create-package-instructions

Imported from Bioconductor/ai-agent-skills (skills/create-package-instructions/SKILL.md). Install upstream with npx skills add Bioconductor/ai-agent-skills --skill create-package-instructions. Copyright stays with the author.

create-package-instructions

Create complete AI instruction documentation for an R/Bioconductor package in .github/instructions/.

Usage

Invoke this skill when you want to generate AI-friendly documentation for an R package:

• "Create instructions for this package"
• "Create .github/instructions for this R package"

Prerequisites

• Working directory is an R package root (contains DESCRIPTION file).

Process

1. Run Package Analysis: Invoke analyze-r-package to understand the package structure.
2. Determine Required Instruction Files: Based on the analysis, select the appropriate templates from templates/package-instructions/:
   • 00-overview.md.template (Always)
   • 10-data-access.md.template (If Type: Remote or Hybrid)
   • 20-development.md.template (Always)
   • 30-testing-and-docs.md.template (Always)
   • 40-vignettes.md.template (If Vignettes > 0)
   • INDEX.md.template (Always)
3. Create Directory: Ensure .github/instructions/ exists.
4. Create Files from Templates: Perform variable substitution for each {{VARIABLE_NAME}} using the analysis output (refer to templates/package-instructions/README.md for mappings). Write the results to .github/instructions/.
5. Update Package Config:
   • Ensure .github/instructions/ is NOT ignored in .gitignore.
   • Add ^\.github/instructions$ to .Rbuildignore.
6. Provide Summary: Inform the user about the files created, documented functions, and next steps.

Error Handling

• Analysis fails: Propagate error, provide guidance.
• Instructions exist: Ask user to overwrite or use update-package-instructions.
• Template not found: Verify templates directory exists.

Integration

• Uses: analyze-r-package
• Works with: update-package-instructions

Related: See analyze-r-package, update-package-instructions.