Setup

Initialize Project

"Start as you mean to go on."

Philosophy

All other skills depend on shared configuration and context. This skill creates that foundation. Run once per project. Takes 2 minutes.

Workflow

Step 1: Ask Configuration Questions

Use defaults if user doesn't want to decide:

1. AI Tools — Which tools? (Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, Copilot, Codex, Aider, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, Copilot CLI, Codex CLI, Other)
2. Issue Tracker — GitHub Issues (default) / Linear / Local Files
3. Triage Labels — bug, feature, enhancement, tech-debt, question
4. Docs Path — docs/ (default), docs/adr/, docs/handoff/
5. Context File — CONTEXT.md at project root (default)
6. Test Framework — What framework? (jest, pytest, go test, etc.)
7. Code Style — Project-specific rules?

Step 2: Create Files

Always create:

• CONTEXT.md — Domain context and shared language
• docs/adr/0001-initial-setup.md — Initial ADR

Tool-specific (based on Step 1):

Step 3: Write CONTEXT.md

# Project Context

## Domain Language
- [Term 1]: [definition]
- [Term 2]: [definition]

## Module Map
- [Module A]: [responsibility]
- [Module B]: [responsibility]

## Architecture Decisions
- See `docs/adr/` for all decisions

## Code Style
- [Rule 1]
- [Rule 2]

Step 4: Write Initial ADR

# ADR 0001: Initial Project Setup

## Status
Accepted

## Context
Setting up AI Engineering Mastery skills for this project.

## Decision
- Issue tracker: [choice]
- AI tools: [choices]
- Test framework: [choice]

## Consequences
- All skills will use this configuration
- CONTEXT.md is the source of truth for domain language

Step 5: Output Summary

Setup Complete!

Configuration:
- Issue Tracker: [choice]
- AI Tools: [choices]
- Docs Path: [path]
- Test Framework: [choice]

Files Created:
- CONTEXT.md
- docs/adr/0001-initial-setup.md
- [tool-specific files]

Available Skills:
  /brainstorm  — Design exploration with HARD-GATE
  /grill      — Deep alignment before coding
  /tdd        — Test-driven development
  /diagnose   — Systematic debugging
  /architect  — Architecture improvement
  /zoom-out   — System-level context
  /to-prd     — Create PRD
  /to-issues  — Break plan into issues
  /caveman    — Compressed communication
  /handoff    — Session handoff
  /verify      — Evidence-based completion verification
  /review      — Code review (request + receive)

Quick Start:
1. Start with /grill to align on your first task
2. Use /tdd to implement with confidence
3. End with /handoff to save your progress

Anti-Patterns

• Over-configuring — Use defaults, adjust later
• Skipping setup — Other skills depend on this
• Not updating CONTEXT.md — It should evolve with the project

Integration

• All other skills depend on this configuration
• Run /setup before any other skill
• Re-run if configuration changes significantly

Source: novvoo/ai-engineering-mastery — distributed by TomeVault.