CCF Project Scaffolder

Invocation Controls

CCFA Handoff Mode: PARTIAL (Recommended). Follow metadata.ccf_skill_controls.handoff_question_mode, ../ccf-common/references/handoff-modes.md, and ../ccf-common/references/task-modes.md. A scaffold request authorizes the necessary local structure; a dry-run or no-new-files request limits changes accordingly.

Core Rule

Create the requested project structure, template, and state without inventing research content. Preserve existing user files and complete compatible missing pieces instead of replacing an established project.

Workflow

1. Resolve the project location, venue, requested folders, and existing artifacts from the conversation and filesystem. Infer routine directory names; ask only about a consequential unresolved location or overwrite choice.
2. Select the matching template through ../ccf-paper-writer/references/venue-guides/index.md. Verify that the template and its supporting style/assets are available. Use supplied templates when requested; identify unavailable dependencies precisely instead of copying an incomplete template.
3. Resolve final artifacts and the working root through ../ccf-common/references/artifact-contracts.md. Create only needed directories and templates, with source/assets/cache/build subdirectories on demand. Preserve existing layout; do not migrate user files or overwrite a manuscript, bibliography, or configuration to refresh a scaffold.
4. If ccfa.yaml is absent and initialization is requested, copy assets/ccfa.yaml, preserve the required fields in ../ccf-common/references/ccfa-yaml-contract.md, and fill only supplied project metadata. Existing state is read and updated only within the requested scope; unknown research fields remain explicit placeholders.
5. Check the created paths, template references, and YAML. A build is useful when a runnable template was requested and an engine is available; do not run research experiments or final submission checks for directory setup.
6. Report the actual created/updated paths and any concrete missing dependency. For a dry run, return the proposed tree and actions without writing files.

Boundaries

Use ../ccf-common/references/artifact-contracts.md for file ownership. Project workflow planning belongs to ccf-pipeline-orchestrator, manuscript prose to ccf-paper-writer, and final package checks to ccf-submission-checker. Do not invent a title, abstract, claim, experiment, or citation.