harness-init

harness-init

Claude Code plugin that bootstraps an enforced agentic workflow into any project.

Run /harness-init in any project to install a mandatory 8-step workflow that Claude Code actually follows.

Problem

Setting up CLAUDE.md with workflow instructions doesn't guarantee Claude will follow them. Common failures:

• Claude skips reading docs and jumps straight to code
• No code review happens after modifications
• Available skills/plugins are never invoked
• Change history is never recorded
• No skill pre-loading before implementation (wrong patterns used)

Solution

harness-init solves this with a 3-layer enforcement system:

1. Strong CLAUDE.md (auto-loaded every conversation)

• MANDATORY WORKFLOW section with MUST/ALWAYS directives
• Request keyword → skill pre-loading (e.g. "login" → security-review, "React" → react-patterns)
• File extension-based skill routing (.tsx → frontend-design, auth/ → security-reviewer)
• Explicit Skill tool invocation commands (not just text references)
• "Forbidden" statements for skipping steps

2. Project Hooks (.claude/settings.json)

• UserPromptSubmit: Full 8-step workflow reminder at start of each request
• PreToolUse (Edit/Write): "Did you read the docs & call the right skills first?" check
• PostToolUse (Edit/Write): "Run code review + update docs" reminder

3. Structured Feature Docs (docs/features/*.md)

• Frontmatter with status, files, tags, last_modified
• Change history table that must be updated after every modification
• Initial docs created during setup (not empty placeholders)

What Gets Generated

project/
├── CLAUDE.md                          # Mandatory 8-step workflow + skill routing
├── .claude/settings.json              # Project hooks (3 types)
└── docs/
    ├── 00-INDEX.md                    # Request -> document mapping
    ├── code-review-checklist.md       # Review feedback accumulation
    └── features/
        ├── {feature1}.md              # Structured feature doc
        ├── {feature2}.md
        └── ...

The 8-Step Mandatory Workflow

Step	Action	Enforcement
1	Read docs before code	PreToolUse hook reminds on every Edit
2	Analyze request → pre-load skills	Keyword-based skill routing table
3	Plan if 3+ files	CLAUDE.md MUST directive
4	Implement with file-based skills	Extension/directory-based routing
5	Code review after changes	PostToolUse hook + MUST directive
6	Build verification	CLAUDE.md directive
7	Update feature docs	PostToolUse hook + specific format template
8	Commit	User-configured method

Skill Routing

By Request Keyword (STEP 2 — pre-load before coding)

Keywords	Skill	Purpose
UI, page, component, design	frontend-design:frontend-design	UI design guide
React, hooks, state	ccpp:react-patterns	React 19 patterns
API, REST, GraphQL	ccpp:api-design-principles	API design
login, auth, OAuth, JWT	everything-claude-code:security-review	Security checklist
DB, migration, schema	everything-claude-code:database-migrations	DB patterns
Docker, deploy, CI/CD	everything-claude-code:deployment-patterns	Deploy strategy
test, TDD	ccpp:tdd	TDD workflow
Python	everything-claude-code:python-patterns	Python patterns
Go	everything-claude-code:golang-patterns	Go patterns
Rust	everything-claude-code:rust-patterns	Rust patterns

Full mapping table with 40+ entries is in SKILL.md

By File Extension (STEP 4 — during implementation)

Extension	Skill
.tsx, .jsx, .vue, .svelte	frontend-design:frontend-design
.css, .scss	ccpp:tailwind-design-system
.test.*, .spec.*	ccpp:tdd

By Directory (STEP 4 — during implementation)

Directory	Skill
auth/, login/, session/	security-reviewer agent
api/, routes/, controllers/	security-reviewer agent
components/, pages/, ui/	frontend-design:frontend-design

Installation

As a Claude Code Plugin

claude plugin add --source github ohjunho421/harness-init

Manual Installation

Copy skills/harness-init/SKILL.md to ~/.claude/skills/harness-init/SKILL.md

Usage

In any project:

/harness-init

Requirements

For full skill routing, these plugins are recommended:

• ccpp — code review, planning, TDD, build-fix, React patterns
• everything-claude-code — security, DB, deploy, language-specific patterns
• frontend-design — frontend UI development
• context7 — library documentation lookup