# dotfile-from-spec

Turn a project spec or plan into a validated Graphviz pipeline for autonomous builds. The skill is useful when you want development phases and dependencies captured as a graph.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · ★ 336
- Author: harperreed
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/harperreed/dotfiles/tree/HEAD/.claude/skills-archive/dot-file-from-spec/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-15
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/dotfile-from-spec

## What it does

The skill reads a spec or design document, identifies build phases and dependencies, and determines the project’s tech stack. It asks where people should approve work and which models to use, then writes a DOT graph with instructions for each node. The file goes in the project root.

The graph can include parallel branches and joins, conditional routes, retry paths, and human approval gates. The skill also checks the graph against the spec and runs `dotfile validate <file>.dot`. Each node runs in isolation, so its prompt needs to carry its own context.

For Claude Code, installation adds the skill at `~/.claude/skills/dot-file-from-spec/SKILL.md`. The included guidance calls for tests before implementation, running a linter and formatter, and commits in conventional commit format.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add harperreed/dotfiles --skill dot-file-from-spec -a claude-code
```

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

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add harperreed/dotfiles --skill dot-file-from-spec -a codex
```

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

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add harperreed/dotfiles --skill dot-file-from-spec -a cursor
```

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

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install harperreed/dotfiles dot-file-from-spec
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/dot-file-from-spec/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add harperreed/dotfiles --skill dot-file-from-spec -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/harperreed/dotfiles --path .claude/skills-archive/dot-file-from-spec
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

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

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add harperreed/dotfiles --skill dot-file-from-spec -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/harperreed/dotfiles/tree/HEAD/.claude/skills-archive/dot-file-from-spec/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- turn a project spec into a build pipeline graph
- map dependencies between tasks in a DOT file
- mark points that need human approval
- validate a pipeline DOT file before use

## Example prompts
- Create a DOT build pipeline from this spec and save it in the project root.
- Break this plan into phases, map task dependencies, and mark where I should approve the work.
- Validate the graph with `dotfile validate pipeline.dot` and fix any errors.

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From the same set: [harperreed/dotfiles](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/harperreed/dotfiles.md) — 26 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