blueprint-init

Initialize Blueprint Development in this project.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when...	Use blueprint-upgrade instead when...
The project has no docs/blueprint/manifest.json yet	The project already has a manifest at an older format version
You're bootstrapping a new project's PRD/ADR/PRP directories	You're migrating v1.x→v2, v2→v3, or v3.x→v3.y
You want to enable feature tracking and decision detection from scratch	Use blueprint-derive-plans to populate PRDs/ADRs/PRPs after init
You're configuring task scheduling for the first time	Use blueprint-execute instead when you want auto-detection of next step

Steps

1. Check if already initialized:
   • Look for docs/blueprint/manifest.json
   • If exists, read version and ask user:

     Use AskUserQuestion:
     question: "Blueprint already initialized (v{version}). What would you like to do?"
     options:
       - "Check for upgrades" → run /blueprint:upgrade
       - "Reinitialize (will reset manifest)" → continue with step 2
       - "Cancel" → exit
     

1a. Detect monorepo context (format_version 3.3.0+):

• Walk upward from the current directory looking for an ancestor docs/blueprint/manifest.json (stop at the repo root or $HOME).
• If an ancestor root manifest exists, this init is creating a child workspace. Capture the relative path from the child back to the root.
• Additionally scan descendants (max depth 4, skipping node_modules, .git, dist, build, target, .venv) for existing docs/blueprint/manifest.json. If any are found, this init is creating a root that will own existing children.
• Otherwise this is a standalone blueprint (no workspaces block written).

Use AskUserQuestion (only when ancestor root detected):
question: "Found a parent blueprint at {parent_path}. Register this as a child workspace?"
options:
  - label: "Yes - register as child"
    description: "Writes workspaces.role=child + root_relative_path; root picks it up on next /blueprint:workspace-scan"
  - label: "No - treat as standalone"
    description: "No workspaces block written; this project is independent"

2. Ask about feature tracking (use AskUserQuestion):

   question: "Would you like to enable feature tracking?"
   options:
     - label: "Yes - Track implementation against requirements"
       description: "Creates feature-tracker.json to track FR codes from a requirements document"
     - label: "No - Skip feature tracking"
       description: "Can be added later with /blueprint:feature-tracker-sync"
   

   If "Yes" selected: a. Search for markdown files in the project that contain requirements, features, or user stories b. Auto-detect the most likely source document based on content analysis c. Create docs/blueprint/feature-tracker.json from template using the detected source d. Set has_feature_tracker: true in manifest

3. Ask about document migration (use AskUserQuestion): Search for existing markdown documentation files across the project (excluding standard files like README.md, CHANGELOG.md, CONTRIBUTING.md, LICENSE.md, CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md, SECURITY.md).

   # Find markdown files that look like documentation (not standard repo files)
   find . -name '*.md' -not -path '*/node_modules/*' -not -path '*/.git/*' | grep -viE '(README|CHANGELOG|CONTRIBUTING|LICENSE|CODE_OF_CONDUCT|SECURITY)\.md$'
   

   Before recommending migration, measure cross-reference density. Migrating a doc into docs/{prds,adrs,prps}/ rewrites its path, breaking every reference to it. For each candidate doc, grep the repo for references to its path from outside docs/ (README, scripts, CI, .rulesync/) and inter-doc links:

   # Count references to each candidate doc path (skip the doc itself)
   for doc in $candidate_docs; do
     base=$(basename "$doc")
     refs=$(grep -rIl --exclude-dir=.git --exclude-dir=node_modules "$base" . | grep -v "^./$doc$" | wc -l | tr -d ' ')
     ext=$(grep -rIl --exclude-dir=.git --exclude-dir=node_modules --exclude-dir=docs "$base" . | wc -l | tr -d ' ')
     echo "$doc total=$refs outside_docs=$ext"
   done
   

   A doc whose path is referenced outside docs/ (build scripts, CI, README, .rulesync/) is expensive to migrate — every reference must be rewritten, including build-critical files. Blueprint only needs the empty docs/{prds,adrs,prps}/ for future derived docs, so "leave in place" is a safe default when migration is expensive.

