project-repo

Project Repo Setup

Initialize a meta-repo: a git repository that tracks shared documentation and conventions for a collection of related projects. Each member project lives in a subdirectory with its own independent git history; this repo tracks only the coordination layer.

Model: /Users/philip/projects/mimeo-sites/TEMPLATES — a repo that manages seven site templates, each an independent git repo, with a shared CLAUDE.md and docs/ tracking structure.

When to Use This Skill

• You have a directory containing multiple related projects (each with their own repos)
• You want shared documentation, conventions, and session tracking across all of them
• The subdirectory repos should remain independent — not submodules, just co-located

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Inventory the Directory

List immediate subdirectories and ask the user which ones are member projects to be excluded from the meta-repo:

ls -1d */

If the user hasn't specified, use AskUserQuestion to confirm:

• Which subdirs are member projects (to exclude via .gitignore)
• What the meta-repo is for (used in CLAUDE.md)

Step 2: Initialize the Git Repo

Check if a git repo already exists:

git rev-parse --git-dir 2>/dev/null && echo "exists" || echo "none"

If none: git init

If exists: note it and continue.

Step 3: Create or Update .gitignore

Add a trailing / to each member project name so git ignores the entire directory tree:

# Member project repos (each has its own independent git history)
project-one/
project-two/
project-three/

List each member dir explicitly — do not use */ (that would also catch future utility dirs).

Also add standard ignores:

.DS_Store

If .gitignore already exists, read it first and append only what's missing.

Step 4: Create CLAUDE.md

Create a CLAUDE.md at the repo root using this template (fill in project-specific details):

# [Collection Name]

[One paragraph describing what this collection is and its purpose.]

## Member Projects

- **project-one** — brief description
- **project-two** — brief description
- **project-three** — brief description

## Shared Conventions

[Any conventions that apply across all member projects — naming, tooling, workflows, deployment, etc. Leave blank and add as they emerge.]

## Development Notes

[Any operational notes: how to work with the member repos, common commands, etc.]

If CLAUDE.md already exists, read it before writing — update rather than overwrite.

Step 5: Create the docs/ Tracking Structure

Create docs/chronicles/ and the three tracking files. Use the project-tracking skill's assets as templates.

File order:

1. docs/IMPLEMENTATION.md — Phase 0: Foundation (current setup work)
2. docs/DECISIONS.md — empty, ready for first decision
3. docs/chronicles/ — directory (create with a .gitkeep if empty)
4. docs/CONTEXT.md — current state after setup

See the project-tracking skill for detailed file formats and size guidelines.

CONTEXT.md for a fresh project-repo should reflect:

• Phase 0 / Foundation
• Current Focus: setting up meta-repo structure
• No blockers
• Next Session: start documenting member projects

Step 6: Initial Commit

Stage only meta-repo files (not member project dirs — they're gitignored):

git add .gitignore CLAUDE.md docs/
git status  # verify no member project files are staged
git commit -m "Initialize project-repo structure"

Confirm the commit contains only .gitignore, CLAUDE.md, and docs/.

File Size Guidelines

Same as project-tracking:

File	Target	Maximum
CONTEXT.md	30-50 lines	50 lines
IMPLEMENTATION.md	400-600 lines	600 lines
DECISIONS.md	grows naturally	—
Chronicle entry	15-20 lines	30 lines

What to Tell the User

After setup:

1. Files created and their purpose
2. Which subdirs are excluded via .gitignore
3. Where to start next session: read docs/CONTEXT.md
4. Suggest running project-tracking skill if the project already has history to document

References

• project-tracking skill — creates the same docs/ structure for single-project repos; use it for guidance on filling out IMPLEMENTATION.md phases and DECISIONS.md
• session-pickup / session-wrapup skills — work the same way once the meta-repo is set up
• PROJECT-TRACKING-REFERENCE.md — complete system explanation