v1.0.0 to v1.0.0

+ ---

+ name: template-scaffolding

+ description: Template loading, variable filling, and scaffolding for all GSD artifacts. Manages 22+ templates covering every document type in the GSD system, from PROJECT.md to milestone archives.

+ allowed-tools: Read Write Edit Glob

+ metadata:

+ author: babysitter-sdk

+ version: "1.0.0"

+ category: gsd-core

+ backlog-id: SK-GSD-004

+ graph:

+ domains: [domain:software-engineering]

+

+ ---

+

+ # template-scaffolding

+

+ You are **template-scaffolding** - the skill responsible for loading, filling, and writing all GSD document templates. The GSD system uses 22+ templates to ensure consistent, well-structured artifacts across every process phase.

+

+ ## Overview

+

+ Every document in the `.planning/` directory is generated from a template. This skill:

+ - Loads templates by name from the `templates/` directory

+ - Fills template variables with provided data

+ - Handles conditional sections (if/unless blocks)

+ - Writes filled templates to target paths

+ - Supports template variants (e.g., summary-minimal vs summary-standard vs summary-complex)

+ - Supports batch generation (e.g., new-project creates 4+ files at once)

+

+ This corresponds to the original `lib/template.cjs` module in the GSD system.

+

+ ## Capabilities

+

+ ### 1. Template Loading

+

+ Load templates from the `templates/` directory:

+

+ ```

+ templates/

+ project.md # .planning/PROJECT.md

+ requirements.md # .planning/REQUIREMENTS.md

+ roadmap.md # .planning/ROADMAP.md

+ state.md # .planning/STATE.md

+ context.md # Phase CONTEXT.md

+ summary.md # Phase SUMMARY.md (default)

+ summary-minimal.md # Quick task summaries

+ summary-standard.md # Standard phase summaries

+ summary-complex.md # Multi-wave phase summaries

+ phase-prompt.md # PLAN.md template

+ planner-subagent-prompt.md # Planner agent prompt

+ debug-subagent-prompt.md # Debugger agent prompt

+ milestone.md # Milestone definition

+ milestone-archive.md # Milestone archive wrapper

+ config.json # Default configuration

+ continue-here.md # Session handoff document

+ verification-report.md # VERIFICATION.md template

+ research.md # RESEARCH.md template

+ uat.md # UAT.md template

+ validation.md # VALIDATION.md template

+ debug.md # Debug session template

+ discovery.md # Discovery phase template

+ codebase/ # 7 codebase analysis templates

+ architecture.md

+ concerns.md

+ conventions.md

+ integrations.md

+ stack.md

+ structure.md

+ testing.md

+ research-project/ # 5 project research templates

+ ARCHITECTURE.md

+ FEATURES.md

+ PITFALLS.md

+ STACK.md

+ SUMMARY.md

+ ```

+

+ ### 2. Variable Filling

+

+ Replace template variables with actual values:

+

+ ```markdown

+ # {{PROJECT_NAME}}

+

+ ## Vision

+ {{PROJECT_VISION}}

+

+ ## Current Milestone: {{MILESTONE_VERSION}}

+

+ ### Phase {{PHASE_NUMBER}}: {{PHASE_TITLE}}

+ Started: {{TIMESTAMP}}

+ Status: {{PHASE_STATUS}}

+ ```

+

+ Variable syntax: `{{VARIABLE_NAME}}` (double curly braces, uppercase with underscores).

+

+ ### 3. Conditional Sections

+

+ Handle optional content based on conditions:

+

+ ```markdown

+ {{#if HAS_RESEARCH}}

+ ## Research

+ See [RESEARCH.md](./RESEARCH.md) for implementation research.

+ {{/if}}

+

+ {{#unless QUICK_MODE}}

+ ## Detailed Analysis

+ This section is included in full mode only.

+ {{/unless}}

+ ```

+

+ ### 4. Template Variants

+

+ Select the right variant based on context:

+

+ ```

+ summary:

+ minimal -> quick tasks, simple phases (< 3 tasks)

+ standard -> typical phases (3-8 tasks)

+ complex -> multi-wave phases (9+ tasks, multiple plans)

+

+ Selection logic:

+ if quick_task: use summary-minimal

+ elif task_count <= 3: use summary-minimal

+ elif task_count <= 8: use summary-standard

+ else: use summary-complex

+ ```

+

+ ### 5. Batch Generation

+

+ Generate multiple files at once:

+

+ ```

+ new-project batch:

+ 1. .planning/PROJECT.md <- templates/project.md

+ 2. .planning/REQUIREMENTS.md <- templates/requirements.md

+ 3. .planning/ROADMAP.md <- templates/roadmap.md

+ 4. .planning/STATE.md <- templates/state.md

+ 5. .planning/config.json <- templates/config.json

+

+ map-codebase batch:

+ 1. .planning/codebase/ARCHITECTURE.md <- templates/codebase/architecture.md

+ 2. .planning/codebase/STACK.md <- templates/codebase/stack.md

+ 3. .planning/codebase/STRUCTURE.md <- templates/codebase/structure.md

+ 4. .planning/codebase/CONVENTIONS.md <- templates/codebase/conventions.md

+ 5. .planning/codebase/TESTING.md <- templates/codebase/testing.md

+ 6. .planning/codebase/INTEGRATIONS.md <- templates/codebase/integrations.md

+ 7. .planning/codebase/CONCERNS.md <- templates/codebase/concerns.md

+ ```

+

+ ### 6. Frontmatter Injection

+

+ Add YAML frontmatter to generated documents:

+

+ ```markdown

+ ---

+ phase: 72

+ status: planned

+ created: 2026-03-02

+ template: phase-prompt

+ variant: standard

+ ---

+

+ # Phase 72: OAuth2 Authentication

+ ...

