Runnable Project Bootstrap
Create a runnable project skeleton with stack-native structure, minimal tooling, safe Git setup, and verified startup commands.
Before & after
Same prompt, same agent — the only difference is the skill.
Setting up a new Node project with TypeScript and testing is definitely doable. You'll want to start with a solid package.json that has your build scripts, development dependencies for TypeScript compilation and testing, and a clear folder structure. ESLint and Prettier are good to set up from the start to keep code consistent. Jest is a popular choice for testing. You'll probably want a .gitignore to exclude node_modules and build artifacts. I can help you scaffold all of that and make sure the config files are set up correctly. Do you have a preference on build tool — ts-node, esbuild, tsup?
NODE + TYPESCRIPT + JEST SCAFFOLD
package.json:
{
"name": "my-project",
"version": "1.0.0",
"main": "dist/index.js",
"scripts": {
"build": "tsc",
"dev": "ts-node src/index.ts",
"test": "jest",
"lint": "eslint src/**/*.ts",
"format": "prettier --write src/**/*.ts"
},
"devDependencies": {
"@types/jest": "^29.0.0",
"@typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin": "^6.0.0",
"eslint": "^8.0.0",
"jest": "^29.0.0",
"prettier": "^3.0.0",
"ts-jest": "^29.0.0",
"ts-node": "^10.0.0",
"typescript": "^5.0.0"
}
}
tsconfig.json:
{
"compilerOptions": {
"target": "ES2020",
"module": "commonjs",
"outDir": "./dist",
"rootDir": "./src",
"strict": true,
"esModuleInterop": true,
"skipLibCheck": true
},
"include": ["src/**/*.ts"]
}
jest.config.js:
module.exports = {
preset: "ts-jest",
testEnvironment: "node",
testMatch: ["**/__tests__/**/*.test.ts"]
};
Folder structure:
src/
index.ts
__tests__/
index.test.ts
dist/
.gitignore
package.json
tsconfig.json
jest.config.jsAbout this skill
An empty repo becomes frustrating when the scaffold installs successfully but the app still will not start. This skill creates a small, runnable foundation and checks the connections between the entry point, dependencies, scripts, tooling, and Git setup.
What it does
- Detects existing manifests, lockfiles, parent workspaces, and configuration before creating files.
- Chooses a stack-native layout for a CLI, web app, service, or library without speculative feature folders.
- Connects the actual entry point to working development, build, and check commands where applicable.
- Adds compatible linting, formatting, ignore rules, and dependency configuration without competing toolchains.
- Handles local Git initialization without overwriting existing work or creating an unsolicited remote repository.
- Verifies the smallest useful execution path and reports which checks passed, failed, or remain unrun.
What you get
A minimal project skeleton, documented startup commands, and a concise verification report. When file access is unavailable, you get exact file contents and commands with execution clearly marked as unverified.
Best for
Developers starting a small application, CLI, service, or library, and teams that want consistent initial tooling without an oversized starter template.
SKILL.md preview
---
name: runnable-project-bootstrap
description: Bootstrap a new project or workspace by inspecting existing boundaries, creating a stack-native skeleton, wiring minimal compatible tooling, and verifying the first execution path. Use when the user says "init this project", "bootstrap a new workspace", "start a Node CLI", "set up a Python package", "give this repo sensible defaults", "my scaffold installs but won't run", or "make this empty repo runnable".
---
# Runnable Project Bootstrap
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