name: compact-core:compact-init-project description: This skill should be used when the user asks to create a new Midnight project, scaffold a Compact smart contract project, initialize a DApp, set up a new Midnight application, start a new project, use a project template, or set up a Midnight development environment for the first time. Also triggered by "new project", "start a project", "init project", "scaffold", or "create-mn-app" (the former scaffolding tool, now replaced by this skill's built-in generator). version: 0.2.0

Initialize a New Midnight/Compact Project

This skill scaffolds a new, self-contained Midnight project using a vendored, deterministic generator bundled with the skill (scripts/new-example.mjs + templates/example/). It replaces the former create-mn-app tool: the generator is zero-dependency (Node built-ins only), fetches nothing, and produces byte-identical output for the same inputs. Follow the workflow in references/new-example-workflow.md step by step.

Note: create-mn-app is being sunset. If a user asks for it by name, route them here — this skill's

generator is its replacement.

What Gets Scaffolded

Quick Start

Follow references/new-example-workflow.md phases in order:

1. Environment Check — Run /midnight-tooling:doctor to verify Node 22+, Docker, and Compact CLI
2. Project Setup — Get a kebab-case project name; decide whether the contract needs witnesses
3. Scaffolding — Resolve the plugin root, then run node "$PLUGIN_ROOT/skills/compact-init-project/scripts/new-example.mjs" <name> [--witnesses]
4. Local Network — cd <name> && yarn install && yarn env:up (the project ships its own compose.yml)
5. Compile — Write the contract, then yarn compile; verify contract/managed/<name>/
6. Summary — Show what was created, the available scripts, and the test-run flow

Key Dependencies

This skill delegates to midnight-tooling plugin commands:

• /midnight-tooling:doctor — prerequisite verification
• /midnight-tooling:install-cli — Compact compiler installation (if needed)
• /midnight-tooling:proof-server — proof server / Docker troubleshooting
• /midnight-tooling:devnet — optional shared local devnet (alternative to the project's bundled compose.yml)

Not For

• Existing project troubleshooting → use midnight-tooling:troubleshooting
• Writing custom Compact contracts → use compact-structure, compact-ledger, etc.
• Deploying to a remote network → out of scope (the scaffold's tests can target Preview/Preprod with a funded seed, but wallet creation and funding are separate)
• Adding features to an existing project → use domain-specific compact-core skills

Reference Files

Bundled Assets