Project Kickoff Bootstrapper

Overview

This skill installs or refreshes the minimum Claude-facing project context needed for a new repository to operate predictably from day one. It does three things at once:

1. Inspects repository evidence to infer stack, commands, directories, and existing governance docs.
2. Collects only the missing information from the user instead of forcing a long upfront questionnaire.
3. Creates or updates a coherent kickoff file set so Claude can understand the project, know which skills to use, and know what “done” means.

This skill is intentionally a bootstrap orchestrator. It seeds starter artifacts quickly and consistently. It does not replace deeper follow-on work such as designing rigorous quality gates, investigating hidden contracts, or building a production-parity regression strategy. After scaffolding, route those deeper tasks to the dedicated skills.

Scope Boundary

This skill does:

• create or refresh the project kickoff file set from templates
• merge repository evidence with user-confirmed answers
• keep CLAUDE.md short and push detail into docs/ and .claude/rules/
• choose a practical installation profile (minimal, standard, full)
• preserve unknown information as TBD instead of inventing false precision

This skill does not:

• perform a full project plan or WBS breakdown (use project-plan-creator)
• deeply score project readiness (use project-completeness-scorer)
• perform detailed gate design (use completion-quality-gate-designer)
• perform detailed hidden-contract analysis (use hidden-contract-investigator)
• perform detailed cross-module consistency analysis (use cross-module-consistency-auditor)
• design full production-parity regression suites (use production-parity-test-designer)

When to Use

• 新しいプロジェクトを始めるので、最初から Claude に必要文脈を持たせたい
• 既存リポジトリに後付けで CLAUDE.md と kickoff ドキュメント群を導入したい
• AI エージェントが「いつどのスキルを使うか」を最初から理解できる状態にしたい
• チームごとにバラバラな完了判定やテスト方針を最低限そろえたい
• .claude/rules/ や /project-kickoff の導入を素早く行いたい
• A repository has code but no durable AI memory or project operating guide
• The team wants a repeatable starter pack that can be installed in less than one session

Inputs

Use repository evidence first, then confirm gaps with the user.

Required Inputs

• target repository root
• project name or working title
• one-line project summary
• intended installation mode: create, refresh, or augment

Usually Needed Inputs

• owner or team
• current phase
• main stack and primary language
• main source directory, test directory, DB/migration directory
• standard commands (build / test / lint / typecheck / CI / packaging)
• major risk areas
• desired installation profile: minimal, standard, or full

Acceptable Unknowns

If any of the above are not known, write TBD and list them in the final summary instead of guessing.

Outputs

Core Files

• CLAUDE.md
• docs/PROJECT_BRIEF.md
• docs/SKILL_ROUTING.md
• docs/QUALITY_GATES.md
• docs/TEST_STRATEGY.md

Extended Files

• docs/DECISION_LOG.md
• docs/HIDDEN_CONTRACT_REGISTER.md
• docs/CROSS_MODULE_CONSISTENCY_MATRIX.md

Optional Claude Support Files

• .claude/rules/backend-api.md
• .claude/rules/db-and-migrations.md
• .claude/rules/testing-and-release.md
• .claude/commands/project-kickoff.md

Session Deliverables

• populated bootstrap input sheet (working artifact; save only if useful)
• created/updated file list
• unresolved TBD list
• recommended next skills to run for deeper refinement

Installation Profiles

Load references/install_profiles.md before generating files.

• minimal: core kickoff files only; best for prototypes or very small repos
• standard: core files + extended docs + path-based rules; best default for most team projects
• full: standard profile + slash command template and fuller governance scaffolding; best for long-lived or high-risk repos

Default to standard unless the repository is obviously tiny or the user asks for the lightest possible setup.

Workflow

Phase 1: Inspect the Repository Before Asking Questions

1. Load references/repository_inspection_guide.md.
2. Read repository evidence in this order:
   • root README*
   • language manifests (pyproject.toml, package.json, go.mod, Cargo.toml, etc.)
   • build/test automation (Makefile, justfile, Taskfile, .github/workflows/, CI configs)
   • existing CLAUDE.md, .claude/, docs/, architecture docs, runbooks
3. Infer:
   • probable primary language and stack
   • candidate source / test / DB directories
   • build / test / lint / typecheck / packaging commands
   • whether DB, migrations, API, or release automation exist
4. Record findings in assets/bootstrap_input_sheet_template.md before asking the user anything.