   If documentation files found (e.g., REQUIREMENTS.md, ARCHITECTURE.md, DESIGN.md, docs in non-standard locations):

   • Default to recommending migration (label: "Yes, migrate documents (Recommended)") only when no candidate doc is referenced outside docs/.
   • When one or more candidate docs are referenced outside docs/, DROP the "(Recommended)" marker from the migrate option and surface the reference count so the user judges the cost. Prefer steering toward "leave in place".

   Use AskUserQuestion:
   question: "Found existing documentation: {file_list}. {N} of these are referenced outside docs/ ({ref_summary}). Migrate to Blueprint-managed paths?"
   options:
     # When NO candidate is referenced outside docs/: keep "(Recommended)" on migrate.
     # When ANY candidate IS referenced outside docs/: drop "(Recommended)" and show counts.
     - label: "Yes, migrate documents"
       description: "Move docs into docs/prds/, docs/adrs/, docs/prps/ based on content type. Rewrites all {total_refs} references — including build-critical files when referenced outside docs/."
     - label: "No, leave them in place"
       description: "Blueprint creates new docs under docs/{prds,adrs,prps}/; existing docs stay where build tooling and READMEs already point. Safe default when docs are referenced outside docs/."
   

   If "Yes" selected: a. Analyze each file to determine type:

   • Contains requirements, features, user stories → docs/prds/
   • Contains architecture decisions, trade-offs → docs/adrs/
   • Contains implementation plans → docs/prps/
   • General documentation → docs/ b. Move files to appropriate docs/ subdirectory c. Rename to kebab-case if needed (REQUIREMENTS.md → requirements.md) d. Report migration results:

   Migrated documentation:
   - REQUIREMENTS.md → docs/prds/requirements.md
   - ARCHITECTURE.md → docs/adrs/0001-initial-architecture.md
   

   If no documentation files found: Skip this step silently.

4. Ask about maintenance task scheduling (use AskUserQuestion):

   question: "How should blueprint maintenance tasks run?"
   options:
     - label: "Prompt before running (Recommended)"
       description: "Always ask before running maintenance tasks like sync, validate"
     - label: "Auto-run safe tasks"
       description: "Read-only tasks (validate, sync, status) run automatically when due"
     - label: "Fully automatic"
       description: "All tasks run automatically on schedule, including writes like rule generation"
     - label: "Manual only"
       description: "Tasks only run when you explicitly invoke them"
   

   Store selection for task_registry defaults:

   • Prompt: all auto_run: false, default schedules
   • Auto-run safe: read-only tasks (adr-validate, feature-tracker-sync, sync-ids) get auto_run: true; write tasks get false
   • Fully automatic: all tasks get auto_run: true, default schedules
   • Manual only: all auto_run: false, all schedules set to on-demand

   The same selection sets automation.autonomy_level (the ADR-0020 level model — what actually executes the auto_run contract):

   • Prompt / Manual only → autonomy_level: 0 (nothing runs unattended)
   • Auto-run safe → autonomy_level: 1 (deterministic due tasks run via the SessionStart probe; due agent tasks surface as drift findings)
   • Fully automatic → autonomy_level: 2 (quiet autopilot also runs due agent tasks in-session; interaction_mode defaults to quiet)

4a. Ask about generated-rules output path (use AskUserQuestion):

Only prompt when .claude/rules/ already exists and contains files (i.e., hand-authored rules that pre-date blueprint). Skip silently in fresh repos and use the default.

