Initialize Architecture Documentation Task
When to Use
- New Projects: Initialize architecture documentation for greenfield projects
- Missing Documentation: Create missing architecture documents in existing projects
- Architecture Reset: Rebuild architecture documentation structure
- Onboarding: Ensure all architecture documents exist for new team members
What This Skill Does
Creates complete architecture documentation structure from templates:
- Configuration: Reads locations from
.prism/core-config.yaml - Status Check: Detects existing vs missing documents
- Generation: Creates documents from standardized templates
- Indexing: Builds master README with navigation
Prerequisites
- Project root must have
.prism/core-config.yaml architecture.architectureShardedLocationconfig (default:docs/architecture)- Write permissions to create files
Quick Start
- Run the skill
- Review existing documentation status
- Choose mode (create missing or recreate all)
- Wait for document generation
- Review generated documents and fill in project-specific details
Output Location: docs/architecture/ (or as configured)
Workflow Steps
| Step | Name | Purpose |
|------|------|---------|
| 1 | Load Configuration | Read core-config.yaml settings |
| 2 | Check Existing | Show status of existing docs |
| 3 | Create Directory | Ensure architecture folder exists |
| 4 | Generate Documents | Create documents from templates |
| 5 | Create Master Index | Build README.md navigation |
| 6 | Validate & Complete | Verify files and show next steps |
Documents Generated
| Document | Purpose |
|----------|---------|
| coding-standards.md | Code quality and style guidelines |
| tech-stack.md | Technologies, frameworks, dependencies |
| source-tree.md | Code organization and structure |
| deployment.md | Infrastructure and deployment process |
| data-model.md | Database schemas and relationships |
| api-contracts.md | API endpoints and integrations |
| README.md | Master index and navigation |
Modes
- Create Missing: Only generate documents that don't exist
- Recreate All: Regenerate all documents (overwrites existing)
- Cancel: Exit without changes
Reference Documentation
- Document Templates - Detailed templates for each document type
Document Status Indicators
All documents start as Draft and progress through:
- π΄ Draft - Initial template, needs content
- π‘ In Progress - Being actively updated
- π’ Complete - Reviewed and approved
Next Steps After Initialization
- π Review each document and fill in project-specific details
- π¨ Update status indicators as documents are completed
- π₯ Assign document owners
- π Schedule quarterly reviews
- π Keep documentation current with architecture changes
Guardrails
- Always verify config is loaded before proceeding
- Check for existing documents to avoid accidental overwrites
- Write files immediately after generation
- Inform user of all files created
- Provide clear next steps for document completion