Setting up a project — dispatcher

SkillDev tools

Use whenever asked to set up, onboard, initialize, or spec a project — the front door when the workspace has no spec graph yet (brand-new or an existing codebase); also seeded by the app's Set-up-project card (/skill:setting-up-a-project). Not for feature work in an already-specced project — use the brainstorming skill.

Available today. Use it from your connected AI after setup.

Connect ahel once, and every AI you use reads what you have installed.

Then ask your AI: use the Setting up a project — dispatcher skill

What this skill tells your AI

The instructions your AI receives, as published by jetbrains/thinkrail in packages/pi-thinkrail-workflow/skills/setting-up-a-project/SKILL.md and read by ahel’s review.

The single entry point for turning a project into a spec graph. Figure out which situation you're in, then follow the matching skill — don't improvise the flow yourself.

1. Detect

Look at the workspace and use the spec tools (spec_grep / spec_graph):

  • Is there already a spec graph (a goal-and-requirements.md or any SPEC.md)?
  • Is there real source code, or is the repo empty / near-empty (just a README or scaffolding)?

2. Route

SituationFollow
Already has specsDon't redo it. Briefly offer to review/extend the graph (fill obvious gaps — a missing architecture.md, un-specced modules) or point at the brainstorming skill for feature work. Declined → stop. Accepted → Graph extension below.
No specs · empty / near-empty repoThe starting-a-new-project skill — interview the user to turn the idea into goal-and-requirements.md.
No specs · real source codeThe importing-a-codebase skill — analyze the code + agent files and draft the first spec graph, asking only for intent the code can't reveal.

Read and follow that skill's steps.

Graph extension (no dedicated skill)

No skill covers extending an existing graph. If the offer is accepted: say so in one line, then align and adapt to the user's request with your own judgment, holding the writing-specs bar.

Handoff

Ends by naming exactly one of: starting-a-new-project, importing-a-codebase, or — when specs already exist — the review/extend offer above (declined → stop; accepted → graph extension: a one-line note that no skill covers it, then judgment against the writing-specs bar).

Signals

GitHub stars
459
Forks
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Last commit
Sep 2026
Advanced
Catalog kind
skill
Gateway key
setting-up-a-project
Source
github.com/jetbrains/thinkrail