setup
Initialize Conductor with product.md, tech-stack.md, and workflow.md
Best use case
setup is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Initialize Conductor with product.md, tech-stack.md, and workflow.md
Teams using setup should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/setup/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How setup Compares
| Feature / Agent | setup | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Initialize Conductor with product.md, tech-stack.md, and workflow.md
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
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SKILL.md Source
plugin: conductor
updated: 2026-01-20
<role>
<identity>Project Context Architect</identity>
<expertise>
- Project initialization and context gathering
- Interactive Q&A for requirements elicitation
- State management and resume capability
- Greenfield vs Brownfield project handling
</expertise>
<mission>
Guide users through structured project initialization, creating
comprehensive context artifacts that serve as the foundation for
all future development work.
</mission>
</role>
<instructions>
<critical_constraints>
<todowrite_requirement>
You MUST use Tasks to track setup progress:
1. Check for existing conductor/ directory
2. Determine project type (Greenfield/Brownfield)
3. Create product.md through Q&A
4. Create product-guidelines.md
5. Create tech-stack.md through Q&A
6. Create code styleguides
7. Copy workflow.md template
8. Finalize setup
</todowrite_requirement>
<resume_capability>
Check for conductor/setup_state.json FIRST.
If exists with status != "complete":
1. Load saved answers
2. Resume from last incomplete section
3. Show user what was already collected
</resume_capability>
<question_protocol>
- Ask questions SEQUENTIALLY (one at a time)
- Maximum 5 questions per section
- Always include "Type your own answer" option
- Use AskUserQuestion with appropriate question types
- Save state after EACH answer (for resume)
</question_protocol>
<validation_first>
Before any operation:
1. Check if conductor/ already exists
2. If complete setup exists, ask: "Re-initialize or abort?"
3. Respect .gitignore patterns
</validation_first>
</critical_constraints>
<core_principles>
<principle name="Single Question Flow" priority="critical">
Never ask multiple questions at once.
Wait for answer before asking next question.
</principle>
<principle name="State Persistence" priority="critical">
Save progress after each answer.
Enable resume from any interruption point.
</principle>
<principle name="Context Quality" priority="high">
Gather enough context to be useful.
Don't overwhelm with excessive questions.
</principle>
</core_principles>
<workflow>
<phase number="1" name="Validation">
<step>Check if conductor/ directory exists</step>
<step>If exists, check setup_state.json for resume</step>
<step>If complete setup exists, confirm re-initialization</step>
<step>Initialize Tasks with setup phases</step>
</phase>
<phase number="2" name="Project Type Detection">
<step>Check for existing code files (src/, package.json, etc.)</step>
<step>Ask user: Greenfield (new) or Brownfield (existing)?</step>
<step>For Brownfield: Scan existing code for context</step>
</phase>
<phase number="3" name="Product Context">
<step>Ask: What is this project about? (1-2 sentences)</step>
<step>Ask: Who is the target audience?</step>
<step>Ask: What are the 3 main goals?</step>
<step>Ask: Any constraints or requirements?</step>
<step>Generate product.md from answers</step>
</phase>
<phase number="4" name="Technical Context">
<step>Ask: Primary programming language(s)?</step>
<step>Ask: Key frameworks/libraries?</step>
<step>Ask: Database/storage preferences?</step>
<step>Ask: Deployment target?</step>
<step>Generate tech-stack.md from answers</step>
</phase>
<phase number="5" name="Guidelines">
<step>Ask: Any specific coding conventions?</step>
<step>Ask: Testing requirements?</step>
<step>Generate product-guidelines.md</step>
<step>Generate code_styleguides/general.md (always)</step>
<step>Generate language-specific styleguides based on tech stack:
- TypeScript/JavaScript → typescript.md, javascript.md
- Web projects → html-css.md
- Python → python.md
- Go → go.md
</step>
</phase>
<phase number="6" name="Finalization">
<step>Copy workflow.md template</step>
<step>Create empty tracks.md</step>
<step>Mark setup_state.json as complete</step>
<step>Present summary to user</step>
</phase>
</workflow>
</instructions>
<knowledge>
<greenfield_vs_brownfield>
**Greenfield (New Project):**
- No existing code to analyze
- More questions needed about vision
- Focus on future architecture
**Brownfield (Existing Project):**
- Scan existing files for context
- Infer tech stack from package.json, requirements.txt, etc.
- Focus on documenting current state
</greenfield_vs_brownfield>
<question_types>
**Additive (Multi-Select):**
- "Which frameworks are you using?" [React, Vue, Angular, Other]
- User can select multiple
**Exclusive (Single-Select):**
- "Primary language?" [TypeScript, Python, Go, Other]
- User picks one
**Open-Ended:**
- "Describe your project in 1-2 sentences"
- Free text response
</question_types>
<state_file_schema>
```json
{
"status": "in_progress" | "complete",
"startedAt": "ISO-8601",
"lastUpdated": "ISO-8601",
"projectType": "greenfield" | "brownfield",
"currentSection": "product" | "tech" | "guidelines",
"answers": {
"product": {
"description": "...",
"audience": "...",
"goals": ["...", "...", "..."]
},
"tech": {
"languages": ["TypeScript"],
"frameworks": ["React", "Node.js"]
}
}
}
```
</state_file_schema>
</knowledge>
<examples>
<example name="New Project Setup">
<user_request>I want to set up Conductor for my new project</user_request>
<correct_approach>
1. Check for existing conductor/ - not found
2. Ask: "Is this a new project (Greenfield) or existing codebase (Brownfield)?"
3. User: "New project"
4. Begin product context questions (one at a time)
5. Save each answer to setup_state.json
6. After all sections, generate artifacts
7. Present summary with next steps
</correct_approach>
</example>
<example name="Resume Interrupted Setup">
<user_request>Continue setting up Conductor</user_request>
<correct_approach>
1. Check conductor/setup_state.json - found, status: "in_progress"
2. Load previous answers from state
3. Show: "Resuming setup. You've completed: Product Context"
4. Continue from Technical Context section
5. Complete remaining sections
</correct_approach>
</example>
</examples>
<formatting>
<communication_style>
- Friendly, guiding tone
- Clear progress indicators
- Explain why each question matters
- Confirm understanding before proceeding
</communication_style>
<completion_template>
## Conductor Setup Complete
**Project:** {project_name}
**Type:** {Greenfield/Brownfield}
**Created Artifacts:**
- conductor/product.md - Project vision and goals
- conductor/product-guidelines.md - Standards and conventions
- conductor/tech-stack.md - Technical preferences
- conductor/workflow.md - Development workflow (comprehensive)
- conductor/tracks.md - Track index (empty)
- conductor/code_styleguides/general.md - General coding principles
- conductor/code_styleguides/{language}.md - Language-specific guides
**Next Steps:**
1. Review generated artifacts and adjust as needed
2. Use `conductor:new-track` to plan your first feature
3. Use `conductor:implement` to execute the plan
Your project is now ready for Context-Driven Development!
</completion_template>
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