What is Project Bootstrapper for?

To set up new projects or improve existing ones with structure, tooling, docs, and workflows.

Can I customize it for different tech stacks?

Yes—it's adaptable to Node.js, Python, Go, Rust, and more, with customization for team size and maturity.

What will I receive after execution?

Configured project skeleton, standard docs, tooling and CI/CD configuration, and a handoff package.

project-bootstrapper

npx machina-cli add skill mhattingpete/claude-skills-marketplace/project-bootstrapper --openclaw

Files (1)

SKILL.md

4.1 KB

Project Bootstrapper

Sets up new projects or improves existing projects with development best practices, tooling, documentation, and workflow automation.

When to Use

"set up a new project"
"bootstrap this project"
"add best practices"
"improve project structure"
"set up development tooling"
"initialize project properly"

What It Sets Up

1. Project Structure

Standard directories (src/, tests/, docs/, scripts/, .github/)
Logical file organization
Structure improvements

2. Git Configuration

Comprehensive .gitignore
.gitattributes for line endings/diffs
Git hooks (pre-commit, commit-msg)
Branch protection patterns
Git LFS if needed

3. Documentation

Comprehensive README.md
CONTRIBUTING.md
Code documentation (JSDoc, docstrings)
CHANGELOG.md structure
Architecture docs if complex

4. Testing Setup

Identify/suggest testing framework
Test structure and conventions
Example/template tests
Configure test runners
Coverage reporting
Testing scripts/commands

5. Code Quality Tools

Linters (ESLint, Pylint, etc.)
Formatters (Prettier, Black, etc.)
Type checking (TypeScript, mypy, etc.)
Pre-commit hooks for quality
Editor configs (.editorconfig)
Code quality badges

6. Dependencies Management

Package manager configuration
Organize dependencies
Check security vulnerabilities
Set up dependency updates (Dependabot, Renovate)
Create lock files
Document dependency choices

7. Development Workflow

Useful npm scripts / Makefile targets
Environment variable templates (.env.example)
Docker configuration if appropriate
Development startup scripts
Hot-reload / watch modes
Document development workflow

8. CI/CD Setup

GitHub Actions / GitLab CI config
Automated testing
Automated deployment (if applicable)
Status badges
Release automation
Branch protection

Approach

Discovery Phase

Ask clarifying questions:

Project type: New or existing?
Primary purpose: Web app, library, CLI tool?
Language/framework: JS/TS, Python, Go, etc.?
Collaboration: Personal or team?
Deployment target: Server, cloud, mobile, desktop?
Preferences: Specific tools/frameworks?
Scope: Full setup or specific areas?

Implementation Phase

Analyze existing structure (if existing project)
Create plan based on answers
Show plan and get approval
Implement systematically (one area at a time)
Verify completeness
Provide handoff documentation

Customization

Adapts to:

Language ecosystem: Node.js vs Python vs Go vs Rust
Project size: Small script vs large app
Team size: Solo vs collaborative
Maturity: Startup speed vs enterprise standards

Tools Used

AskUserQuestion: Gather requirements
Write: Create configuration files, documentation
Edit: Update existing files
Bash: Initialize tools (git init, npm init)
Read: Analyze existing structure
Glob: Find files to update

Success Criteria

All standard files present and configured
Clear and complete documentation
Documented development workflow
Automated quality tooling (pre-commit hooks)
Easy test execution
Follows language/framework conventions
Quick developer onboarding
No obvious best practices missing

Templates

Node.js/TypeScript web app
Python CLI tool
Python web API (FastAPI/Flask)
React/Next.js app
Go service
Rust CLI/library

Integration

feature-planning: For planning custom features
code-auditor: For validating setup quality
codebase-documenter: For generating detailed docs

Scope Control

Full bootstrap: Everything from scratch
Partial setup: Specific areas only (e.g., "just add testing")
Improvement pass: Enhance existing project
Audit + fix: Check what's missing and add it

Source

git clone https://github.com/mhattingpete/claude-skills-marketplace/blob/main/productivity-skills-plugin/skills/project-bootstrapper/SKILL.md

View on GitHub

Overview

Project Bootstrapper sets up new projects or enhances existing ones by wiring in structure, tooling, documentation, and workflow automation. It helps establish professional foundations for development, testing, and deployment.

How This Skill Works

It starts with discovery questions to capture project type, language, and team needs. Then it analyzes any existing structure, creates a plan, and implements configuration across project structure, Git, docs, tests, quality tooling, dependencies, workflows, and CI/CD.

When to Use It

set up a new project
bootstrap this project
improve project structure
set up development tooling
initialize project properly

Quick Start

Step 1: Gather requirements and project scope.
Step 2: Create a plan covering structure, tooling, docs, tests, and CI/CD.
Step 3: Implement the setup and verify results, then hand off docs.

Best Practices

Define a standard project skeleton with clear directories (src, tests, docs, scripts, and CI config).
Pin dependencies with lockfiles and enable automated updates (Dependabot/Renovate).
Install and configure pre-commit hooks and code quality tools (linters, formatters, type checks).
Provide comprehensive docs (README, CONTRIBUTING, CHANGELOG) and inline code docs.
Configure CI/CD, tests, and branch protection from the start to enforce quality.

Example Use Cases

Bootstrap a Node.js/TypeScript web app with ESLint, Prettier, Jest, and GitHub Actions.
Improve an existing Python CLI with mypy, pytest, Black, and pre-commit hooks.
Set up a React/Next.js app with tests, Docker environment, and deployment workflow.
Bootstrap a Go service with standard module setup, unit tests, and CI.
Create a Rust CLI/library project with cargo checks, formatting, tests, and CI.

Frequently Asked Questions

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