project-first-look

Generates a provisional ORIENTATION.md from a deterministic scan of project manifests.

1|Updated Jun 2, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/envoydev/claude-stack --skill project-first-look-envoydev
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: project-first-look
Source: https://github.com/envoydev/claude-stack/tree/main/stack/skills/project-first-look
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/envoydev/claude-stack --skill project-first-look-envoydev

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? A project with no architecture documentation starts every session blind - no map of the stack, modules, or build/test/run commands. This Skill produces a provisional ORIENTATION.md from one deterministic scan of the project's manifests, so sessions begin with a basic map until a real architecture capture replaces it. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Manifest-Based Scan: Reads *.csproj and solution files, package.json with angular.json, and extension manifest.json to derive stack, modules, and commands. - Provisional by Design: The output is marked 'provisional - replaced by the architecture capture', reported as stale by docs.js, and overwritten when the real architecture capture runs. - Guardrails: Refuses to run over an existing architecture capture, reports unrecognized manifests, and never hand-writes rows - the scan script is the single source. - Use Case: You clone an unfamiliar .NET/Angular repository with no docs. Run this Skill to get ORIENTATION.md with the stack, module count, and build/test/run commands in one pass. ## Quick Start Ask the assistant to give you a first look or quick orientation of this project that has no architecture docs yet.

Frequently Asked Questions about project-first-look

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I generate a quick orientation doc for a project with no architecture documentation?▼

Run the project-first-look skill, which executes the scan-evidence.js script against the project's manifests and writes a provisional ORIENTATION.md with the stack, modules, and build/test/run commands. The file is later replaced by the full architecture capture.

What project types does the manifest scan support?▼

The scan recognizes .NET projects via *.csproj and solution files, Angular/TypeScript projects via package.json with angular.json, and browser or editor extensions via manifest.json. If no manifest is recognized, nothing is written and the skill reports it.

Can I run the orientation scan over an existing ARCHITECTURE.md?▼

No. If the architecture capture already ran, the scan exits with 'is not provisional' or 'ARCHITECTURE.md exists' and writes nothing. Refreshing a real architecture map is the capture's job, not this skill's.

Why does the scan report 'scan: absent' and stop?▼

The scan-evidence.js script ships in the claude-stack plugin cache, and the skill resolves the newest cached version. A copy-only install or a harness without that cache has no script, so the skill reports the absence rather than hand-writing the orientation rows.

What are the limitations of the provisional ORIENTATION.md?▼

The file is provisional by construction: it is marked as replaced by the architecture capture, reported as stale by docs.js status and stale, and pushed with a stale warning. Rows the scan cannot derive come back as 'none declared' and are never hand-edited.