# upfront

upfront challenges architectural assumptions through structured questioning before allowing code generation in Claude Code.

- plugin · `type=plugin` · Claude Code · ★ 6
- Author: ThinkUpfront
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/ThinkUpfront/Upfront
- Updated: 2026-04-05
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/plugins/upfront

## What it does

The plugin structures development into sequential steps: thinking through pain points, formalizing specifications, planning architecture, and phased execution. The assistant avoids writing code right away. It interrogates the plan, challenges vague answers, and records accepted tradeoffs.

All context is stored in `specs/ARCHITECTURE.md` and `specs/DECISIONS.md`. When an architecture document sits untouched for over 30 days while commits land, the tool spots the drift. It refuses to proceed until discrepancies between the document and actual code are resolved.

Implementation work gets divided into phases around 400 lines of code. For every phase, upfront initializes an isolated sub-agent with a clean context, enforcing a test-driven workflow before code merges. The tool operates without build pipelines or third-party cloud services.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Plugin marketplace**
In the agent chat (not a shell):
```text
/plugin marketplace add anthropics/claude-plugins-community
```
In the agent chat (not a shell):
```text
/plugin install upfront@claude-community
```

## When to use it
- Challenge assumptions and design tradeoffs before writing code
- Keep track of design decisions in `specs/DECISIONS.md`
- Split large features into verified phases of roughly 400 lines
- Spot stale architecture notes when git commits drift ahead

## Example prompts
- Run `/explore` to map out dependencies and build `specs/ARCHITECTURE.md`
- Use `/feature` to question requirements and draft a behavioral spec
- Execute `/plan` to split the approved spec into isolated build stages

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md