# Only prompt if .claude/rules/ has any content not created by blueprint
find .claude/rules -maxdepth 1 -type f -name '*.md'

Use AskUserQuestion (only when .claude/rules/ has existing content):
question: "Detected existing content in .claude/rules/. Where should blueprint write generated rules?"
options:
  - label: ".claude/rules/blueprint/ (Recommended)"
    description: "Isolated subdirectory — keeps blueprint-managed and hand-authored rules separate, prevents collisions on regenerate"
  - label: ".claude/rules/ (flat)"
    description: "Write generated rules alongside hand-authored ones; risk of overwrite when filenames collide"

Store the chosen path in structure.generated_rules_path in the manifest (defaults to .claude/rules/ when unset). This keeps blueprint-generate-rules and blueprint-derive-rules from clobbering hand-curated rule files (issue #1043).

5. Ask about decision detection (use AskUserQuestion):

   question: "Would you like to enable automatic decision detection?"
   options:
     - label: "Yes - Detect decisions worth documenting"
       description: "Claude will notice when conversations contain architecture decisions, feature requirements, or implementation plans that should be captured as ADR/PRD/PRP documents"
     - label: "No - Manual commands only"
       description: "Use /blueprint:derive-plans, /blueprint:prp-create explicitly when you want to create documents"
   

   Set has_document_detection in manifest based on response.

   If enabled: Resolve the rules output directory before writing — honour the path chosen in Step 4a (default .claude/rules/) rather than hardcoding it, so blueprint does not collide with rulesync-managed or hand-authored rules (issue #1675):

   RULES_DIR=$(jq -r '.structure.generated_rules_path // ".claude/rules/"' docs/blueprint/manifest.json)
   mkdir -p "$RULES_DIR"
   

   When the manifest is not yet written, use the Step 4a selection directly (default .claude/rules/).

   Copy document-management-rule.md template to $RULES_DIR/document-management.md. This rule instructs Claude to watch for:

   • Architecture decisions being made during discussion → prompt to create ADR
   • Feature requirements being discussed or refined → prompt to create/update PRD
   • Implementation plans being formulated → prompt to create PRP

6. Create directory structure:

   Canonical document paths are at the top level of docs/, not under docs/blueprint/. docs/blueprint/ holds blueprint machinery only (manifest, feature-tracker, work-orders); docs/{adrs,prds,prps,trps}/ hold the documents themselves. Every /blueprint:derive-* skill writes to the top-level paths — keeping them consistent prevents the dual-corpus bug where init creates one layout and derive-* writes to another.

   Execute the creation explicitly so the directories exist even when no document migration happened in Step 3:

   mkdir -p docs/blueprint/work-orders/completed
   mkdir -p docs/blueprint/work-orders/archived
   mkdir -p docs/adrs
   mkdir -p docs/prds
   mkdir -p docs/prps
   

   Note: docs/trps/ is created on-demand by /blueprint:derive-tests only — init does not pre-create it.

   The resulting tree:

   docs/
   ├── blueprint/
   │   ├── manifest.json            # Version tracking and configuration
   │   ├── feature-tracker.json     # Progress tracking (if enabled)
   │   ├── work-orders/             # Task packages for subagents
   │   │   ├── completed/
   │   │   └── archived/
   │   └── README.md                # Blueprint documentation
   ├── prds/                        # Product Requirements Documents (canonical)
   ├── adrs/                        # Architecture Decision Records (canonical)
   ├── prps/                        # Product Requirement Prompts (canonical)
   └── trps/                        # Test Regression Plans (created on-demand by /blueprint:derive-tests)
   

   Claude configuration (in .claude/): — initial rules are written under structure.generated_rules_path (default .claude/rules/; an isolated subdirectory like .claude/rules/blueprint/ when Step 4a detected existing content), shown here at the default location:

   .claude/
   ├── rules/                       # $RULES_DIR — generated_rules_path (default .claude/rules/)
   │   ├── development.md           # Development workflow rules
   │   ├── testing.md               # Testing requirements
   │   └── document-management.md   # Document organization rules (if detection enabled)
   └── skills/                      # Custom skill overrides (optional)
   

