# Platform First > Core development philosophy - fix platform code, not mod content. Load when making decisions about what to fix or implement. Use when this capability is needed. - Skill: `tomevault-io/platform-first` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/platform-first` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/platform-first/raw - Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS) - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/platform-first --- ## Platform-First Development Philosophy ### The Golden Rule > **Fix the platform, not the content.** At this stage of development, all agents focus on **platform code** (`core/`, `scenes/`, Sparkling Editor), NOT mod content (`mods/`). ### Why This Matters The Captain (user) creates all mod content exactly as a real modder would. This ensures: 1. **Real-world testing** of the modding experience 2. **No special treatment** for demo content 3. **Tool validation** - if content is broken, the tool that made it is broken ### Decision Framework | Symptom | Wrong Response | Correct Response | |---------|----------------|------------------| | Character data is malformed | Fix the .tres file | Fix the Sparkling Editor component that generated it | | Battle doesn't load correctly | Edit the battle resource | Fix BattleManager or MapMetadataLoader | | Item stats are wrong | Edit the item resource | Fix the item editor or validation | | Cinematic breaks | Edit the JSON file | Fix CinematicLoader or the cinematic editor | ### What Agents Should Do 1. **Identify the root cause** in platform code 2. **Fix the tool or system** that produces/consumes the content 3. **Validate the fix** by having the Captain recreate the content 4. **Never edit mod content** to work around platform bugs ### What Agents Should NOT Do - Edit files in `mods/*/data/` - Create new mod content (characters, items, battles, etc.) - "Fix" mod resources that appear broken - Hardcode workarounds for specific content ### Exception Direct mod content changes are acceptable ONLY when: - The Captain explicitly requests it - The change is for testing/debugging purposes (then reverted) - The mod system itself is being tested ### Remember If a modder would hit the same problem the Captain hit, the platform is broken. Fix the platform. --- > Converted and distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io/claim/nobledarkgames) — claim your Tome and manage your conversions.