Adopt a typed .spec.ts for an existing hand-written CLAUDE.md — start from the file you already have, non-destructively
Scanned 9/3/2026
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npx -y skills add zernie/vigiles --skill adopt-spec --agent claude-codeInstalls into .claude/skills of the current project.
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---
name: adopt-spec
description: Adopt a typed .spec.ts for an existing hand-written CLAUDE.md — start from the file you already have, non-destructively
disable-model-invocation: true
argument-hint: <path to CLAUDE.md, defaults to CLAUDE.md>
---
Start a typed `CLAUDE.md.spec.ts` from an existing hand-written CLAUDE.md (or AGENTS.md). This is the non-destructive adoption path — you keep your existing instruction file as the starting point and get type safety going forward.
## Adoption rules
Adoption is the **safe, faithful on-ramp — never an upgrade in disguise.** These are non-negotiable:
- **Faithful.** Preserve every rule, command, key file, and prose section as-is. Invent nothing — the spec must compile back to ~the user's existing file.
- **Non-destructive.** Never edit the original `CLAUDE.md` / `AGENTS.md`. Only write the new `.spec.ts`. Never auto-`compile` over the file — switching it to spec-managed is a separate, explicit step the user runs with a diff to review.
- **Don't escalate enforcement.** Keep `guidance()` as `guidance()`. Upgrading to `enforce()` has a cost (config/plugins, possible false positives) and is a separate opt-in step — the `strengthen` skill. Adoption is **not** turning on strict / `workflow` gating.
- **Reversible.** `vigiles eject <file>` hands the file back as plain hand-owned markdown anytime — it's never a one-way door. Tell the user this.
- **Ask before writing.** Present the generated spec and a conversion summary first; write only on the user's yes.
- **A lighter touch exists.** For no spec at all, inline `<!-- vigiles:enforce ... -->` comments are verified by `vigiles lint` with the same engine.
## Instructions
### Step 1: Read the Existing File
Read the target instruction file (default: `CLAUDE.md` in the repo root). If the user specified a path, use that.
Also check if vigiles is installed: look for `vigiles` in `package.json` devDependencies. If not, suggest:
```bash
npm install -D vigiles
```
### Step 2: Parse the Structure
Identify these sections in the markdown:
- **Commands** — lines like `` `npm run build` — description `` or ``- `command` — description``
- **Key files** — lines like `` `src/foo.ts` — description `` listing important files
- **Rules** — `###` headings with `**Enforced by:**` or `**Guidance only**` annotations
- **Prose sections** — everything else (positioning, architecture, principles, etc.)
For each rule, classify it:
- Has `**Enforced by:** \`linter/rule\``→`enforce("linter/rule", "why")`
- Has `**Enforced by:** \`code-review\``or similar non-linter →`guidance("...")`
- Has `**Guidance only**` → `guidance("...")`
- Has no annotation → mark as TODO for the user to classify
### Step 3: Generate the Spec File
Create `CLAUDE.md.spec.ts` (or the appropriate name based on the source file) with this structure:
```typescript
import {
claude,
enforce,
guidance,
file,
cmd,
ref,
instructions,
} from "vigiles/spec";
export default claude({
sections: {
// Prose sections here
},
keyFiles: {
// Key files here
},
commands: {
// Commands here
},
rules: {
// Rules here
},
});
```
**Important guidelines:**
- Use `file()` refs in sections where file paths appear in backticks — this enables stale reference detection
- Use `cmd()` refs for any `npm run` commands mentioned in sections
- Convert `**Enforced by:** \`code-review\``rules to`guidance()` — code review is not a mechanical enforcement
- For rules with no annotation, add a `// TODO: classify as enforce() or guidance()` comment
- Keep rule IDs as kebab-case versions of the heading text
- Preserve the `**Why:**` text as the second argument to `enforce()` or `guidance()`
- If sections reference other files or skills, use `ref()` for cross-references
### Step 4: Verify the Spec Compiles
Run:
```bash
npm run build
npx vigiles compile CLAUDE.md.spec.ts
```
Compare the compiled output against the original file. Key differences are expected (formatting, section ordering), but all rules, commands, key files, and prose content should be preserved.
### Step 5: Present the Result
Show the user:
1. The generated spec file
2. How many rules were converted (enforce vs guidance vs TODO)
3. How many file/cmd refs were added for stale reference detection
4. The command to compile: `npx vigiles compile`
5. The command to verify: `npx vigiles lint`
Ask if they want you to write the file. If yes, also suggest adding to `.gitignore` or updating CI to run `vigiles compile` and `vigiles lint`.
### Step 6: Optional — Set Up CI
If the user wants CI integration, suggest adding to their GitHub Actions workflow:
```yaml
- name: Compile specs
run: npx vigiles compile
- name: Verify references + integrity
run: npx vigiles lint
```
Or using the vigiles GitHub Action:
```yaml
- uses: zernie/vigiles@v1
with:
command: lint
```
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