7. Create manifest.json (v3.4.0 schema — canonical filename is docs/blueprint/manifest.json, no dot prefix):

   {
     "format_version": "3.4.0",
     "created_at": "[ISO timestamp]",
     "updated_at": "[ISO timestamp]",
     "created_by": {
       "blueprint_plugin": "3.3.0"
     },
     "project": {
       "name": "[detected from package.json/pyproject.toml or directory name]",
       "detected_stack": []
     },
     "structure": {
       "has_prds": true,
       "has_adrs": true,
       "has_prps": true,
       "has_work_orders": true,
       "has_modular_rules": true,
       "has_feature_tracker": "[based on user choice]",
       "has_document_detection": "[based on user choice]",
       "claude_md_mode": "both",
       "generated_rules_path": "[based on Step 4a; defaults to .claude/rules/ when prompt skipped]"
     },
     "feature_tracker": {
       "file": "feature-tracker.json",
       "source_document": "[auto-detected]",
       "sync_targets": ["TODO.md"]
     },
     "generated": {
       "rules": {},
       "commands": {}
     },
     "custom_overrides": {
       "skills": [],
       "commands": []
     },
     "automation": {
       "autonomy_level": "[based on maintenance task choice: 0 for Prompt/Manual, 1 for Auto-run safe, 2 for Fully automatic]",
       "interaction_mode": "normal",
       "work_orders": {
         "auto_draft": false,
         "auto_execute": false
       }
     },
     "task_registry": {
       "derive-plans": {
         "enabled": true,
         "auto_run": false,
         "last_completed_at": null,
         "last_result": null,
         "schedule": "weekly",
         "stats": {},
         "context": {}
       },
       "derive-rules": {
         "enabled": true,
         "auto_run": false,
         "last_completed_at": null,
         "last_result": null,
         "schedule": "weekly",
         "stats": {},
         "context": {}
       },
       "generate-rules": {
         "enabled": true,
         "auto_run": false,
         "last_completed_at": null,
         "last_result": null,
         "schedule": "on-change",
         "stats": {},
         "context": {}
       },
       "adr-validate": {
         "enabled": true,
         "auto_run": "[based on maintenance task choice: true if auto-run safe, false otherwise]",
         "last_completed_at": null,
         "last_result": null,
         "schedule": "weekly",
         "stats": {},
         "context": {}
       },
       "feature-tracker-sync": {
         "enabled": true,
         "auto_run": "[based on maintenance task choice: true if auto-run safe, false otherwise]",
         "last_completed_at": null,
         "last_result": null,
         "schedule": "daily",
         "stats": {},
         "context": {}
       },
       "sync-ids": {
         "enabled": true,
         "auto_run": "[based on maintenance task choice: true if auto-run safe, false otherwise]",
         "last_completed_at": null,
         "last_result": null,
         "schedule": "on-change",
         "stats": {},
         "context": {}
       },
       "claude-md": {
         "enabled": true,
         "auto_run": false,
         "last_completed_at": null,
         "last_result": null,
         "schedule": "on-change",
         "stats": {},
         "context": {}
       },
       "curate-docs": {
         "enabled": false,
         "auto_run": false,
         "last_completed_at": null,
         "last_result": null,
         "schedule": "on-demand",
         "stats": {},
         "context": {}
       }
     }
   }
   

   Note: Include feature_tracker section only if feature tracking is enabled. Note: As of v3.2.0, progress tracking is consolidated into feature-tracker.json (work-overview.md removed).

   Monorepo workspaces block (v3.3.0+), appended to the manifest based on the detection from Step 1a:

   • Child (ancestor blueprint found and user opted in):

     "workspaces": {
       "role": "child",
       "root_relative_path": "[relative path from this dir to the root]"
     }
     

   • Root (descendant blueprints found):

     "workspaces": {
       "role": "root",
       "discovery_strategy": "auto-cache",
       "last_scanned_at": null,
       "children": []
     }
     

     After writing the manifest, run /blueprint:workspace-scan once to populate children[].
   • Standalone: omit the workspaces block entirely.

