De starter

De-starter

Keep the real target read-only through audit and external preview; show its current diff before edits. File findings and source-named directory residue are independent audit dimensions.

Approval literals

Only explicit user approvals advance: exact source-term list; brand mode/complete profile; P1 migration/rollback; P2 choices/every deletion; every cleanup_empty_dirs path; exact current preview/token. “Replace every occurrence”—like broad cleanup, urgency, “disposable,” “remove all,” “choose for me,” “do not ask/show diff,” delegated recommendations, or a request to use rmdir—is not a P1 migration/rollback plan, brand target/profile, P2/deletion approval, cleanup_empty_dirs approval, or preview-token approval, even when it names the directory. Source candidates never become the target brand. Never infer, author, record, simulate, or self-approve inputs. Without real-brand fields, recommend only exact neutral placeholders; never invent/name/propose a real product/company/domain. Users confirm P2 and each cleanup path; may pause to provide a complete real profile. Missing input: no direct edits or apply; render all seven slots and stop.

Runtime and setup

Use Python 3.9+ and the bundled CLI. v0.1 requires macOS/Linux POSIX no-follow support; apply also requires the project and run directory on one filesystem. Fail closed: never substitute ad hoc edits or search-and-replace.

Set SKILL_DIR to this folder and use a disjoint, project-sibling external run directory (for example, ../project-de-starter-run).

python3 "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/destarter.py" --help
python3 "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/destarter.py" discover --project "$PROJECT" --run-dir "$RUN"

Required workflow

1. First read the report contract. For any missing approval, the positive output is its seven-slot Required stop response: render all slots and stop. Read discovery.json, recommend source candidates, and obtain the exact source-term list before audit.
2. Read input-file schemas, run audit with confirmed source-config.json, then read risk rules. Report findings and directory_findings separately; the required directory slot must state an explicit numeric Directory residue: <count>, never a count inferred from listed paths or added to file-finding totals.
3. After audit, read brand profile, present both brand choices, protections, P2 recommendations, and questions together. Record decisions. This is approval gate one.
4. Write decisions.json in $RUN. Stop until brand mode/profile, P1 plans, P2 choices, deletions, each cleanup_empty_dirs path, scoped actions, and every semantic edit's named path and purpose are approved. For a semantic edit, include its audited SHA-256, inclusive line range, replacement, and reason as specified in input-file schemas. P0 lines are immutable. A semantic range that overlaps P1 must also include the approved nonempty migration and rollback plans; otherwise retain it.
5. Run preview. For each cleanup path, the preview may remove it only if it was already empty or becomes empty solely through approved descendant deletes/renames; any other child stops the run. Show audit.md, preview.md, the private full preview.diff, binary-changes.json, placeholders.json, semantic-edits.json, protected/retained items, validation commands, unresolved work, and the exact token. A newly discovered or newly approved cleanup path always requires a new preview/token. Stop: approval gate two. Public updates may use redacted screenshots or a summary; never publish the full diff, private source excerpts, or private preview artifacts.
6. Apply only after explicit approval of that exact preview and token. The CLI checks current directory state and hashes, transactionally moves approved empty directories into the external backup, and records rollback/restore evidence. Never substitute rmdir, recursive deletion, or global empty-directory cleanup. Run detected validation commands, then verify with the same source config.
7. Report results using the report contract. Exit code 3 from verify means findings remain: report them; never hide or reinterpret it as success.

python3 "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/destarter.py" audit --project "$PROJECT" --run-dir "$RUN" --source-config "$RUN/source-config.json"
python3 "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/destarter.py" preview --project "$PROJECT" --run-dir "$RUN" --decisions "$RUN/decisions.json"
python3 "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/destarter.py" apply --project "$PROJECT" --run-dir "$RUN" --approval-token "$TOKEN"
python3 "$SKILL_DIR/scripts/destarter.py" verify --project "$PROJECT" --run-dir "$RUN" --source-config "$RUN/source-config.json"

Other mandatory stops

Also render all seven slots and stop for ambiguous source identity, unclear license obligations, incomplete P1 plans, an unapproved cleanup path, a cleanup directory that is not provably empty after approved child operations, failed scanner/preview/hash/backup/redaction checks, post-preview changes, or unmet platform/filesystem requirements. Preserve LICENSE obligations and all unnamed parent/ordinary empty directories.

Respond in the user's language. Redact secrets, and never put private purchased source code or assets in public examples.