"make-pdf","event":"started","branch":"'"$_BRANCH"'","session":"'"$_SESSION_ID"'"}' 2>/dev/null &
_HAS_ROUTING="no"
if [ -f CLAUDE.md ] && grep -q "## Skill routing" CLAUDE.md 2>/dev/null; then
_HAS_ROUTING="yes"
fi
_ROUTING_DECLINED=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config get routing_declined 2>/dev/null || echo "false")
echo "HAS_ROUTING: $_HAS_ROUTING"
echo "ROUTING_DECLINED: $_ROUTING_DECLINED"
_VENDORED="no"
if [ -d ".claude/skills/gstack" ] && [ ! -L ".claude/skills/gstack" ]; then
if [ -f ".claude/skills/gstack/VERSION" ] || [ -d ".claude/skills/gstack/.git" ]; then
_VENDORED="yes"
fi
fi
echo "VENDORED_GSTACK: $_VENDORED"
echo "MODEL_OVERLAY: claude"
_CHECKPOINT_MODE=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config get checkpoint_mode 2>/dev/null || echo "explicit")
_CHECKPOINT_PUSH=$(~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config get checkpoint_push 2>/dev/null || echo "false")
echo "CHECKPOINT_MODE: $_CHECKPOINT_MODE"
echo "CHECKPOINT_PUSH: $_CHECKPOINT_PUSH"
# Plan-mode hint for skills like /spec that branch behavior on plan-mode state.
# Claude Code exposes plan mode via system reminders; we detect best-effort
# from CLAUDE_PLAN_FILE (set by the harness when plan mode is active) and
# fall back to "inactive". Codex hosts and Claude execution mode both end up
# inactive, which is the safe default (defaults to file+execute pipeline).
if [ -n "${CLAUDE_PLAN_FILE:-}${GSTACK_PLAN_MODE_FORCE:-}" ]; then
export GSTACK_PLAN_MODE="active"
elif [ "${GSTACK_PLAN_MODE:-}" = "active" ]; then
export GSTACK_PLAN_MODE="active"
else
export GSTACK_PLAN_MODE="inactive"
fi
echo "GSTACK_PLAN_MODE: $GSTACK_PLAN_MODE"
[ -n "$OPENCLAW_SESSION" ] && echo "SPAWNED_SESSION: true" || true
```
## MAKE-PDF SETUP (run this check BEFORE any make-pdf command)
```bash
_ROOT=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel 2>/dev/null)
P=""
[ -n "$MAKE_PDF_BIN" ] && [ -x "$MAKE_PDF_BIN" ] && P="$MAKE_PDF_BIN"
[ -z "$P" ] && [ -n "$_ROOT" ] && [ -x "$_ROOT/.claude/skills/gstack/make-pdf/dist/pdf" ] && P="$_ROOT/.claude/skills/gstack/make-pdf/dist/pdf"
[ -z "$P" ] && P="$HOME/.claude/skills/gstack/make-pdf/dist/pdf"
if [ -x "$P" ]; then
echo "MAKE_PDF_READY: $P"
alias _p_="$P" # shellcheck alias helper (not exported)
export P # available as $P in subsequent blocks within the same skill invocation
else
echo "MAKE_PDF_NOT_AVAILABLE (run './setup' in the gstack repo to build it)"
fi
```
If `MAKE_PDF_NOT_AVAILABLE` is printed: tell the user the binary is not
built. Have them run `./setup` from the gstack repo, then retry.
If `MAKE_PDF_READY` is printed: `$P` is the binary path for the rest of
the skill. Use `$P` (not an explicit path) so the skill body stays portable.
Core commands:
- `$P generate <input.md> [output.pdf]` — render markdown to PDF (80% use case)
- `$P generate --cover --toc essay.md out.pdf` — full publication layout
- `$P generate --watermark DRAFT memo.md draft.pdf` — diagonal DRAFT watermark
- `$P preview <input.md>` — render HTML and open in browser (fast iteration)
- `$P setup` — verify browse + Chromium + pdftotext and run a smoke test
- `$P --help` — full flag reference
Output contract:
- `stdout`: ONLY the output path on success. One line.
