# Scaffold Dir

> Scaffold Dir

- Skill: `markbaindesign/scaffold-dir` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add markbaindesign/scaffold-dir`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/markbaindesign/scaffold-dir/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: markbaindesign (https://skillmd.com/u/markbaindesign)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/markbaindesign/scaffold-dir

---


# Scaffold Dir

Create a project directory and git repo at the given path.

Arguments: $ARGUMENTS
- First arg: absolute path for the new project directory
- Second arg (optional): project name, used in the initial commit message

## Steps

### 1. Validate

- If the path already exists and is non-empty, stop and report: "Directory already exists and is non-empty — aborting to avoid overwriting."
- If the path already exists and is empty, continue.
- If a parent directory doesn't exist, stop: "Parent directory {parent} does not exist. Create it first."

### 2. Create directory

```bash
mkdir -p {path}
```

### 3. Git init

```bash
cd {path} && git init
```

### 4. Write .gitignore

Write a minimal `.gitignore` at the project root:

```
.env
.env.local
node_modules/
__pycache__/
*.pyc
.DS_Store
```

### 5. Initial commit

```bash
cd {path} && git add .gitignore && git commit -m "init: scaffold {name or basename}"
```

### 6. Shutter profile

If `shutter-profile` is available on PATH, create a Shutter profile for this project's QA inbox:

```bash
shutter-profile create "{name or basename}" "{path}/qa/qa-inbox"
```

This creates `~/.shutter/profiles/{name}.xml` pointing to `{path}/qa/qa-inbox`, so Shutter can be launched for this project with `shutter --profile='{name}'`.

Skip silently if `shutter-profile` is not found.

### 7. Report

```
scaffold-dir: {path}
  ✓ directory created
  ✓ git init
  ✓ .gitignore written
  ✓ initial commit
  ✓ shutter profile '{name}' created  (or "skipped — shutter-profile not found")
```