kreek Scaffolding
Iron Law
NO FEATURE CODE BEFORE THE TOOLCHAIN PROVES IT CAN FAIL AND PASS.
A scaffold is done only when a clean clone can install, check, test, and run the baseline without local knowledge.
When to Use
- Starting a new repo or app, or adding missing package management, linting, formatting, typechecking, testing, coverage, or CI.
When NOT to Use
- Adding a feature to a healthy project; use the domain skill plus
proof. - Release pipeline beyond baseline CI; use
release. - UI design choices after the framework is chosen; use
ui-design.
Rules
- The user owns scaffold choices. Before creating files, installing packages,
or running generators, present a Scaffold Decision Gate (project intent
and kind, language/runtime, deployment assumption, framework/template,
quality baseline, files and commands) with this menu, and wait:
- Approve: create files, install packages, run generators
- Refine: change the scaffold plan
- Cancel: stop scaffolding
- Research is free. Audit candidate dependencies without asking, then get approval before selecting or installing a structural runtime dependency (framework, database, ORM, auth client, SDK, state library, job queue), unless the user or the selected stack already named it.
- Recommend one option per choice in priority order (language/runtime, deployment assumption, framework/template, framework-local choices) and name the tradeoff. Fresh web apps default to a mature framework unless the user asks for smaller.
- Requested artifact names are literal. Create
tsconfig.json,package.json,pyproject.toml, CI, or README by name; substitute a nearby config only with approval. - Commands are the contract:
test,lint,format,typecheck, andcoveragewhere applicable, and CI runs the same checks developers run. Every added config is consumed by a standard command. typecheckruns a real type checker using the config added for it. A syntax check such asnode --checkis lint, not typecheck.- Fresh scaffolds get git and
.gitignorebefore feature code, one package manager with a committed lockfile, one smoke test that can fail and pass, secret hygiene with.env.exampleplaceholders, and a README with purpose, install, run, and test. - Prototypes keep the same command names even when checks are lightweight, and are promoted to the full checklist before production or collaboration.
Workflow
- Detect language, framework, existing conventions, and git state. If Pi
offers
/consult:scaffold, run it before presenting the gate. - Present the Scaffold Decision Gate (Rule 1). Use
references/stacks/index.yamlwhen a preset fits; otherwisereferences/language-defaults.mdor official sources, naming the fallback. - After approval: git, package manager, standard commands, smoke test, CI, README, in that order.
Tripwires
| Trigger | Do this instead | False alarm |
|---|---|---|
| "A similar config file will do" | Use the requested artifact name, or ask before substituting. | The user approved the substitute. |
"node --check counts as typecheck" |
Wire typecheck to a real type checker. |
The language has no type checker and the documented equivalent is used. |
| "The command passed, so the scaffold works" | Verify the requirement, artifact, and command mapping, not only command success. | None. |
| "Set up git later" | Initialize git and .gitignore before feature code. |
The user or environment blocks repo creation and the skip is reported. |
| "Approval would slow this down, just create the files" | Present Approve, Refine, and Cancel before scaffold mutation. | The request already specified every material setup choice. |
| "I'll pick the framework/ORM myself" | Research candidates freely; get approval before selecting or installing one. | The user or selected stack already named the choice, or it is a small dev-only utility. |
Handoffs
domain-modeling: first feature or domain data model.proof: first real feature test.release: CI becomes release or deploy automation.security: dependency audits, secret scanning, supply-chain gates.
References
references/stacks/index.yaml: load when a stack preset may fit.references/language-defaults.md: load when no preset fits.