# Frappe App Dev

> Builds full-stack Frappe Framework applications end-to-end. Use this skill any time the user mentions: creating or modifying a DocType, writing a controller or lifecycle hook, adding a whitelisted API, setting up a new Frappe app or bench site, building a desk form or list view, creating portal pages, writing background jobs or scheduled tasks, managing permissions or roles, writing Frappe tests, or working with frappe.db / frappe.qb. Also applies when the user says things like "how do I hook into save", "add a field to a DocType", "create a REST endpoint in Frappe", "run bench migrate", or "install an app on a site" — even if they don't explicitly say "Frappe".

- Skill: `frappe/frappe-app-dev` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 19 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add frappe/frappe-app-dev`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/frappe/frappe-app-dev/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Integrations & APIs
- Author: frappe (https://skillmd.com/u/frappe)
- Updated: 2026-09-09
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/frappe/frappe-app-dev

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# Frappe Full-Stack App Builder

## Global Rules

- Use bare `bench`. Not `./env/bin/bench`. Not a full path.
- Do not run `which bench`, `bench --version`, `bench --help`, or check frappe version. No discovery commands.
- Do not delegate bench detection to a subagent. Run `ls apps/ sites/ Procfile` yourself.
- Do not create DocType folders with `mkdir`. Frappe creates them via `bench migrate`.
- Run `bench start` in a background process only.
- Before running `bench start`, check if it's already running in an existing terminal. Do not start a second instance.
- Always pass `--site <site>` explicitly to bench commands. Never run bare `bench migrate`.

## Flow Selection

Determine which flow applies, then read ONLY the relevant file:

### Creating a brand new app

Read [new-app.md](./references/new-app.md) — covers bench setup, app scaffolding, site creation, and installation.

### Working on an existing app

Read [existing-app.md](./references/existing-app.md) — covers finding the bench, locating the app, confirming site, and extending features.

## Feature References

Load ONLY the references needed for the current task:

| Topic            | When to load                                 | File                                                    |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| Site management  | Finding/creating/managing sites              | [site-management.md](./references/site-management.md)   |
| DocTypes         | Creating/modifying DocTypes, fields, naming  | [doctypes.md](./references/doctypes.md)                 |
| Controllers      | Document lifecycle, server logic             | [controllers.md](./references/controllers.md)           |
| Whitelisted APIs | REST endpoints, `@frappe.whitelist()`        | [api.md](./references/api.md)                           |
| Database & ORM   | `frappe.db`, queries, raw SQL                | [database.md](./references/database.md)                 |
| Caching          | Redis, `frappe.cache`                        | [caching.md](./references/caching.md)                   |
| Realtime         | WebSocket, `publish_realtime`                | [realtime.md](./references/realtime.md)                 |
| Background jobs  | `frappe.enqueue`, scheduled jobs             | [background-jobs.md](./references/background-jobs.md)   |
| Hooks            | `hooks.py` patterns                          | [hooks.md](./references/hooks.md)                       |
| Permissions      | Roles, DocType permissions, `has_permission` | [permissions.md](./references/permissions.md)           |
| Testing          | Writing & running tests                      | [testing.md](./references/testing.md)                   |
| Frontend & UI    | Desk UI, Vue SPA, portal pages           | [frontend.md](./references/frontend.md) (router → 3 sub-files) |
| Bench CLI        | All bench commands reference                 | [bench-operations.md](./references/bench-operations.md) |