DatoCMS Setup

Public setup entrypoint. Keep surface small, inspect repo first, load only needed internal recipe files.

Workflow

1. Inspect repo silently before asking, follow references/repo-conventions.md + patterns/MANDATORY_RULES.md.
2. Greenfield gate — if no package.json and no datocms.config.json, ask link-vs-create per patterns/MANDATORY_RULES.md § Project link or create before any recipe selection. On "create" → wait for confirmation, queue datocms-content-modeling before any frontend recipe. Frontend-framework targets — surface official DatoCMS tech starter before scaffolding (see Tech Starters). User picks starter → guide clone + env vars only, skip all recipe scaffolding.
3. Read references/router.md.
4. Read references/recipe-manifest.json, pick smallest recipe/bundle for request.
5. Use targeted mode for clear setup outcomes. Discovery mode only for broad/ambiguous:

- Stage A: pick setup lane. - Stage B: ask smallest setup-specific follow-up only when repo inspection leaves high-impact decision unresolved.

1. Queue prerequisites from manifest before dependents. Never tell user to invoke separate setup skill.

- visual-editing: always apply draft-mode + content-link. - Add web-previews unless user wants website-only click-to-edit. - Add realtime only if user asks or confirms in Stage B. - Project baseline (TypeScript projects): queue cma-types alongside cli-bootstrap for any greenfield or first-time DatoCMS+TS setup. Default for a fully typed CMA experience; not opt-in.

1. Load only selected recipes/<group>/<recipe>/recipe.md, shared setup references, sibling-skill references.
2. Create todo list — one task per queued recipe + prerequisite, plus discrete sub-steps within each recipe (file edits, installs, env vars, verification). Mark complete as you go, never batch. Setup bundles always have many steps; todos keep progress visible and recoverable.
3. Schema/modeling intent (add models, edit fields, design taxonomy) → datocms-content-modeling. Don't improvise schema here.
4. Patch existing code in-place by default.
5. End with patterns/OUTPUT_STATUS.md: report scaffolded vs production-ready, summarize recipes, list unresolved placeholders.

Tech Starters

Official DatoCMS tech starters ship with draft mode, Web Previews, Content Link, real-time updates, typed GraphQL queries. Always offer one for greenfield frontend — scaffolding from scratch is redundant, inferior.

| Framework | GitHub | Marketplace | | - | - | - | | Next.js | <https://github.com/datocms/nextjs-starter-kit>; | <https://www.datocms.com/marketplace/starters/next-js-starter-kit>; | | Nuxt | <https://github.com/datocms/nuxt-starter-kit>; | <https://www.datocms.com/marketplace/starters/nuxt-starter-kit>; | | SvelteKit | <https://github.com/datocms/sveltekit-starter-kit>; | <https://www.datocms.com/marketplace/starters/sveltekit-starter-kit>; | | Astro | <https://github.com/datocms/astro-starter-kit>; | <https://www.datocms.com/marketplace/starters/astro-starter-kit>; |

Flow:

1. Identify framework from user request or Stage A question.
2. Surface starter: "This directory is empty. The official DatoCMS \[Framework] starter already includes draft mode, Web Previews, Content Link, and real-time updates. Do you want to start from it, or scaffold from scratch?"
3. User picks starter → guide git clone <repo>, fill env vars, stop — skip all recipe scaffolding.
4. User declines → continue from Workflow step 3.

Rules

• Don't load every recipe upfront.
• Don't use external setup bundles. Prefer sibling DatoCMS skill references over copies.
• Treat draft-mode, web-previews, visual-editing, migration-release-workflow as internal labels.
• Apply shared foundation once if outcomes overlap.
• Broad setup: ask compact Stage A, execute minimal bundle.
• Stage B only for unresolved high-impact decisions repo can't answer.
• Migration-heavy: ask smallest extra follow-up to separate baseline, profiles, histories, helpers, resets, diffs.
• Report scaffolded when recipe depends on placeholders/provider choices/routes/ownership repo couldn't resolve.
• Report production-ready only when no unresolved customer-specific values remain.
• End by summarizing used recipes and available follow-up ids inside datocms-setup.