# cost-estimate

This skill prices a repository, branch diff, or commit from code and Git evidence. Use it when an estimate needs scope, assumptions, and confidence.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 300 installs · ★ 5
- Author: ulpi-io
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/ulpi-io/skills/tree/HEAD/cost-estimate/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-08-31
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/cost-estimate

## What it does

The skill resolves the target as a full repository, `branch:<name>`, or `commit:<hash>`, then measures the selected code surface with its helper scripts. It counts lines, files, languages, directories, and source categories, while Git history can provide session data. Source lines are assigned to productivity buckets before the calculator runs.

The report keeps raw engineering time separate from overhead and team multipliers. It can show calendar scenarios, engineering-only cost, full-team cost, effective lines per hour, and Claude ROI. Assumptions and confidence stay visible instead of being folded into one headline number. When Git history is unavailable, Claude ROI falls back to a LOC-based estimate.

The workflow runs as a forked analysis with its own reasoning budget. It uses `Bash`, `Read`, `Glob`, and `Grep`, plus the `.py` helpers under `.agents/skills/cost-estimate/helpers/`. This skill prices the work of building code; it does not budget hosted infrastructure, SaaS plans, or a project execution DAG.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add ulpi-io/skills --skill cost-estimate -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/cost-estimate/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/cost-estimate/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add ulpi-io/skills --skill cost-estimate -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/cost-estimate/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add ulpi-io/skills --skill cost-estimate -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/cost-estimate/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install ulpi-io/skills cost-estimate
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/cost-estimate/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add ulpi-io/skills --skill cost-estimate -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/ulpi-io/skills --path cost-estimate
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/cost-estimate/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add ulpi-io/skills --skill cost-estimate -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/ulpi-io/skills/tree/HEAD/cost-estimate/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- price an entire repository
- estimate effort for a branch diff
- measure the cost of one commit
- separate engineering time from team overhead
- calculate Claude ROI

## Example prompts
- Estimate the current repository cost and list the assumptions.
- Estimate `branch:feat/foo` with a breakdown by productivity category.
- Price `commit:abc1234` and include calendar time and Claude ROI.

## Similar
- [cost-model](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/cost-model.md) — skill · ★ 107
- [understand-quickly](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/understand-quickly.md) — MCP server · ★ 48
- [fixmap](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/fixmap.md) — MCP server · ★ 21
- [instagit](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/instagit.md) — MCP server · ★ 20
- [estimate-analysis](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/estimate-analysis.md) — skill · 3200 installs
- [perf-theory-gatherer](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/perf-theory-gatherer.md) — skill · 1600 installs

From the same set: [ulpi-io/skills](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/ulpi-io/skills.md) — 3 cards

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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