| name | bootstrap |
| description | Load project context — backbone, registry, and constraints — before any work |
/bootstrap
Initialize session context by building a working mental model of the project — topology, navigation, operations, and constraints.
Usage
/bootstrap
Workflow
Follow: @.shared/workflows/bootstrap.md
1. Load backbone (project topology)
Read .reporails/backbone.yml. This is the single source of truth for all paths in the project. After this step you MUST NOT use exploratory commands (find, ls, glob) to discover paths the backbone already provides.
Extract and hold:
- Agents: which agents exist, their config paths, their instruction file names
- Rule categories: the category → directory mapping (e.g.,
structure → core/structure/)
- Schemas: the schema name → path mapping (8 schemas)
- Registry: capabilities, levels, coordinate map, tombstones paths
2. Load registry (architecture)
Read from backbone-resolved paths:
| Backbone Key | Purpose |
|---|
registry.capabilities | Capability taxonomy — what features each level requires |
registry.levels | Level definitions — L0 through L6 progression |
Build understanding: levels are the horizontal axis (which rules apply), score is the vertical axis (pass-rate against applicable rules). Level is INPUT to rule selection, not output of scoring.
3. Load coordinate map (rule index)
Read registry/coordinate-map.yml (from backbone.registry.coordinate_map).
Establish the resolution chain:
Coordinate (e.g., CORE:S:0001)
→ coordinate-map → slug (e.g., root-instruction-file-exists)
→ backbone.rules.categories.{cat} → base path (e.g., core/structure/)
→ base path + slug + "/" → rule directory
Count rules per category for the report. Flag any coordinate-map entries whose directories don't exist.
4. Load task-scoped constraints
Read all files in .claude/rules/:
| File | Constraint |
|---|
core-rules.md | Coordinate map sync after rule changes |
schemas.md | Backbone schema sync after schema changes |
skills.md | Backbone path resolution for skills |
These are active constraints — they apply to every operation in this session.
5. Check project state
Read VERSION and UNRELEASED.md:
- Current version number and branch name
- What changes are staged for next release, grouped by area
- Whether unreleased changes overlap with any area the agent might touch
6. Report understanding
Produce a synthesized context report:
Bootstrap complete.
Project: Reporails Framework v{version} (branch: {branch})
Rules: {total} ({n} structure, {n} content, {n} context_quality, {n} efficiency, {n} governance, {n} maintenance, {n} agent)
Levels: L0-L6, {n} capabilities
Agents: {list from backbone.agents}
Navigation:
Coordinate → path: coordinate-map → slug → backbone.rules.categories.{cat}/{slug}/
Schemas: backbone.schemas.{name}
Agent config: backbone.agents.{agent}.config
Operations:
Create rule → /generate-rule (skeleton + coordinate assignment)
Implement rule → /implement-rule (checks, patterns, fixtures)
Test rules → /test-rules (docker compose local harness, runs fixtures)
Validate rules → /validate-rules (schema + contract validation)
Constraints active:
- {constraint summary from each .claude/rules/ file}
Unreleased: {count} changes ({areas touched})
Examples
> /bootstrap
Bootstrap complete.
Project: Reporails Framework v0.4.1 (branch: 0.5.0)
Rules: 101 (36 structure, 32 content, 7 context_quality, 5 efficiency, 9 governance, 1 maintenance, 16 agent)
Levels: L0-L6, 12 capabilities
Agents: claude, codex, copilot, generic
Navigation:
Coordinate → path: coordinate-map → slug → backbone.rules.categories.{cat}/{slug}/
Schemas: backbone.schemas.{name}
Agent config: backbone.agents.{agent}.config
Operations:
Create rule → /generate-rule
Implement rule → /implement-rule
Test rules → /test-rules (docker local harness)
Validate rules → /validate-rules (schema contracts)
Constraints active:
- Coordinate map sync required after rule changes
- Backbone schema sync required after schema changes
- Skills must resolve paths from backbone
Unreleased: 16 changes (schemas, agents, meta, docs)
Reference
- Backbone:
.reporails/backbone.yml — project topology, all path resolution
- Path resolution:
.shared/knowledge/backbone-resolution.md — coordinate-to-path algorithm
- Capabilities:
registry/capabilities.yml — capability taxonomy per level
- Levels:
registry/levels.yml — L0-L6 progression definitions
- Coordinate map:
registry/coordinate-map.yml — slug-to-coordinate index
Quick Reference
| Question | Answer |
|---|
| How do I find a rule by coordinate? | coordinate-map → slug → backbone.rules.categories.{cat}/{slug}/ |
| How do I test rules? | /test-rules — docker compose local harness, runs pass/fail fixtures |
| How do I validate rules against schema? | /validate-rules — schema + contract checks |
| What schemas exist? | backbone.schemas — 8 schemas (rule, capability, levels, agent, package, project, sources, user) |
| What constraints apply? | .claude/rules/ — core-rules.md, schemas.md, skills.md |