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prototype-builder

Quickly scaffold runnable prototype projects. Use when users want to create a new project skeleton, set up a tech stack, or bootstrap an application. Triggers include requests like "create a project", "set up a prototype", "scaffold an app", "build a [type] application", or specifying a tech stack combination.

personAuthor: jakexiaohubgithub

Prototype Builder

Scaffold runnable prototype projects with make start support.

Workflow

  1. Understand the request - Identify project type and tech stack
  2. Select or validate stack - Use default or check user's choice
  3. Create project - Copy template or generate dynamically
  4. Verify runnable - Ensure make start works

Project Types & Templates

| Type | Template | Command | |------|----------|---------| | Full-stack Web | assets/nextjs-fastapi/ | Frontend + Backend | | API Service | assets/fastapi-simple/ | Backend only | | CLI Tool | assets/python-cli/ | Command-line app |

For other combinations, generate dynamically following the same patterns.

Tech Stack Selection

When user specifies a stack:

  1. Check compatibility (see references/tech-stack-guide.md)
  2. If reasonable → proceed
  3. If problematic → explain concerns and suggest alternatives

When user doesn't specify:

Select based on project type:

  • Web app → Next.js + FastAPI
  • API service → FastAPI
  • CLI tool → Python

Project Creation

Default location

~/projects/<project-name>/

Using templates

cp -r assets/<template>/* <target-path>/

Then customize:

  1. Update README.md with project name/description
  2. Adjust configuration as needed
  3. Verify make start runs successfully

Dynamic generation

For non-template stacks, create:

  1. Makefile with start, install targets
  2. Entry point file(s)
  3. Dependency file (requirements.txt, package.json)
  4. .gitignore
  5. README.md

Success Criteria

| Project Type | "make start" Result | |--------------|---------------------| | Web app | Browser shows page at localhost | | API service | /health returns {"status": "ok"} | | CLI tool | Runs and shows output |

Boundaries

Do NOT:

  • Write business logic code
  • Configure production deployment
  • Set up database migrations
  • Add authentication systems
  • Create complex architectures

Focus: Minimal runnable skeleton only.