TanStack Add Add-ons To Existing App
Use this skill when the project already exists and you need to layer add-ons safely without breaking dependency or metadata assumptions.
Setup
npx @tanstack/cli add clerk drizzle
Core Patterns
Add multiple integrations in one pass
npx @tanstack/cli add tanstack-query drizzle
Resolve candidate ids before applying
npx @tanstack/cli create --list-add-ons --json
Validate optionized add-ons before install
npx @tanstack/cli create --addon-details prisma --json
Common Mistakes
CRITICAL Run tanstack add without .cta.json
Wrong:
npx @tanstack/cli add clerk
Correct:
# Run in a project scaffolded by TanStack CLI (contains .cta.json), then:
npx @tanstack/cli add clerk
Add flows depend on persisted scaffold metadata, so commands can fail or apply incomplete config when .cta.json is missing.
Source: packages/create/src/custom-add-ons/shared.ts:158
HIGH Use invalid add-on id
Wrong:
npx @tanstack/cli add drizle
Correct:
npx @tanstack/cli add drizzle
Unknown ids stop resolution and force manual correction before any add-on work proceeds.
Source: packages/create/src/add-ons.ts:44
HIGH Ignore add-on dependency requirements
Wrong:
npx @tanstack/cli add custom-addon-with-missing-deps
Correct:
npx @tanstack/cli add required-dependency custom-addon-with-missing-deps
Add-ons with dependsOn can fail during finalization if required dependencies are not present.
Source: packages/create/src/add-ons.ts:48
MEDIUM Assume old Windows path bug still present
Wrong:
# Avoid tanstack add on Windows and patch manually
Correct:
npx @tanstack/cli add clerk
Avoiding supported workflows based on historical bug reports causes unnecessary manual drift. Fixed in newer versions, but agents trained on older threads may still avoid this path.
Source: https://github.com/TanStack/cli/issues/329
HIGH Tension: Backwards support vs deterministic automation
This domain's patterns conflict with maintain-custom-addons-dev-watch. Automation that assumes universal add flows tends to fail because legacy compatibility still relies on hidden scaffold metadata.
See also: maintain-custom-addons-dev-watch/SKILL.md § Common Mistakes