
create-architecture
Author the architecture blueprint before code is written. Validates decisions against the pinned engine, flags knowledge gaps.
- Installs
- 451
- Last 24h
- +22
- Trending rank
- #5328
- Security
- Not audited
Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/donchitos/claude-code-game-studios --skill create-architecture- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads create-architecture automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
!bash "${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/../../hooks/yaml-helper.sh" resolve_config --keys review_mode,automation,workflow,docs.density
Resolved above — use as-is; --review overrides review_mode. No block →
defaults in .claude/docs/config-resolution.md.
Create Architecture
This skill produces docs/architecture/architecture.md — the master architecture
document that translates all approved GDDs into a concrete technical blueprint.
It sits between design and implementation, and must exist before sprint planning begins.
Distinct from /architecture-decision: ADRs record individual point decisions.
This skill creates the whole-system blueprint that gives ADRs their context.
See .claude/docs/director-gates.md for the full check pattern. Individual gate definitions live in .claude/docs/director-gates/[gate-id].md — the spawned agent reads its own gate file; do not read it in the parent session.
Every AskUserQuestion call follows .claude/docs/automation-modes.md
(collaborative asks always · guided major-only · autonomous logs and proceeds;
automation_always_ask categories always prompt).
docs.density — it controls per-section depth, where workflow
controls which sections exist. modes.rigor sets both together; set
docs.density explicitly to vary depth alone: terse (the default, via rigor: minimal) = layer diagrams + decision bullets,
no essays; balanced = diagrams + paragraph explanations of layer choices
(rigor: standard); thorough = full prose with rationale, trade-offs, and alternatives
considered per layer. Apply it to every section you author.
workflow (see .claude/docs/workflow-modes.md):
full— full architecture: all layers, module ownership, data flow, API boundaries, full ADR audit.standard— simplified: system layer map + critical ADR list only.minimal— not required. Can still be run voluntarily.
Argument modes:
- No argument /
full: Full guided walkthrough — all sections, start to finish layers: Focus on the system layer diagram onlydata-flow: Focus on data flow between modules onlyapi-boundaries: Focus on API boundary definitions onlyadr-audit: Audit existing ADRs for engine compatibility gaps only
Phase 0: Load All Context
Read references/0-load-context.md now and follow it — this phase's steps are in that file, not here. Read it again if the conversation was compacted or resumed during this phase.
Phase 1: System Layer Mapping
Read references/1-layers.md now and follow it — this phase's steps are in that file, not here. Read it again if the conversation was compacted or resumed during this phase.
Phase 2: Module Ownership Map
Read references/2-module-ownership.md now and follow it — this phase's steps are in that file, not here. Read it again if the conversation was compacted or resumed during this phase.
Phase 3: Data Flow
Read references/3-data-flow.md now and follow it — this phase's steps are in that file, not here. Read it again if the conversation was compacted or resumed during this phase.
Phase 4: API Boundaries
Read references/4-api-boundaries.md now and follow it — this phase's steps are in that file, not here. Read it again if the conversation was compacted or resumed during this phase.
Phase 5: ADR Audit + Traceability Check
Read references/5-adr-audit.md now and follow it — this phase's steps are in that file, not here. Read it again if the conversation was compacted or resumed during this phase.
Phase 6: Missing ADR List
Read references/6-missing-adrs.md now and follow it — this phase's steps are in that file, not here. Read it again if the conversation was compacted or resumed during this phase.
Phase 7: Write the Master Architecture Document
Read references/7-write.md now and follow it — this phase's steps are in that file, not here. Read it again if the conversation was compacted or resumed during this phase.
Phase 8: Handoff
Read references/8-handoff.md now and follow it — this phase's steps are in that file, not here. Read it again if the conversation was compacted or resumed during this phase.
Collaborative Protocol
Applies in collaborative mode (the default). For guided and
autonomous modes, see .claude/docs/automation-modes.md — the rules below
describe what collaborative mode requires, not universal behavior.
