Bootstrap
End-to-end project orchestrator: research → design → plan → scaffold → implement → docs.
CLI boundary: the installer = project infrastructure. mk:bootstrap = application code + full pipeline. Zero overlap. Never touch .claude/.
When to Use
Explicit only — never auto-activate.
mk:bootstrap [requirements]
mk:bootstrap [requirements] --full
mk:bootstrap [requirements] --fast
mk:bootstrap [requirements] --parallel
Do NOT invoke when: project already has source code, or you only need kit setup (use CLI).
Modes
| Mode | Flag | Gates | Research | Design | Plan flag | Cook flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto | (default) | Design only | Parallel researchers | UI/UX if frontend | --auto | --auto |
| Full | --full | Every step | Parallel researchers | UI/UX if frontend | --hard | (interactive) |
| Fast | --fast | None | 6 parallel batch | Skip | --fast | --auto |
| Parallel | --parallel | Design only | Parallel researchers | UI/UX if frontend | --parallel | --parallel |
Routing
Parse first flag from arguments:
--full→ loadreferences/workflow-full.md--fast→ loadreferences/workflow-fast.md--parallel→ loadreferences/workflow-parallel.md- default → load
references/workflow-auto.md
Each workflow file defines the exact steps for that mode. After plan + scaffold, all modes load references/shared-phases.md for implementation → docs → final report.
Planning BEFORE Scaffolding
Plan first, scaffold second. The plan tells us WHAT to scaffold.
- Plan — invoke mk:plan-creator with mode-matched flag. Plan defines: architecture, modules, file structure, acceptance criteria.
- Scaffold — generate files following the plan's architecture +
references/scaffolding-principles.md. Detect stack viascripts/detect-stack.sh. Validate withscripts/validate-bootstrap.sh.
Optional: invoke mk:plan-ceo-review on the plan (Full mode).
Planning is NOT optional. Every bootstrap creates a plan before generating any source files.
Gotchas (top 3)
- Scaffolding before planning: generating files without a plan → plan first, scaffold second
- Skipping research on "simple" projects: hidden complexity → always research unless
--fast - Duplicating CLI init: never generate .claude/ files — CLI handles that
Full list: references/gotchas.md
Workflow Integration
Pre-workflow. Bootstrap IS the full workflow for new projects:
mk:bootstrap → [research → design → plan → scaffold → cook → docs] → done
For subsequent features on the same project: use mk:plan-creator → mk:cook directly.