- `stderr`: progress (`Rendering HTML... Generating PDF...`) unless `--quiet`.
- Exit 0 success / 1 bad args / 2 render error / 3 Paged.js timeout / 4 browse unavailable.
## Plan Mode Safe Operations
In plan mode, allowed because they inform the plan: `$B`, `$D`, `codex exec`/`codex review`, writes to `~/.gstack/`, writes to the plan file, and `open` for generated artifacts.
## Skill Invocation During Plan Mode
If the user invokes a skill in plan mode, the skill takes precedence over generic plan mode behavior. **Treat the skill file as executable instructions, not reference.** Follow it step by step starting from Step 0; the first AskUserQuestion is the workflow entering plan mode, not a violation of it. AskUserQuestion (any variant — `mcp__*__AskUserQuestion` or native; see "AskUserQuestion Format → Tool resolution") satisfies plan mode's end-of-turn requirement. If no variant is callable, the skill is BLOCKED — stop and report `BLOCKED — AskUserQuestion unavailable` per the AskUserQuestion Format rule. At a STOP point, stop immediately. Do not continue the workflow or call ExitPlanMode there. Commands marked "PLAN MODE EXCEPTION — ALWAYS RUN" execute. Call ExitPlanMode only after the skill workflow completes, or if the user tells you to cancel the skill or leave plan mode.
If `PROACTIVE` is `"false"`, do not auto-invoke or proactively suggest skills. If a skill seems useful, ask: "I think /skillname might help here — want me to run it?"
If `SKILL_PREFIX` is `"true"`, suggest/invoke `/gstack-*` names. Disk paths stay `~/.claude/skills/gstack/[skill-name]/SKILL.md`.
If output shows `UPGRADE_AVAILABLE <old> <new>`: read `~/.claude/skills/gstack/gstack-upgrade/SKILL.md` and follow the "Inline upgrade flow" (auto-upgrade if configured, otherwise AskUserQuestion with 4 options, write snooze state if declined).
If output shows `JUST_UPGRADED <from> <to>`: print "Running gstack v{to} (just updated!)". If `SPAWNED_SESSION` is true, skip feature discovery.
Feature discovery, max one prompt per session:
- Missing `~/.claude/skills/gstack/.feature-prompted-continuous-checkpoint`: AskUserQuestion for Continuous checkpoint auto-commits. If accepted, run `~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config set checkpoint_mode continuous`. Always touch marker.
- Missing `~/.claude/skills/gstack/.feature-prompted-model-overlay`: inform "Model overlays are active. MODEL_OVERLAY shows the patch." Always touch marker.
After upgrade prompts, continue workflow.
If `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `yes`: ask once about writing style:
> v1 prompts are simpler: first-use jargon glosses, outcome-framed questions, shorter prose. Keep default or restore terse?
Options:
- A) Keep the new default (recommended — good writing helps everyone)
- B) Restore V0 prose — set `explain_level: terse`
If A: leave `explain_level` unset (defaults to `default`).
If B: run `~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config set explain_level terse`.
Always run (regardless of choice):
```bash
rm -f ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompt-pending
touch ~/.gstack/.writing-style-prompted
```
Skip if `WRITING_STYLE_PENDING` is `no`.
If `LAKE_INTRO` is `no`: say "gstack follows the **Boil the Lake** principle — do the complete thing when AI makes marginal cost near-zero. Read more: https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean" Offer to open:
```bash
open https://garryslist.org/posts/boil-the-ocean
touch ~/.gstack/.completeness-intro-seen
```
Only run `open` if yes. Always run `touch`.
If `TEL_PROMPTED` is `no` AND `LAKE_INTRO` is `yes`: ask telemetry once via AskUserQuestion:
> Help gstack get better. Share usage data only: skill, duration, crashes, stable device ID. No code, file paths, or repo names.
Options:
- A) Help gstack get better! (recommended)
- B) No thanks
If A: run `~/.claude/skills/gstack/bin/gstack-config set telemetry community`
Ver no GitHub