Agent skill

Project Bootstrap

by NoobyGains in NoobyGains/godmode

A skill your agent uses when launching a new project, initializing a repository, or building a codebase from the ground up - addresses directory structure, tooling configuration, linting, testing…

MITAuto-check: notesDevelopment

Install Project Bootstrap

skills CLI
$ npx skills add NoobyGains/godmode --skill project-bootstrap -a claude-code

Project install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.

GitHub CLI
$ gh skill install NoobyGains/godmode project-bootstrap --agent claude-code

Project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).

Manual copy
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/NoobyGains/godmode.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/project-bootstrap .claude/skills/project-bootstrap && rm -rf skills-src

Use ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.

Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/

Facts

Skill name
project-bootstrap
GitHub stars
107
Token cost
~1.9k tokens
SKILL.md length
581 words
Files
2
Skills in repo
34
Repo updated
First seen
Licence
MIT

At a glance

A skill your agent uses when launching a new project, initializing a repository, or building a codebase from the ground up - addresses directory structure, tooling configuration, linting, testing…

  • Works in 5 steps: Version Control Hygiene → Static Analysis and Formatting → Test Infrastructure → …
  • Launching a new project
  • SKILL.md covers Overview, The Prime Directive, When to Use and The Entry Protocol, plus 8 more sections
  • Calls go and cargo

What it does

Project Bootstrap is an agent skill from NoobyGains/godmode. Use when launching a new project, initializing a repository, or building a codebase from the ground up - addresses directory structure, tooling configuration, linting, testing infrastructure, CI/CD pipelines, and version control setup

Its SKILL.md is about 1.9k tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. The skill folder holds 1 other file (for example `templates.md`).

It sits in Development, covering Linting and formatting, Git workflow and CI/CD. It works with TypeScript. The repository describes itself as: The AI development framework that thinks before it builds. 36 composable skills for Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, and OpenCode. The licence is MIT.

When your agent uses it

  • Launching a new project
  • Initializing a repository
  • Building a codebase from the ground up - addresses directory structure
  • Tooling configuration

Example prompts

  • “/project-bootstrap”

Requirements

  • Python 3

Workflow steps

5 steps, taken from the step headings in SKILL.md.

  1. Version Control Hygiene
  2. Static Analysis and Formatting
  3. Test Infrastructure
  4. Type Safety
  5. Continuous Integration Minimum

What it can do on your machine

Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit 441103a. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.

  • Tool permissions

    Pre-approves nothing: there is no allowed-tools line, so your agent's usual permission prompts apply.

    From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.

  • Runs code

    Shell commands in SKILL.md call:

    • go
    • cargo

    From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.

  • Network

    No URLs in SKILL.md.

    From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.

  • Credentials

    Names no API keys, tokens, secrets or passwords.

    From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.

Context cost

Project Bootstrap loads about 1.9k tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 63 tokens; SKILL.md has 581 words of instructions outside code blocks.

Always · name and description, kept in context so the agent knows when to use it
~63
When it runs · the whole SKILL.md, loaded when a task matches
~1.9k

Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.

Safety

Auto-check: notes

The automated check noted patterns worth knowing about, such as sudo or a known installer.

  • NoteMentions a .env fileSKILL.md:93
    - `.env`, `.env.local`, `.env.*.local` (secrets and credentials)
  • NoteMentions a .env fileSKILL.md:196
    The .gitignore can wait" | One committed .env file means leaked credentials. Configure it first. |

Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); files beside SKILL.md are not scanned.

SKILL.md

The full file from NoobyGains/godmode at commit 441103a, republished under its MIT licence (© NoobyGains). 581 words, ~1,905 tokens.

Download SKILL.mdSave it as .claude/skills/project-bootstrap/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder). This skill also uses 1 other file; get the full folder from GitHub.
name
project-bootstrap
description
Use when launching a new project, initializing a repository, or building a codebase from the ground up - addresses directory structure, tooling configuration, linting, testing infrastructure, CI/CD pipelines, and version control setup

Project Bootstrap

Overview

A properly initialized project prevents 80% of future structural headaches.

Core principle: Invest 30 minutes in setup now, or spend 30 hours unwinding structural debt later.

No exceptions. No workarounds. No shortcuts.

The Prime Directive

NO FEATURE CODE BEFORE PROJECT STRUCTURE IS ESTABLISHED

If the project lacks linting, formatting, testing infrastructure, and version control hygiene, address those gaps before writing any business logic.

When to Use

Mandatory when:

  • Creating a new project from nothing
  • "Just get something running" (especially then)
  • Building a prototype that could evolve into production
  • Setting up a shared repository for a team

Also applicable when:

  • Inheriting a project with no structural foundation
  • Retrofitting test infrastructure into untested code
  • Introducing CI/CD for the first time

The Entry Protocol

BEFORE writing any feature code:

1. STRUCTURE: Is the directory layout established?
2. TOOLING: Are linter, formatter, and type checker wired up?
3. TESTING: Is the test runner configured with a passing placeholder?
4. VERSION CONTROL: Are .gitignore, branch conventions, and hooks set up?
5. DEPENDENCIES: Is the package manager initialized with a committed lockfile?
6. AUTOMATION: Does at minimum a lint + test pipeline exist?