This skill follows the collaborative design principle at every phase:
- Load context silently — do not narrate file reads
- Present findings — show the knowledge gap inventory and layer proposals
- Ask before deciding — present options for each architectural choice
- Draft before approval — show the content inline before asking to write it. Never ask approval for a section the user has not yet seen.
- Use
AskUserQuestionfor write approvals — plain text "May I?" is not sufficient. Use the structured tool with labeled options [A]/[B]/[C] (write now / show full draft first / not yet). For multi-file changesets, list every file and what changes, then ask once grouped — not separate plain-text asks per file. - One write, after every section is approved — the document is written once,
at Phase 7; Phase 7b's Step 4 only updates its Document Status, after its own
ask. Record each approved section's decisions in
production/session-state/active.mdas you go, so a crash loses no decision. A revision that Phase 7b forces is written the same way — once, after its re-drafted sections are approved — and an update (Phase 0e) writes only the sections it chose.
Never make a binding architectural decision without user input. If the user is unsure, present 2-4 options with pros/cons before asking them to decide.
Recommended Next Steps
- Run
/architecture-decision [title]for each required ADR listed in Phase 6 — Foundation layer ADRs first - Run
/architecture-review— bootstraps the Requirements Traceability Matrix and TR registry from the ADRs just written, and gives each provisional TR-ID its permanent one. Required before the Pre-Production gate. - Run
/test-setupto scaffoldtests/unit/,tests/integration/, CI workflow, and an example test (required for gate-check) - Run
/ux-designto initializedesign/ux/interaction-patterns.mdanddesign/accessibility-requirements.md(required for gate-check) - Run
/create-control-manifestonce the required ADRs are written to produce the layer rules manifest - Run
/gate-check pre-productionwhen all required ADRs,/test-setup, and/ux-designare complete
FAQ
What does the create-architecture skill do?
Author the architecture blueprint before code is written. Validates decisions against the pinned engine, flags knowledge gaps.
How do I install create-architecture?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/donchitos/claude-code-game-studios --skill create-architecture in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/create-architecture/ (personal) or .claude/skills/create-architecture/ (project).
Which AI agents can use create-architecture?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is create-architecture safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains create-architecture?
It is published by donchitos in donchitos/claude-code-game-studios. It has 451 recorded installs.
More from donchitos/claude-code-game-studios
balance-check
donchitos/claude-code-game-studios
Find balance outliers, broken progressions, degenerate strategies, economy imbalances in formulas and data. 'Check game balance'.
playtest-report
donchitos/claude-code-game-studios
Structured playtest report template, or turn existing playtest notes into structured feedback.
brainstorm
donchitos/claude-code-game-studios
Guides the user through finding and choosing a game concept. Use when the user wants game ideas, a new concept, a game jam idea, or to explore other directions, including dropping the current idea and starting over.
art-bible
donchitos/claude-code-game-studios
Author the Art Bible — visual identity gating asset production. Run before /map-systems.
team-narrative
donchitos/claude-code-game-studios
Orchestrate the narrative team — narrative-director, writer, world-builder, level-designer — for story, world lore, narrative-driven levels.
design-review
donchitos/claude-code-game-studios
Reviews one design document for completeness, internal consistency, implementability, and design standards. Before handing to programmers.
Popular code quality & workflow skills
grill-me
mattpocock/skills
A relentless interview to sharpen a plan or design.
improve-codebase-architecture
mattpocock/skills
Scan a codebase for deepening opportunities, present them as a visual HTML report, then grill through whichever one you pick.
handoff
mattpocock/skills
Compact the current conversation into a handoff document for another agent to pick up.
domain-modeling
mattpocock/skills
Build and sharpen a project's domain model. Use when discussing codebase terminology, writing or editing a GLOSSARY.md, or recording or editing an ADR.
codebase-design
mattpocock/skills
Shared vocabulary for designing deep modules. Use when the user wants to design or improve a module's interface, find deepening opportunities, decide where a seam goes, make code more testable or AI-navigable, or when another skill needs the deep-module vocabulary.
diagnosing-bugs
mattpocock/skills
Diagnosis loop for hard bugs and performance regressions. Use when the user says "diagnose"/"debug this", or reports something broken/throwing/failing/slow.