8. Create initial rules under the resolved $RULES_DIR (the Step 4a generated_rules_path, default .claude/rules/) — never a hardcoded .claude/rules/ — so they sit alongside, not on top of, rulesync-managed or hand-authored rules (issue #1675):

   RULES_DIR=$(jq -r '.structure.generated_rules_path // ".claude/rules/"' docs/blueprint/manifest.json)
   mkdir -p "$RULES_DIR"
   

   • $RULES_DIR/development.md: TDD workflow, commit conventions
   • $RULES_DIR/testing.md: Test requirements, coverage expectations
   • $RULES_DIR/document-management.md: Document organization rules (if decision detection enabled)

9. Handle .gitignore:

   • Always commit CLAUDE.md and .claude/rules/ (shared project instructions)
   • Add docs/blueprint/work-orders/ to .gitignore (task-specific, may contain sensitive details)
   • If secrets detected in .claude/, warn user and suggest .gitignore entries

10. Report:

Blueprint Development initialized! (v3.3.0)

Blueprint structure created:
- docs/blueprint/manifest.json
- docs/blueprint/work-orders/
- docs/blueprint/README.md
[- docs/blueprint/feature-tracker.json (if feature tracking enabled)]

Project documentation (top-level — derive-* skills write here):
- docs/prds/           (Product Requirements Documents)
- docs/adrs/           (Architecture Decision Records)
- docs/prps/           (Product Requirement Prompts)
- docs/trps/           (Test Regression Plans — created on first /blueprint:derive-tests run)

Claude configuration:
- .claude/rules/       (modular rules, including generated)
- .claude/skills/      (custom skill overrides)

Configuration:
- Rules mode: both (CLAUDE.md + .claude/rules/)
[- Feature tracking: enabled]
[- Decision detection: enabled (Claude will prompt when discussions should become ADR/PRD/PRP)]
[- Task scheduling: {prompt|auto-run safe|fully automatic|manual only}]

[Migrated documentation:]
[- {original} → {destination} (for each migrated file)]

Architecture:
- Plugin layer: Generic commands from blueprint-plugin (auto-updated)
- Generated layer: Rules/commands regeneratable from docs/prds/
- Custom layer: Your overrides in .claude/skills/

11. Prompt for next action (use AskUserQuestion):

    question: "Blueprint initialized. What would you like to do next?"
    options:
      - label: "Derive plans from git history (Recommended)"
        description: "Analyze commit history, PRs, and issues to build PRDs, ADRs, and PRPs from existing project decisions"
      - label: "Derive rules from codebase"
        description: "Analyze commit patterns and code conventions to generate .claude/rules/"
      - label: "Update CLAUDE.md"
        description: "Generate or update CLAUDE.md with project context and blueprint integration"
      - label: "I'm done for now"
        description: "Exit - you can run /blueprint:status anytime to see options"
    

    Based on selection:

    • "Derive plans from git history" → Run /blueprint:derive-plans
    • "Derive rules from codebase" → Run /blueprint:derive-rules
    • "Update CLAUDE.md" → Run /blueprint:claude-md
    • "I'm done for now" → Show quick reference and exit

Quick Reference (show if user selects "I'm done for now"):

Management commands:
- /blueprint:status          - Check version and configuration
- /blueprint:upgrade         - Upgrade to latest format version
- /blueprint:derive-plans    - Derive PRDs, ADRs, and PRPs from git history
- /blueprint:derive-rules    - Derive rules from git commit decisions
- /blueprint:prp-create      - Create a Product Requirement Prompt
- /blueprint:generate-rules  - Generate rules from PRDs
- /blueprint:sync            - Check for stale generated content
- /blueprint:promote         - Move generated content to custom layer
- /blueprint:rules           - Manage modular rules
- /blueprint:claude-md       - Update CLAUDE.md
- /blueprint:feature-tracker-status  - View feature completion stats
- /blueprint:feature-tracker-sync    - Sync tracker with project files