Phase 2: Choose Profile and Update Strategy

1. Load references/install_profiles.md.
2. Decide whether the session is:
   • create: files do not exist yet
   • refresh: files exist and appear to be from the same template family
   • augment: files exist but only part of the kickoff set is present
3. Select installation profile:
   • prefer minimal for solo experiments / throwaway repos
   • prefer standard for normal product or internal app work
   • prefer full for multi-person, regulated, or long-lived systems
4. Load references/non_destructive_update_policy.md.
5. If important files already exist and are heavily customized, do not overwrite blindly. Merge carefully or create a proposed draft when needed.

Phase 3: Ask Only the Missing, High-Leverage Questions

1. Load references/question_strategy.md.
2. Ask 2–4 questions per round, prioritizing:
   • project purpose and success criteria
   • owner / team / current phase
   • risk areas and environment differences
   • required commands and release conditions
3. Prefer confirmation questions over open-ended questions when repository evidence is strong.
4. When evidence is weak, ask short targeted questions rather than broad essays.
5. Update the bootstrap input sheet after every answer.

Phase 4: Resolve Defaults and Burn Down Placeholders

1. Normalize user input and repo evidence into one authoritative value set.
2. Replace placeholders with:
   • confirmed value, if known
   • repo-inferred value, if strongly supported
   • TBD, if still unresolved
3. Harmonize the following across all files:
   • project name
   • owner / team
   • primary language / stack
   • key paths
   • commands
   • risk areas
4. Load references/cross_file_consistency_checklist.md before writing files.

Phase 5: Create or Refresh Core Files

Use the templates in assets/ and write project files to the target repo.

1. Create or update CLAUDE.md from assets/CLAUDE.md.template.md
2. Create or update:
   • docs/PROJECT_BRIEF.md from assets/docs/PROJECT_BRIEF.template.md
   • docs/SKILL_ROUTING.md from assets/docs/SKILL_ROUTING.template.md
   • docs/QUALITY_GATES.md from assets/docs/QUALITY_GATES.template.md
   • docs/TEST_STRATEGY.md from assets/docs/TEST_STRATEGY.template.md
3. Ensure CLAUDE.md imports only files that actually exist after generation.
4. Keep the generated CLAUDE.md concise; push detail into docs/ and .claude/rules/.

Phase 6: Install Extended Docs and Local Rules When Appropriate

If profile is standard or full, also create or update:

• docs/DECISION_LOG.md from assets/docs/DECISION_LOG.template.md
• docs/HIDDEN_CONTRACT_REGISTER.md from assets/docs/HIDDEN_CONTRACT_REGISTER.template.md
• docs/CROSS_MODULE_CONSISTENCY_MATRIX.md from assets/docs/CROSS_MODULE_CONSISTENCY_MATRIX.template.md

If the repo shape justifies it, also install:

• .claude/rules/backend-api.md from assets/.claude/rules/backend-api.md.template.md
• .claude/rules/db-and-migrations.md from assets/.claude/rules/db-and-migrations.md.template.md
• .claude/rules/testing-and-release.md from assets/.claude/rules/testing-and-release.md.template.md

When rendering rule files, remove obviously irrelevant path globs and prefer patterns that match the actual repo layout.

Phase 7: Install the Project Slash Command When Full Profile Is Chosen

If profile is full, create or update:

• .claude/commands/project-kickoff.md from assets/.claude/commands/project-kickoff.md.template.md

Before writing it:

1. confirm the team actually wants a project-local slash command
2. keep the command aligned with the generated kickoff docs
3. ensure the command refers to files that were actually created

Phase 8: Perform Final Consistency Check and Handoff

1. Load references/follow_on_skill_sequence.md.
2. Re-check that:
   • CLAUDE.md import targets exist
   • commands are consistent across files
   • risk areas in PROJECT_BRIEF.md appear in SKILL_ROUTING.md, QUALITY_GATES.md, and TEST_STRATEGY.md
   • no unreplaced {{PLACEHOLDER}} remains unless intentionally preserved
3. Summarize:
   • created / updated files
   • still-missing information
   • chosen profile
   • key risks detected from repo evidence
   • recommended next skills to run

