Repo Conventions Check

MANDATORY before adding any files or making structural changes to a repository.

Blocking Condition

Before adding ANY new file or directory, you MUST:

1. Find existing examples of similar files
2. State the correct location based on those examples
3. Tell the user your plan and wait for confirmation
4. Send updates during work

If you skip any step: BLOCKED

Workflow

Step 1: Find Existing Patterns

Before adding a file, search for similar existing files:

# For skills
ls -la .claude/skills/ | head -10
find . -name "SKILL.md" -type f | head -10

# For any file type
find . -name "*.ts" -type f | head -10
find . -type d -name "similar-name" | head -10

Step 2: State the Location

Tell the user explicitly:

Based on existing skills in .claude/skills/, I will add the new skill to:
  skills/my-new-skill/SKILL.md

NOT in packages/skills/skills/ (generated output; do not edit).

Step 3: Confirm Before Starting

DO NOT START WORK until you've told the user:

• What you're going to do
• Where files will go
• What the PR will contain

Wait for their confirmation or correction.

Step 4: Send Updates

During work, send updates every few minutes:

• What you just did
• What you're doing next
• Any issues or questions

Rationalizations (All Rejected)

| Excuse | Why It's Wrong | Required Action | |--------|----------------|-----------------| | "I know where it goes" | You were wrong last time | Check existing patterns | | "It's obvious" | Clearly it wasn't | Confirm with user | | "I'll tell them after" | Too late to fix mistakes | Tell them BEFORE | | "They're busy" | Silence is worse | Brief update is fine | | "It's a small change" | Small mistakes compound | Follow the process |

Examples

Wrong (BLOCKED)

User: Add a new skill for X

*immediately creates files without checking*
*puts skill in wrong location*
*doesn't tell user what's happening*

Correct

User: Add a new skill for X

Me: I'll add this skill. First let me check where existing skills live...

*runs: ls .claude/skills/*

Existing skills are in .claude/skills/. I'll create:
  .claude/skills/x-skill/SKILL.md

Does that look right? I'll start once you confirm.

User: yes

Me: Starting now. I'll update you in a few minutes.

*does work*

Me: Done. Created the skill and pushed to branch feature/x-skill.
Creating PR now.

Enforcement

This skill chains with other skills:

• Before any file creation: repo-conventions-check MUST run
• Before any PR: verify locations match existing patterns
• During work: send updates via available channels

Self-Check

Before completing any task that adds files:

1. Did I check existing patterns?
2. Did I tell the user my plan?
3. Did I wait for confirmation?
4. Did I send updates during work?

If any answer is "no": STOP and fix it.