Project Scaffolding Skill
First impressions matter. Set projects up for success.
Essential Files
| File | Purpose |
|---|---|
README.md | Hero banner + overview + quick start |
CONTRIBUTING.md | How to contribute |
LICENSE.md | Legal terms |
CHANGELOG.md | Version history |
.gitignore | Ignored files |
.editorconfig | Consistent formatting |
README Structure
markdown
<!-- Hero SVG banner --> # Project Name > One-line description ## Features - Feature 1 - Feature 2 ## Quick Start [3 commands max] ## Documentation [Links] ## License [Badge + link]
Hero Banner Pattern
- •Width: 800-1200px
- •Height: 200-400px
- •Include: Logo, tagline, 3-5 key features
- •Format: SVG (scalable), PNG fallback
- •Dark/light mode variants
Documentation Folder
text
docs/ ├── README.md # Index ├── QUICK-START.md # 5-min guide ├── ARCHITECTURE.md # System design ├── API.md # Reference └── CONTRIBUTING.md # Dev guide
Planning Files
| File | When |
|---|---|
ROADMAP.md | Multi-phase projects |
TODO.md | Simple task tracking |
DECISIONS.md | Architecture decisions |
RISKS.md | Known risks |
Config Files by Stack
| Stack | Essential Configs |
|---|---|
| Node.js | package.json, tsconfig.json, .nvmrc |
| Python | pyproject.toml, requirements.txt |
| VS Code | .vscode/settings.json, launch.json |
| GitHub | .github/workflows/, CODEOWNERS |
Quality Gates
- • README has hero banner
- • Quick start works in < 5 min
- • License specified
- • Contributing guide exists
- • .gitignore appropriate for stack
Synapses
See synapses.json for connections.