Resources

File	Type	Purpose	When to Load
references/install_profiles.md	Reference	Decide minimal / standard / full installation scope	Phase 2
references/repository_inspection_guide.md	Reference	Infer stack, commands, directories, and risk signals from repo evidence	Phase 1
references/question_strategy.md	Reference	Ask concise, high-leverage follow-up questions without over-interviewing	Phase 3
references/non_destructive_update_policy.md	Reference	Refresh existing kickoff docs safely without destructive overwrite	Phase 2, Phase 5, Phase 6, Phase 7
references/cross_file_consistency_checklist.md	Reference	Ensure names, commands, paths, and file links stay aligned across artifacts	Phase 4, Phase 8
references/follow_on_skill_sequence.md	Reference	Recommend the next deeper skill after scaffolding is complete	Phase 8
assets/bootstrap_input_sheet_template.md	Template	Working sheet for resolved values, inferred commands, open questions, and chosen profile	Phase 1–4
assets/bootstrap_summary_template.md	Template	Final handoff summary for created files, unresolved items, and next skills	Phase 8
assets/CLAUDE.md.template.md	Template	Root Claude memory entrypoint for the project	Phase 5
assets/docs/PROJECT_BRIEF.template.md	Template	Project purpose, scope, architecture, commands, and risk areas	Phase 5
assets/docs/SKILL_ROUTING.template.md	Template	Phase-based and signal-based skill usage rules	Phase 5
assets/docs/QUALITY_GATES.template.md	Template	Starter completion and release gate definitions	Phase 5
assets/docs/TEST_STRATEGY.template.md	Template	Starter test-level and production-parity strategy	Phase 5
assets/docs/DECISION_LOG.template.md	Template	Persistent decision log for project-level design and quality choices	Phase 6
assets/docs/HIDDEN_CONTRACT_REGISTER.template.md	Template	Registry for reuse-risk and implicit behavior investigation	Phase 6
assets/docs/CROSS_MODULE_CONSISTENCY_MATRIX.template.md	Template	Impact and update-leak tracking for duplicated rules across modules	Phase 6
assets/.claude/rules/backend-api.md.template.md	Template	Path-scoped backend rule file	Phase 6
assets/.claude/rules/db-and-migrations.md.template.md	Template	Path-scoped DB/migration rule file	Phase 6
assets/.claude/rules/testing-and-release.md.template.md	Template	Path-scoped testing/release rule file	Phase 6
assets/docs/PROJECT_KICKOFF_CHECKLIST.template.md	Template	Human + AI kickoff completeness checklist	Phase 8
assets/.claude/commands/project-kickoff.md.template.md	Template	Optional project-local slash command for future refreshes	Phase 7

Best Practices

Evidence First, User Second

• Infer what you can from the repository before asking questions.
• Ask the user to confirm or correct, rather than forcing them to restate obvious facts.

Keep the First Install Lightweight

• Prefer a good starter set over a bloated governance pack.
• minimal and standard profiles should be fast to install in one working session.

Never Invent Commands

• If build/test/lint/typecheck commands cannot be verified, write TBD.
• A wrong command in CLAUDE.md is worse than an unresolved field because it trains future sessions on bad defaults.

Preserve Existing Work

• If a repository already has strong docs, merge or augment rather than replace.
• When in doubt, propose a draft update instead of overwriting heavily curated files.

Treat Unknowns as First-Class Outputs

• Missing information is not failure; hidden assumptions are.
• The final summary must explicitly list unresolved placeholders and recommended owners.

Use Follow-On Skills Deliberately

After bootstrap, recommend deeper refinement where needed:

• completion-quality-gate-designer for stronger QUALITY_GATES.md
• hidden-contract-investigator for risky reuse areas
• safe-by-default-architect for security-sensitive design choices
• cross-module-consistency-auditor for multi-flow or duplicated rule changes
• production-parity-test-designer for real production-like verification design

Starter Success Criteria

A bootstrap session is successful when:

• Claude can open the repo and immediately understand purpose, scope, and high-risk areas
• There is an explicit file telling Claude which skills to use in which situations
• There is a starter definition of completion and test evidence
• The generated files match actual repo structure closely enough to be useful on day one
• Unknowns are visible, bounded, and easy for the team to resolve later