Set Up i-did-a-thing

Configure the plugin so your accomplishments are tracked, searchable, and ready to fuel resumes, interviews, and blog posts.

Steps

1. Check for Existing Configuration

Read .claude/i-did-a-thing.local.md. If it exists, tell the user:

Found existing configuration. I'll walk you through updating it — your current settings will be shown as defaults.

2. Gather Storage Settings

Use AskUserQuestion to ask:

Where should your .things directory live?

•./things (current project — good for project-specific logs)
•~/.things (home directory — single source of truth across projects)
•Custom path

Then ask:

How do you want to manage git for your things?

•auto — automatically commit and push after each log entry
•ask — ask me each time whether to commit/push
•manual — I'll handle git myself

3. Gather Git Remote Settings

Use AskUserQuestion to ask:

Do you want to sync your .things directory to a git remote?

•Yes — I have a repo ready
•Yes — create one for me (I'll give you the details)
•No — local only for now

If yes, ask for:

•Remote URL (e.g., git@github.com:username/my-things.git)
•Branch (default: main)

4. Gather Professional Profile

Use AskUserQuestion to ask:

What's your current role/title? (Free text input)

What are you targeting professionally? (Select all that apply)

•Promotion to a specific role
•Lateral move to a new domain
•Building expertise in current role
•Career pivot
•Leadership/management track
•Individual contributor growth

Then ask as free text:

•Target role(s) — What role(s) are you working toward?
•Key skills you're building — Comma-separated list of skills you're actively developing
•Skills you want to develop — Comma-separated list of aspirational skills

5. Gather Preferences

Use AskUserQuestion to ask:

Default tags for your logs? (comma-separated, e.g., engineering, python, leadership)

6. Initialize the .things Directory

Based on the chosen path, create the directory structure:

code

<things_path>/
├── .gitkeep
├── logs/           # Individual accomplishment logs
├── arsenal/        # Synthesized skill summaries (auto-generated)
├── targets/        # Professional goal tracking
└── index.md        # Auto-generated index of all logs

Run via Bash:

bash

mkdir -p <things_path>/{logs,arsenal,targets}
touch <things_path>/.gitkeep

If git remote was configured, initialize git:

bash

cd <things_path>
git init
git remote add origin <remote_url>
git checkout -b <branch>

7. Create the Index File

Write <things_path>/index.md:

markdown

---
title: "My Things Index"
description: "Auto-generated index of accomplishments"
last_updated: <current_date>
total_entries: 0
---

# Things I've Done

This index is automatically maintained by the i-did-a-thing plugin.

## By Date

_No entries yet. Run `/i-did-a-thing:thing-i-did` to log your first accomplishment!_

## By Tag

_Tags will appear here as you log things._

## By Impact

_Impact levels will be summarized here._

8. Create Professional Targets File

Write <things_path>/targets/profile.md:

markdown

---
current_role: "<role>"
target_roles:
  - "<target>"
career_direction:
  - "<direction>"
building_skills:
  - "<skill>"
aspirational_skills:
  - "<skill>"
last_updated: <current_date>
---

# Professional Profile

This file tracks your professional goals and is used by the
construct-resume skill and what-did-you-do plugin to give you targeted advice.

## Current Focus

<populated from user input>

## Gap Analysis

_This section is auto-updated as you log accomplishments and practice interviews._

9. Write Configuration

Write .claude/i-did-a-thing.local.md:

yaml

---
things_path: "<chosen_path>"
git_remote: "<remote_url or none>"
git_branch: "<branch>"
git_workflow: "<auto|ask|manual>"
default_tags:
  - "<tag>"
current_role: "<role>"
target_roles:
  - "<target>"
career_direction:
  - "<direction>"
building_skills:
  - "<skill>"
aspirational_skills:
  - "<skill>"
last_updated: <current_date>
---

# i-did-a-thing Configuration

Generated by `/i-did-a-thing:setup`. Run it again to reconfigure.

These settings are used by all i-did-a-thing skills:
- `thing-i-did` — log accomplishments
- `construct-resume` — build tailored resumes

Use `/mark-my-words:from-things` to turn your logs into blog posts.
Use `/what-did-you-do:practice` to practice interview questions powered by your arsenal.

10. Confirm Setup

Tell the user:

Your i-did-a-thing setup is complete!

•Things directory: <path>

•Git: <remote status>

Quick start:

•/i-did-a-thing:thing-i-did — Log something you did

•/i-did-a-thing:construct-resume — Build a resume for a job listing

•/what-did-you-do:practice — Practice interview questions with your arsenal