Mk:bootstrap

Bootstrap

End-to-end project orchestrator: research → design → plan → scaffold → implement → docs.

CLI boundary: the installer = project infrastructure. mk:bootstrap = application code + full pipeline. Zero overlap. Never touch .claude/.

When to Use

Explicit only — never auto-activate.

mk:bootstrap [requirements]
mk:bootstrap [requirements] --full
mk:bootstrap [requirements] --fast
mk:bootstrap [requirements] --parallel

Do NOT invoke when: project already has source code, or you only need kit setup (use CLI).

Modes

| Mode | Flag | Gates | Research | Design | Plan flag | Cook flag | |------|------|-------|----------|--------|-----------|-----------| | Auto | (default) | Design only | Parallel researchers | UI/UX if frontend | --auto | --auto | | Full | --full | Every step | Parallel researchers | UI/UX if frontend | --hard | (interactive) | | Fast | --fast | None | 6 parallel batch | Skip | --fast | --auto | | Parallel | --parallel | Design only | Parallel researchers | UI/UX if frontend | --parallel | --parallel |

Routing

Parse first flag from arguments:

• --full → load references/workflow-full.md
• --fast → load references/workflow-fast.md
• --parallel → load references/workflow-parallel.md
• default → load references/workflow-auto.md

Each workflow file defines the exact steps for that mode. After plan + scaffold, all modes load references/shared-phases.md for implementation → docs → final report.

Planning BEFORE Scaffolding

Plan first, scaffold second. The plan tells us WHAT to scaffold.

1. Plan — invoke mk:plan-creator with mode-matched flag. Plan defines: architecture, modules, file structure, acceptance criteria.
2. Scaffold — generate files following the plan's architecture + references/scaffolding-principles.md. Detect stack via scripts/detect-stack.sh. Validate with scripts/validate-bootstrap.sh.

Optional: invoke mk:plan-ceo-review on the plan (Full mode).

Planning is NOT optional. Every bootstrap creates a plan before generating any source files.

Gotchas (top 3)

• Scaffolding before planning: generating files without a plan → plan first, scaffold second
• Skipping research on "simple" projects: hidden complexity → always research unless --fast
• Duplicating CLI init: never generate .claude/ files — CLI handles that

Full list: references/gotchas.md

Workflow Integration

Pre-workflow. Bootstrap IS the full workflow for new projects:

mk:bootstrap → [research → design → plan → scaffold → cook → docs] → done

For subsequent features on the same project: use mk:plan-creator → mk:cook directly.

Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: ngocsangyem
• Source: ngocsangyem/MeowKit
• License: MIT
• Homepage: https://docs.meowkit.dev/

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.