If any answer is NO: fix it first.

Project Classification

dot
digraph project_class {
    start [label="What is being\nbuilt?", shape=diamond];
    web [label="Web\napplication?", shape=diamond];
    api [label="API /\nbackend?", shape=diamond];
    cli [label="CLI tool?", shape=diamond];
    lib [label="Library /\npackage?", shape=diamond];

    web_tpl [label="Web App\nBlueprint", shape=box, style=filled, fillcolor="#ccffcc"];
    api_tpl [label="API\nBlueprint", shape=box, style=filled, fillcolor="#ccccff"];
    cli_tpl [label="CLI\nBlueprint", shape=box, style=filled, fillcolor="#ffffcc"];
    lib_tpl [label="Library\nBlueprint", shape=box, style=filled, fillcolor="#ffccff"];
    general [label="General\nBlueprint", shape=box, style=filled, fillcolor="#ffcccc"];

    start -> web [label="assess"];
    web -> web_tpl [label="yes"];
    web -> api [label="no"];
    api -> api_tpl [label="yes"];
    api -> cli [label="no"];
    cli -> cli_tpl [label="yes"];
    cli -> lib [label="no"];
    lib -> lib_tpl [label="yes"];
    lib -> general [label="no"];
}

Consult templates.md for detailed setup checklists per project classification.

Universal Foundation (All Projects)

1. Version Control Hygiene
.gitignore          # Language-specific + universal exclusions
.gitattributes      # Line ending normalization, binary file handling

Mandatory .gitignore entries:

  • node_modules/, venv/, __pycache__/, target/ (dependency directories)
  • .env, .env.local, .env.*.local (secrets and credentials)
  • *.log (log files)
  • .DS_Store, Thumbs.db (OS artifacts)
  • IDE directories: .idea/, .vscode/ (unless sharing settings deliberately)
  • Build output: dist/, build/, out/
2. Static Analysis and Formatting
LanguageLinterFormatter
TypeScript/JavaScriptESLintPrettier
PythonRuff (lint + format)Ruff
Gogolangci-lintgofmt (built-in)
Rustclippyrustfmt (built-in)
RubyRuboCopRuboCop

Install on day one. Adopting a linter after 10,000 lines means triaging hundreds of violations on your first run.

3. Test Infrastructure
LanguageFrameworkRunner
TypeScript/JavaScriptVitest or JestBuilt-in
PythonpytestBuilt-in
Gotesting (stdlib)go test
Rustbuilt-in test harnesscargo test
RubyRSpec or MinitestBuilt-in

Write one passing test immediately. This confirms the test pipeline functions before you actually need it.

4. Type Safety
LanguageRequirement
TypeScriptstrict: true in tsconfig.json. Non-negotiable.
PythonType annotations + mypy or pyright
JavaScriptConsider TypeScript. If not, at minimum use JSDoc type annotations.
5. Continuous Integration Minimum

Every project must have at minimum:

yaml
# Minimum CI pipeline (GitHub Actions example)
on: [push, pull_request]
jobs:
  check:
    steps:
      - lint
      - type-check
      - test

If it does not execute in CI, it will not be maintained.

Directory Structure Principles

Organize by feature, not by file type (see godmode:system-design).

Every project requires:

project-root/
  src/              # Source code (or lib/, app/ per convention)
  tests/            # Test files (or co-located alongside source)
  docs/             # Documentation (when applicable)
  scripts/          # Build, deploy, and utility scripts
  .gitignore
  README.md         # Purpose, installation, how to run
  <config files>    # Linter, formatter, CI, package manager

Co-located tests vs separate directory:

  • Co-located (payment.ts + payment.test.ts): Easier to maintain, preferred default
  • Separate (tests/): When tests require shared fixtures or team convention mandates it
Show full SKILL.md (229 more words)Show less

Dependency Governance

BEFORE adding any dependency:

1. Is it genuinely necessary? Could you write it in under 50 lines?
2. Is it actively maintained?
3. How many transitive dependencies does it introduce?
4. Does it carry known vulnerabilities?

When uncertain, write the code yourself.

Always:

  • Commit lockfiles (package-lock.json, poetry.lock, Cargo.lock)
  • Pin major versions, permit patch-level updates
  • Execute security audit in CI

Cognitive Traps

RationalizationTruth
"It is just a prototype"Prototypes graduate to production. Initialize properly.
"I will add linting later"After 10,000 lines you will face hundreds of violations. Now is always easier.
"Tests decelerate initial development"Test setup takes 5 minutes. Hunting bugs without tests takes hours.
"CI is excessive for this"CI catches what you forget. Wire it up on day one.
"I will organize the files later"You will not. Directory structure is harder to change than code.
"The .gitignore can wait"One committed .env file means leaked credentials. Configure it first.

