codev - Project Management CLI

SkillFiles & storage

Codev project management CLI — init, adopt, update, and doctor commands. Check this skill before running any `codev` command (except `consult`, `porch`, or `afx` which have their own skills). Use when setting up new projects, adding codev to existing repos, updating framework files, or diagnosing missing dependencies.

Available today. Use it from your connected AI after setup.

Connect ahel once, and every AI you use reads what you have installed.

Then ask your AI: use the codev - Project Management CLI skill

What this skill tells your AI

The instructions your AI receives, as published by cluesmith/codev in .codex/skills/codev/SKILL.md and read by ahel’s review.

Commands

codev init [project-name]      Create a new codev project directory
codev adopt                    Add codev to the current directory
codev update                   Update protocols, roles, skills from package
codev doctor                   Check system dependencies

codev init

Creates a new directory with the full codev structure: specs/, plans/, reviews/, protocols, CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md, .claude/skills/, .codex/skills/, .codev/config.json, and .gitignore.

codev init my-app              # Interactive setup
codev init my-app -y           # Non-interactive with defaults

codev adopt

Adds codev to the current directory (existing project). Run from the project root. If CLAUDE.md or AGENTS.md already exists, creates .codev-new versions and spawns Claude to merge.

codev adopt                    # Interactive
codev adopt -y                 # Skip conflict prompts

codev update

Updates framework files (protocols, roles, skills) from the installed @cluesmith/codev package. Never touches user data (specs, plans, reviews). Creates .codev-new versions for customized files. Missing Claude and Codex skills are added, while existing skill directories are preserved.

codev update                   # Interactive update
codev update --dry-run         # Preview changes
codev update --force           # Overwrite all framework files
codev update --agent           # Agent mode: JSON stdout, no interactive merge

codev doctor

Checks all required dependencies: Node.js (>=18), git (>=2.5), gh (authenticated), and at least one AI CLI (Claude, Gemini, or Codex).

codev doctor

Common mistakes

  • There is NO codev tower command — use afx tower start/stop
  • codev init creates a new directory — use codev adopt for existing projects
  • Always run codev adopt and codev update from the project root
  • codev update only updates framework files — it never touches specs/plans/reviews

Local build and install (this repository)

Test changes locally before publishing. Run from the repository root:

pnpm build                  # builds core first, then codev (including dashboard)
pnpm -w run local-install   # packs both packages, installs globally, restarts Tower

local-install (scripts/local-install.sh) packs @cluesmith/codev-core and @cluesmith/codev, installs both in a single npm install -g (separate installs fail — codev-core is not on the public registry), restores the executable bit on scripts/forge/**/*.sh that pnpm pack strips, and restarts Tower last. Install runs while Tower is up; only the final restart causes downtime. Do not stop Tower first, and do not use npm link / pnpm link — it breaks global installs.

pnpm build also runs copy-skeleton, which copies codev-skeleton/ into packages/codev/skeleton. Tests read that copy, so after editing anything under codev-skeleton/ you must rebuild before the suite reflects your change.

Where to run things

  • pnpm install — repository root (installs all workspace packages)
  • pnpm build / pnpm testpackages/codev/, or pnpm --filter @cluesmith/codev build
  • Unit tests packages/codev/tests/unit/ · E2E packages/codev/tests/e2e/
  • Never run npm commands from the repository root unless told to

Measuring code size

tokei -e "tests/lib" -e "node_modules" -e ".git" -e ".builders" -e "dist" .

Signals

GitHub stars
287
Forks
44
Last commit
Sep 2026
Advanced
Catalog kind
skill
Gateway key
codev-cluesmith
Source
github.com/cluesmith/codev