Repository Initialization

Scaffold a new or existing repository with standard project infrastructure.

Related skills:

• •just-pro - Build system patterns and templates
• •mise - Tool version management
• •go-pro, rust-pro, typescript-pro, python-pro - Language-specific setup

Execution Modes

This skill supports two modes. Prefer molecule mode when beads is available.

Molecule Mode (Preferred)

Use beads molecules for tracked, closeable tasks. Each step becomes an issue you can close as you complete it.

Prerequisites: beads installed (bd --version works)

Steps:

1. •

   Find the dm-work plugin install path:

   bash

   jq -r '.plugins["dm-work@dark-matter-marketplace"][0].installPath' ~/.claude/plugins/installed_plugins.json
   

2. •

   Wisp the formula (ephemeral, no git pollution):

   bash

   bd mol wisp <install-path>/skills/repo-init/references/repo-init.formula.json \
     --var lang=<language> --var name=<project-name> --var type=<project-type>
   

3. •

   Work through tasks:

   bash

   bd ready              # See next task
   # ... do the work ...
   bd close <step-id>    # Mark complete
   

4. •

   Clean up when done:

   bash

   bd mol burn <wisp-id>
   

Variables:

Manual Mode (Fallback)

Use when beads is not installed or for quick setups without tracking.

Follow the steps below in order. Steps 3-6 can run in parallel after git-init.

Step 1: Gather Context

Before scaffolding, clarify:

1. •Project language(s): Go, Rust, TypeScript, Python, or multi-language?
2. •Project type: Library, CLI, web app, API, monorepo?
3. •Existing files: Is this a fresh repo or adding to existing code?

Use AskUserQuestion if unclear from context.

Step 2: Git Setup

# Initialize git if needed
git init

.gitignore Templates

Copy from the appropriate language skill's references/gitignore:

For multi-language repos: Start with the primary language's gitignore, then merge patterns from others.

Minimal fallback (if language skill unavailable):

# Environment
.env
.env.local
.env.*.local
.envrc

# OS
.DS_Store
Thumbs.db

# IDE
.idea/
.vscode/

# Build (customize per language)
dist/
build/
target/
node_modules/
__pycache__/

Step 3: CLAUDE.md

Create project conventions file:

# Project Name - Claude Instructions

## Overview

Brief description of what this project does.

## Development

```bash
just setup    # First-time setup
just check    # Run all quality gates

Conventions

• •[Add project-specific patterns here]

Architecture

• •[Key directories and their purposes]

Keep it minimal initially. Add conventions as they emerge.

---

## Step 4: Justfile Skeleton

```just
# Project Build System
# Usage: just --list

default:
    @just --list

# First-time setup
setup:
    mise trust
    mise install
    @echo "Ready. Run 'just check' to verify."

# Quality gates - add language-specific checks
check:
    @echo "Add fmt, lint, test recipes"

# Remove build artifacts
clean:
    @echo "Add clean commands"

See just-pro skill for language-specific recipes.

Step 5: Mise Configuration

Create .mise.toml:

[tools]
# Add tools with: mise use <tool>@<version>
# Examples:
# node = "22"
# go = "1.23"
# rust = "1.83"
# just = "latest"

Step 6: Environment Template

Create .envrc.example (committed) as template for .envrc (gitignored):

# Copy to .envrc and fill in values
# cp .envrc.example .envrc && direnv allow

# Mise integration
if command -v mise &> /dev/null; then
  eval "$(mise hook-env -s bash)"
fi

# Project-specific environment
# export DATABASE_URL="postgres://localhost/myapp"
# export API_KEY=""

Step 7: Beads Initialization

bd init -q

Add to CLAUDE.md:

## Task Tracking

Use `bd` for task tracking. Run `bd ready` to see available work.

Step 8: Next Steps

Point user to language-specific setup:

Quick Reference

# Full manual init sequence
git init
# Create .gitignore, CLAUDE.md, justfile, .mise.toml, .envrc.example
bd init -q
mise use just@latest
# Then follow language skill for specifics

Monorepo Variant

For monorepos, the root gets:

• •Root justfile with module imports (see just-pro monorepo patterns)
• •Root .mise.toml with shared tooling
• •Single .beads/ at root

Each package gets:

• •Package-local justfile
• •Language-specific configs (Cargo.toml, package.json, etc.)