Guardrails -- HALT and Set Up

  • Writing features without a linter configured
  • No .gitignore in the repository
  • No test framework installed
  • Secrets committed to version history (even once, even if deleted -- they persist in git history)
  • No README explaining how to run the project
  • Build artifacts checked into git
  • No CI pipeline
  • any types everywhere (TypeScript)

Every item on this list means: halt feature work. Fix the foundation first.

Integration

Complementary skills:

  • godmode:system-design -- Directory structure and technology selection
  • godmode:quality-enforcement -- Quality gates wired into CI from the start
  • godmode:security-protocol -- Secrets management and .gitignore discipline
  • godmode:ux-patterns -- Design system initialization for UI projects

The Bottom Line

30 minutes of setup now > 30 hours of structural debt later

Linter. Formatter. Tests. CI. .gitignore. README. Before the first feature. Every single time.

© NoobyGains, MIT. Rendered from Markdown: HTML in the file is shown as text, images as links, and headings moved down two levels. Raw file

Files

SKILL.md and 1 other file in skills/project-bootstrap of NoobyGains/godmode.

  • SKILL.md
  • templates.md

Open the folder on GitHubat commit 441103a

Compare with similar skills

Project Bootstrap next to the 5 skills that share the most tags, products or categories with it. Stars are the repository's; “used in” counts other GitHub owners with a copy.

Project Bootstrap compared with similar skills
SkillStarsUsed inTokensAuto-checkLicenceRepo updated
Project Bootstrap this skillNoobyGains/godmode107—~1.9kAutomated safety check: NotesMIT
Project Initathola/claude-night-market342—~1.2kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Workflow Setupathola/claude-night-market342—~1.4kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Configuration GeneratorArabelaTso/Skills-4-SE253—~2.8kAutomated safety check: NotesApache-2.0
Install Anti-Slop Oxlint Rulesdmmulroy/anti-slop5.3k1 repos~2.2kAutomated safety check: PassMIT
Babysit PR To Pass CIsgl-project/sglang37k2 repos~3kAutomated safety check: PassApache-2.0

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Works with

Categories

Questions about Project Bootstrap

What does Project Bootstrap do?

A skill your agent uses when launching a new project, initializing a repository, or building a codebase from the ground up - addresses directory structure, tooling configuration, linting, testing…. Project Bootstrap is an agent skill from NoobyGains/godmode.

When should I use Project Bootstrap?

Project Bootstrap fits situations like: launching a new project; initializing a repository; building a codebase from the ground up - addresses directory structure; tooling configuration.

How do I install Project Bootstrap in Claude Code?

Run `npx skills add NoobyGains/godmode --skill project-bootstrap -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/project-bootstrap in NoobyGains/godmode) into .claude/skills/project-bootstrap in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.

How do I install Project Bootstrap in Codex?

Run `npx skills add NoobyGains/godmode --skill project-bootstrap -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/project-bootstrap in NoobyGains/godmode) into .agents/skills/project-bootstrap in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.

Can I use Project Bootstrap in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?

Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add NoobyGains/godmode --skill project-bootstrap -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/project-bootstrap, .gemini/skills/project-bootstrap, .github/skills/project-bootstrap and .opencode/skills/project-bootstrap in your project.

What does Project Bootstrap need to run?

Going by SKILL.md and its folder, Project Bootstrap needs the command-line tools its instructions call (go and cargo). Our summary lists: Python 3.

Does Project Bootstrap access the network?

SKILL.md contains no URLs. Any network use would come from the scripts or tools the agent runs. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.

Is Project Bootstrap safe to install?

Our automated static check of SKILL.md found notes only (mentions a .env file), nothing it rates as a warning. It is not a guarantee. Review the folder before installing.

What licence does Project Bootstrap use?

Project Bootstrap is published under the MIT licence (the repository's licence). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.

How many tokens does Project Bootstrap use?

About 1.9k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 7.6k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full.

What are the alternatives to Project Bootstrap?

Skills that share tags, products or a category with Project Bootstrap: Project Init (athola/claude-night-market, 342 stars), Workflow Setup (athola/claude-night-market, 342 stars), Configuration Generator (ArabelaTso/Skills-4-SE, 253 stars) and Install Anti-Slop Oxlint Rules (dmmulroy/anti-slop, 5.3k stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.

Who maintains Project Bootstrap?

NoobyGains (a GitHub user) maintains it in NoobyGains/godmode, which has 107 GitHub stars. The repository holds 34 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on March 9, 2026.

Source: NoobyGains/godmode on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.