Skeleton

A standard project skeleton

Skeleton provides a simple structure to help you quickly setup new projects, and prevent you from forgetting the finer yet important details of creating and maintaining a software project.

Directory Structure

When you manage a software project, one important but often overlooked aspect, is creating a solid directory structure. Below are some preferred directory names. They're meant to be opt-in. If your project doesn't need a particular directory, then don't include it. However, if you do need it to manage a particular type of content, these names are the most common. Using them will help people new to your project.

There isn't a skel command for creating a directory structure. The various types of potential projects, are too varied to create a command that would satisfy a wide array of users.

Core Directories

• bin - commands you want to run.
• docs - Project documentation written by and for humans about your project
• log - capture information about what happens while your application runs
• src - the source code of your application
• tests - the tests that exercise and verify the code of your application

Package Manager Directories

• node_modules - this is managed by NPM
• vendor - this is managed by Composer

Optional Directories

• build - this is for the creation of generated files.
• config - for files that are used for configuration, that are not environment specific
• data - to manage things like data source files (e.g. CSV)
• lib - libraries not managed by a manager like Composer
• phpdocs - the documentation generated by PHPDoc
• public - only needed for web projects. Represents the root of the website.
  • css
  • fonts
  • js
  • assets
    • audio
    • docs
    • photos
    • video
  • images
    • buttons
    • backgrounds
    • logos
  • uploads
• translations - files that translate your application into other languages

Installation

1. Download the latest ZIP file from https://github.com/andrewwoods/skeleton
2. Expand the ZIP file
3. Add the 'bin' directory to your path
4. Advanced features
   • Install https://phpdoc.org to generate developer documenation from your comments
   • Install https://phpunit.de to create and run tests to improve your code quality

Create a New Project Directory

1. Create the top-level project directories you need

2. Create Essential Project Docs

   $ skel docs readme contributing
   

3. Create a License for your project

   $ skel license mit
   

Ideas

• skel php for PHP-related files

  • composer ( autoloading )
  • docker
  • symfony console application
  • symfony console command

• skel js for JS-related files

Table of Contents

• Review the CHANGELOG.md

Submit an issue

Skeleton issues

Credits and Acknowledgments

• Project Creator: Andrew Woods on GitHub