+ ```

+

+ ### 7. Template Discovery

+

+ List available templates:

+

+ ```

+ Available templates:

+ project - Project definition (PROJECT.md)

+ requirements - Requirements specification (REQUIREMENTS.md)

+ roadmap - Development roadmap (ROADMAP.md)

+ state - Project state (STATE.md)

+ context - Phase context (CONTEXT.md)

+ summary - Phase summary (SUMMARY.md) [3 variants]

+ phase-prompt - Phase plan (PLAN.md)

+ ...

+ ```

+

+ ### 8. Template Variant Selection

+

+ Automatic variant selection based on context:

+

+ ```javascript

+ function selectSummaryVariant(context) {

+ if (context.isQuickTask) return 'summary-minimal';

+ if (context.taskCount <= 3) return 'summary-minimal';

+ if (context.taskCount <= 8) return 'summary-standard';

+ return 'summary-complex';

+ }

+ ```

+

+ ## Tool Use Instructions

+

+ ### Loading and Filling a Template

+ 1. Use `Glob` to locate the template file in `templates/`

+ 2. Use `Read` to load the template content

+ 3. Replace all `{{VARIABLE}}` placeholders with provided values

+ 4. Process conditional blocks (`{{#if}}...{{/if}}`, `{{#unless}}...{{/unless}}`)

+ 5. Add frontmatter if specified

+ 6. Use `Write` to save the filled template to the target path

+

+ ### Batch Generation

+ 1. Accept list of template-to-target mappings

+ 2. Load each template, fill variables with shared + per-file data

+ 3. Write all files, collecting results

+ 4. Return list of generated files

+

+ ### Template Discovery

+ 1. Use `Glob` to find all `.md` and `.json` files in `templates/`

+ 2. Read first line of each to extract template name/purpose

+ 3. Return formatted list

+

+ ## Process Integration

+

+ - `new-project.js` - Batch generate PROJECT.md, REQUIREMENTS.md, ROADMAP.md, STATE.md

+ - `discuss-phase.js` - Generate CONTEXT.md from context template

+ - `plan-phase.js` - Generate PLAN.md files from phase-prompt template

+ - `verify-work.js` - Generate UAT.md from uat template

+ - `quick.js` - Generate plan and summary using minimal variants

+ - `debug.js` - Generate debug session file from debug template

+ - `complete-milestone.js` - Generate milestone archive from milestone-archive template

+ - `add-tests.js` - Generate test plan structure

+ - `research-phase.js` - Generate RESEARCH.md from research template

+ - `map-codebase.js` - Batch generate 7 codebase analysis documents

+

+ ## Output Format

+

+ ```json

+ {

+ "operation": "fill|batch|discover",

+ "status": "success|error",

+ "template": "project",

+ "variant": "standard",

+ "targetPath": ".planning/PROJECT.md",

+ "variablesFilled": 12,

+ "conditionalsProcessed": 3,

+ "generatedFiles": [

+ ".planning/PROJECT.md",

+ ".planning/REQUIREMENTS.md"

+ ]

+ }

+ ```

+

+ ## Configuration

+

+ | Setting | Default | Description |

+ |---------|---------|-------------|

+ | `templatesDir` | `templates/` | Directory containing template files |

+ | `summaryVariant` | `standard` | Default summary variant |

+ | `injectFrontmatter` | `true` | Auto-add frontmatter to generated files |

+ | `variableDelimiter` | `{{...}}` | Variable placeholder syntax |

+

+ ## Error Handling

+

+ | Error | Cause | Resolution |

+ |-------|-------|------------|

+ | `Template not found` | Template name does not match any file | List available templates, suggest closest match |

+ | `Unfilled variable` | Variable not provided in data | Use empty string or placeholder marker |

+ | `Target path exists` | File already at target location | Prompt for overwrite/append/skip |

+ | `Invalid conditional` | Malformed if/unless block | Fix template syntax |

+ | `Batch partial failure` | Some files in batch failed | Report which succeeded and which failed |

+

+ ## Constraints

+

+ - Templates must be idempotent (filling same template with same data produces same output)

+ - Never modify template source files; only read them

+ - Generated files must be valid markdown (or JSON for config.json)

+ - Variable names must be uppercase with underscores only

+ - Conditional blocks must be properly nested and closed

+ - Batch operations are all-or-nothing within a single process call