Install Skafold Project Importer

Skafold has two separate AI-facing flows:

• Skafold Project Importer turns a user's conversation and project thinking with an AI into a validated JSON file that can be imported into Skafold. This page covers that workflow.
• Skafold Context Exporter turns a project already planned in Skafold into the Markdown context package added to an IDE or repository for implementation. See Skafold Context Exporter.

The Project Importer supports discovery-first planning, new project creation, and revision of project JSON exported from Skafold. It preserves stable IDs and supported fields during round trips.

Choose the right download

• Download plugin is the recommended Project Importer package for ChatGPT and Codex in the ChatGPT desktop app. It contains the plugin manifest, local marketplace entry, skill, schema, references, and validator.
• Standalone skill is for Claude or other tools that accept an Agent Skills folder but do not install Codex plugins.

Install in ChatGPT or Codex

Use the built-in Plugin Creator to validate and install the downloaded package. You do not need to run marketplace commands or move files into Codex folders yourself.

1. Download and extract skafold-project-importer-plugin-v1.0.3.zip.
2. Start a new ChatGPT or Codex task without selecting a project. This is the recommended setup for installing the plugin into your personal plugin library.
3. Select Plugin Creator from the skill picker. In ChatGPT you can mention it with @; in Codex you can mention $plugin-creator.
4. Drag the complete extracted skafold-project-importer-plugin-v1.0.3 folder into the task.
5. Ask:

Install this plugin.

6. Let Plugin Creator inspect and validate the package. Approve the following requests when they appear and you are comfortable granting them:

• Copy the validated plugin into your personal plugin folder and update your personal plugin marketplace.
• Update local plugin settings to install and enable the plugin.

7. Wait for confirmation that skafold-project-importer is installed and enabled.
8. Start a new task so ChatGPT or Codex loads the newly installed plugin.

Permission wording can differ slightly by operating system and runtime. If a required request is denied, Plugin Creator should explain which installation step remains incomplete.

Update an installed plugin

Use the same Plugin Creator flow for a new release:

1. Download and extract the newer plugin archive.
2. Start a new task without a project selected.
3. Select Plugin Creator and attach the complete extracted folder.
4. Ask:

Update my installed Skafold Project Importer with this version.

5. Approve the requested validation, personal plugin-folder, marketplace, and enablement changes.
6. Start another new task after Plugin Creator confirms the update.

Use the Project Importer

In ChatGPT, select or mention Skafold Project Importer with @. In Codex, select it from the skill picker or mention $skafold-project-importer.

Start discovery with:

Use Skafold Project Importer to help develop this project plan. Do not create the import file until I say the plan is ready.

When the plan is ready, ask:

Create one validated Skafold project import file from the confirmed plan.

For an existing project, attach the JSON exported from Skafold and say:

Use this Skafold project JSON as the baseline. Apply the changes from our conversation, preserve IDs and supported fields for unchanged items, and preserve each page section's page-specific instanceName, including when other fields on that page change. Return one complete validated project import file.

Install the standalone skill in Claude

1. Download skafold-project-importer-v1.12.zip with Standalone skill.
2. Open Claude Settings and find Capabilities or Skills.
3. Enable Skills if required.
4. Upload the ZIP as a custom skill and enable it.
5. Start a new conversation and explicitly select the skill if Claude does not invoke it automatically.

Configure another AI tool

If an AI tool uses instructions and knowledge files rather than native skills:

1. Download and extract the standalone skill.
2. Paste the body of SKILL.md into the tool's instruction field. Omit the YAML block between the opening --- markers.
3. Upload the files under references as knowledge.
4. Enable file creation or code execution when available so the tool can create and validate the JSON attachment.

For Gemini, use these files in a Gem. For a legacy ChatGPT custom GPT where plugins are unavailable, use the same fallback configuration. Native plugin installation is preferred in the current ChatGPT desktop experience because it preserves skill metadata and progressive reference loading.

What the plugin contains

• .codex-plugin/plugin.json defines the installable Skafold Project Importer plugin.
• SKILL.md controls discovery, project import-file generation, and revision behaviour.
• exchange-schema.json defines the accepted JSON contract.
• node-types.md maps project context into Skafold structures.
• section-presets.md lists recognised page-section names and layout guidance.
• example-package.json demonstrates complete field usage.
• validate-skafold-project-import.mjs performs dependency-free schema and reference validation when Node.js execution is available.
• agents/openai.yaml supplies ChatGPT and Codex skill metadata.

Keep the plugin current

Plugin and skill versions are tracked separately. Download and reinstall the plugin after Skafold announces a new plugin version, skill version, schema version, or import behaviour change.

See Version history for current versions and compatibility.