Agent Skill
2/7/2026

repository-foundation-bootstrap

Use this skill when bootstrapping a new repository or migrating an existing repo to conform to this skill library's standards, ensuring a clean, minimal foundation before feature work begins.

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mcj
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SKILL.md

Namerepository-foundation-bootstrap
DescriptionUse this skill when bootstrapping a new repository or migrating an existing repo to conform to this skill library's standards, ensuring a clean, minimal foundation before feature work begins.

name: repository-foundation-bootstrap description: > Use this skill when bootstrapping a new repository or migrating an existing repo to conform to this skill library's standards, ensuring a clean, minimal foundation before feature work begins.

Repository Foundation Bootstrap

Intent

Establish a clean, standards-aligned repository foundation that supports both new (greenfield) and existing (brownfield) codebases without introducing drift or bypassing quality gates.


When to Use

  • Starting a new repository from scratch.
  • Migrating a brownfield repository to this library's standards.
  • Rebuilding or re-establishing repo structure, tooling, or governance.

Precondition Failure Signal

  • Repository lacks a verified baseline structure or consistent tooling.
  • Quality gates or tooling are introduced on top of unresolved warnings.
  • Brownfield migration starts without impact analysis or a transition plan.

Postcondition Success Signal

  • Repository baseline is documented and verified with zero warnings.
  • Greenfield or brownfield path is explicit and approved.
  • Tooling and governance alignment is reproducible and reviewable.

Process

  1. Source Review: Inspect current repo state (or confirm greenfield) and identify missing baseline elements.
  2. Scope Decision: Declare greenfield vs brownfield path and apply incremental-change-impact for brownfield migrations.
  3. Plan: Use brainstorming and writing-plans to define the bootstrap sequence and rollback approach.
  4. Implementation:
    • Greenfield: initialize repo structure, commit baseline scaffolding, and align configuration with repository standards.
    • Brownfield: apply changes incrementally using safe-brownfield-refactor and best-practice-introduction.
  5. Verification: Run required verification (including security checks when applicable) and ensure zero warnings (see quality-gate-enforcement).
  6. Documentation: Record decisions in ADRs when structure or tooling changes are introduced.
  7. Review: Tech Lead and Platform/DevOps review baseline integrity, migration safety, and CI/CD alignment.

Example Test / Validation

  • Baseline verification suite passes with zero warnings after bootstrap.

Common Red Flags / Guardrail Violations

  • Enabling gates before resolving baseline warnings.
  • Migrating brownfield repos without impact analysis or rollback plan.
  • Applying broad changes without ADRs for structure/tooling decisions.

Recommended Review Personas

  • Tech Lead - validates scope, sequencing, and architectural intent.
  • Platform/DevOps Engineer - validates tooling alignment and CI/CD impact.

Skill Priority

P2 - Consistency & Governance


Conflict Resolution Rules

  • If safety or correctness conflicts arise, P0/P1 skills override this skill.
  • Brownfield migrations must defer to safe-brownfield-refactor and incremental-change-impact sequencing.

Conceptual Dependencies

  • brainstorming
  • writing-plans
  • incremental-change-impact
  • safe-brownfield-refactor
  • best-practice-introduction
  • quality-gate-enforcement
  • ci-cd-conformance
  • static-analysis-security (when security posture changes)

Classification

Governance Core


Notes

This skill defines the repository foundation. It does not replace greenfield-baseline for component-level setup; use both when needed.

Skills Info
Original Name:repository-foundation-bootstrapAuthor:mcj