Python Project Initialization

Initialize a complete Python project with comprehensive documentation, development environment, and tooling.

What This Skill Creates

Documentation:

• README.md - Project overview and vision
• CLAUDE.md - Development guide for AI sessions
• docs/IMPLEMENTATION.md - Phase-based implementation plan
• docs/CHRONICLES.md - Chronicle entry index
• docs/DECISIONS.md - Architectural decision registry
• docs/chronicles/ - Directory for phase chronicle files

Python Setup:

• pyproject.toml - uv-based dependency management with dev tools
• .gitignore - Python-specific gitignore

Package Structure:

• {package_name}/ - Main package directory
• {package_name}/cli.py - CLI entry point placeholder
• tests/ - Test directory

Workflow:

• Session continuity (works with /plinth:session-pickup and /plinth:session-wrapup)
• "Plan like waterfall, implement in agile" approach
• Decision logging with rationale

Step 1: Gather Project Information

Ask the user for the following (use AskUserQuestion if needed):

Required:

1. PROJECT_NAME - Display name (e.g., "Temoa", "Apantli")

   • Used in documentation and human-readable contexts
   • Can contain spaces and capital letters

2. PACKAGE_NAME - Python package name (e.g., "temoa", "apantli")

   • Must be valid Python identifier (lowercase, underscores only)
   • If not provided, derive from PROJECT_NAME: lowercase, replace spaces/hyphens with underscores

3. DESCRIPTION - One-sentence project description

   • What does this project do?
   • Example: "Nahuatl language learning platform with spaced repetition"

Optional (with defaults):

4. PYTHON_VERSION - Default: ">=3.11"

   • Minimum Python version requirement

5. VERSION - Default: "0.1.0"

   • Initial project version

Derived:

• PACKAGE_NAME_UPPER = PACKAGE_NAME.upper().replace("-", "_")
  • Used for environment variables if needed

Step 2: Create Directory Structure

Create the project directory and subdirectories:

mkdir -p {PROJECT_NAME}
mkdir -p {PROJECT_NAME}/{PACKAGE_NAME}
mkdir -p {PROJECT_NAME}/tests
mkdir -p {PROJECT_NAME}/docs
mkdir -p {PROJECT_NAME}/docs/chronicles

Step 3: Generate Files from Templates

For each template file in skills/python-project-init/templates/:

1. Read the template file
2. Replace all template variables:
   • {{PROJECT_NAME}} → PROJECT_NAME
   • {{PACKAGE_NAME}} → PACKAGE_NAME
   • {{DESCRIPTION}} → DESCRIPTION
   • {{PYTHON_VERSION}} → PYTHON_VERSION
   • {{VERSION}} → VERSION
3. Write the result to the target location

Template mapping:

Step 4: Create Package Files

Create minimal Python package structure:

{PROJECT_NAME}/{PACKAGE_NAME}/init.py:

"""{{PROJECT_NAME}} - {{DESCRIPTION}}"""

__version__ = "{{VERSION}}"

{PROJECT_NAME}/{PACKAGE_NAME}/cli.py:

"""Command-line interface for {{PROJECT_NAME}}."""

import argparse
from . import __version__


def main():
    """Main entry point for the CLI."""
    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
        prog="{{PACKAGE_NAME}}",
        description="{{DESCRIPTION}}",
    )
    parser.add_argument(
        "--version",
        action="version",
        version=f"{{PROJECT_NAME}} {__version__}",
    )

    args = parser.parse_args()

    # Add your CLI logic here
    print(f"{{PROJECT_NAME}} v{__version__}")
    print("Ready to go!")


if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

{PROJECT_NAME}/tests/init.py:

"""Test suite for {{PROJECT_NAME}}."""

{PROJECT_NAME}/tests/test_basic.py:

"""Basic tests for {{PROJECT_NAME}}."""

from {{PACKAGE_NAME}} import __version__


def test_version():
    """Test version is defined."""
    assert __version__ is not None
    assert isinstance(__version__, str)

Step 5: Create Documentation Structure

Use the project-tracking skill to create comprehensive documentation:

Invoke the project-tracking skill for a new project:
- Project name: {PROJECT_NAME}
- Current phase: Phase 0 - Research & Design
- Initial description: {DESCRIPTION}

This will create:

• docs/IMPLEMENTATION.md with Phase 0 setup
• docs/CHRONICLES.md with entry index structure
• docs/DECISIONS.md with decision tracking table
• docs/chronicles/phase-0-foundation.md with initial entry

Step 6: Initialize Git Repository (Optional)

Ask the user if they want to initialize a git repository:

cd {PROJECT_NAME}
git init
git add .
git commit -m "$(cat <<'EOF'
docs: establish project infrastructure and comprehensive documentation

Set up {PROJECT_NAME} with comprehensive documentation following proven
patterns from plinth project templates. Established tech stack and
development workflow.

Documentation Structure:
- README.md: Project overview and vision
- CLAUDE.md: Development guide for AI sessions
- docs/IMPLEMENTATION.md: Phase-based implementation tracking
- docs/CHRONICLES.md: Chronicle entry index
- docs/DECISIONS.md: Architectural decision registry
- pyproject.toml: Python setup with uv

Project Structure:
- {PACKAGE_NAME}/: Main Python package
- tests/: Test suite with pytest
- Development tools: mypy, ruff, pytest

Current Status: Phase 0 (Research & Design)
Next Step: Define core features and begin implementation planning
EOF
)"

Step 7: Setup Development Environment (Optional)

Ask the user if they want to set up the development environment now:

cd {PROJECT_NAME}
uv sync
uv run {PACKAGE_NAME} --version
uv run pytest

This will:

• Create .venv/ directory
• Install all dependencies
• Create uv.lock file
• Verify CLI works
• Run initial tests

Step 8: Verification & Next Steps

Provide verification commands and next steps to the user:

Verification:

cd {PROJECT_NAME}

# Verify structure
ls -la
ls -la {PACKAGE_NAME}
ls -la docs

# Verify CLI
uv run {PACKAGE_NAME} --version

# Run tests
uv run pytest

Next Steps:

1. Edit README.md to add vision and feature details
2. Edit CLAUDE.md to add project-specific principles
3. Update docs/IMPLEMENTATION.md Phase 0 with specific tasks
4. Add dependencies to pyproject.toml as needed
5. Begin implementing core features

Session Management:

• Use /plinth:session-pickup to resume work in next session
• Use /plinth:session-wrapup to document progress and commit changes

Quality Checks

Before finishing, verify:

• All files created successfully
• pyproject.toml has correct project name and package name
• README.md has project name and description
• CLAUDE.md has project name and description
• Documentation structure exists (IMPLEMENTATION.md, CHRONICLES.md, DECISIONS.md)
• Package structure exists with init.py and cli.py
• .gitignore created
• No emojis anywhere
• Git commit made (if requested)
• Tests run successfully (if environment set up)

What NOT to Do

• Don't create code beyond the minimal CLI placeholder
• Don't install dependencies if user didn't request it
• Don't add emojis to any files
• Don't skip the documentation structure
• Don't create an empty project - always include the basics
• Don't assume the package name - ask if unclear

Handoff to User

After completion, tell the user:

1. What was created (file counts and structure)
2. Current status: Phase 0 - Research & Design
3. Next step: Define core features and update documentation
4. How to continue: Use /plinth:session-pickup in next session
5. Quick start: cd {PROJECT_NAME} && uv sync && uv run {PACKAGE_NAME} --version

Keep it brief and technical. Focus on what they need to do next.

Template Variable Reference