# AGENTS.md — Build guide for Carrd

## Project scope
Assemble a compact one-page site from hero, links, projects, pricing and contact sections. Preview narrow widths, generate semantic HTML and attach a user-owned domain after local export review.

Catalogue verdict: yes. A one-page static site generator with forms and custom domains is absolutely vibecodable; Carrd's price is so low that DIY only makes sense for control or learning.
Use the implementation prompt below to define the deliverable. Complete each phase's acceptance checks before extending the scope.

## Working agreement
- Inspect the repository and its existing instructions before choosing paths, dependencies or commands. Keep one coherent stack and explain changes to the proposed architecture.
- Plan a vertical slice that accepts a real input and produces the useful output described below. Persist only the state the prompt calls for; respect memory-only and upstream-managed workflows. Use fixtures only when they are clearly labelled.
- After scaffolding, document the actual install, development, check and build commands in README and keep them synchronized with the package or project manifest. Do not report commands as successful unless they ran.
- Work in small steps. At handoff, list implemented flows, checks actually performed, remaining blockers, and any credentials or provider setup the owner must supply.
- Do not publish, spend money, contact customers, delete source data or run irreversible migrations without the project owner's authorization.

## Prerequisites
- Node, a selected output folder, licensed content/assets and a user-owned deployment target. DNS, email delivery and any server-side forms require separate configuration.
- Implementation components: Eleventy, Markdown content and typed JSON section manifests for a static website. A local Node editor/build command with Sharp image processing; generated files publish to a user-owned host.
- Scope boundary: the visual editor; hosted forms

## Stack and architecture
- Eleventy, Markdown content and typed JSON section manifests for a static website.
- A local Node editor/build command with Sharp image processing; generated files publish to a user-owned host.
- Domain model: single-page sections, anchor IDs, theme tokens, assets and contact-form configuration

## Security and data integrity
- Escape content, sanitize Markdown, constrain asset paths and never embed API secrets in the static output. Private content requires a real authenticated server rather than a hidden URL.
- Correctness boundary: Forms need a real configured endpoint and clear success/error handling; no hardcoded analytics scores or fake testimonials.
- Build into a new output directory from a saved content revision. Preview at narrow and wide widths and deploy the complete artifact atomically; retain the previous release.
- Export source Markdown/JSON and original assets alongside the generated site. A clean build from that archive must not depend on an editor database.

## Agent implementation rules
- Project rule — data model: single-page sections, anchor IDs, theme tokens, assets and contact-form configuration
- Project rule — preserve this invariant: Forms need a real configured endpoint and clear success/error handling; no hardcoded analytics scores or fake testimonials.
- Project rule — acceptance evidence: Tab through every link and submit a form against a failing endpoint without a false success; the exported page works without the local editor.

## Optional agent skills and references
- Optional external skill: [frontend-design](https://github.com/anthropics/skills/blob/main/skills/frontend-design/SKILL.md) — Create intentional web layouts, typography, component styling and responsive frontend interfaces. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
- Optional external skill: [seo-audit](https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills/blob/main/skills/seo-audit/SKILL.md) — Investigate crawlability, indexing, page metadata, internal linking and on-page content issues. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
- Optional external skill: [web-design-guidelines](https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/blob/main/skills/web-design-guidelines/SKILL.md) — Review web interfaces for accessibility, keyboard focus, forms, navigation and interaction quality. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.

Read the linked SKILL.md and its dependencies before adding a skill. Select only the skills matching this project's runtime and task; their documentation does not supply API access, credentials or approval to perform external actions. Pin the reviewed revision where the tool supports it. Follow the chosen agent's documented project-level installation mechanism.

## Distribution ideas
These are optional planning notes. Obtain the owner's approval before publishing or contacting anyone.
- Demonstrate the actual Carrd-inspired workflow with owned or clearly labeled sample data: Assemble a compact one-page site from hero, links, projects, pricing and contact sections. Preview narrow widths, generate semantic HTML and attach a user-owned domain after local export review.
- Publish a reproducible walkthrough with this observable result: Tab through every link and submit a form against a failing endpoint without a false success; the exported page works without the local editor.
- Explain who can operate this scoped tool, its setup and ongoing costs, and these remaining product gaps: the visual editor; hosted forms Avoid guaranteed savings, performance scores or implied endorsement.

## Engineering roadmap
1. Phase 1 — Scope and fixtures. Implement this bounded workflow: Assemble a compact one-page site from hero, links, projects, pricing and contact sections. Preview narrow widths, generate semantic HTML and attach a user-owned domain after local export review. Record prerequisites, select representative user-owned fixtures and document the unsupported features: the visual editor; hosted forms
2. Phase 2 — Durable model. Model single-page sections, anchor IDs, theme tokens, assets and contact-form configuration Add migrations or a versioned document format, explicit validation, stable IDs and a visible import-error report. Preserve this rule: Forms need a real configured endpoint and clear success/error handling; no hardcoded analytics scores or fake testimonials.
3. Phase 3 — Complete the first useful path. Implement the workflow's input, review and output interface, with clear controls and explicit empty/error states. Build into a new output directory from a saved content revision. Preview at narrow and wide widths and deploy the complete artifact atomically; retain the previous release.
4. Phase 4 — Permissions and integration failure. Escape content, sanitize Markdown, constrain asset paths and never embed API secrets in the static output. Private content requires a real authenticated server rather than a hidden URL. Request integration credentials and permissions only for the enabled feature; show a disconnected state instead of mock results.
5. Phase 5 — Portable handoff. Export source Markdown/JSON and original assets alongside the generated site. A clean build from that archive must not depend on an editor database. Include setup, operating limits, fixture walkthrough and shutdown/restart instructions in the README.
6. Phase 6 — Acceptance scenarios. Tab through every link and submit a form against a failing endpoint without a false success; the exported page works without the local editor. Repeat the workflow after restart and with a denied permission or unavailable dependency; show recoverable failure rather than a success placeholder.

## Paid-product capabilities outside this build
- the visual editor
- hosted forms
- their template gallery
- not having to think about hosting

## Implementation prompt
WORKING SLICE
Assemble a compact one-page site from hero, links, projects, pricing and contact sections. Preview narrow widths, generate semantic HTML and attach a user-owned domain after local export review.

Build this scoped Carrd-inspired workflow with a documented data model and visible failure states.

Architecture
- Eleventy, Markdown content and typed JSON section manifests for a static website.
- A local Node editor/build command with Sharp image processing; generated files publish to a user-owned host.

Prerequisites and limits
Node, a selected output folder, licensed content/assets and a user-owned deployment target. DNS, email delivery and any server-side forms require separate configuration.
Outside this release: the visual editor; hosted forms

Data model and correctness
single-page sections, anchor IDs, theme tokens, assets and contact-form configuration
Invariant: Forms need a real configured endpoint and clear success/error handling; no hardcoded analytics scores or fake testimonials.
Build into a new output directory from a saved content revision. Preview at narrow and wide widths and deploy the complete artifact atomically; retain the previous release.

Security and privacy
Escape content, sanitize Markdown, constrain asset paths and never embed API secrets in the static output. Private content requires a real authenticated server rather than a hidden URL.

Recovery and export
Export source Markdown/JSON and original assets alongside the generated site. A clean build from that archive must not depend on an editor database.

Implementation order
1. Phase 1 — Scope and fixtures. Implement this bounded workflow: Assemble a compact one-page site from hero, links, projects, pricing and contact sections. Preview narrow widths, generate semantic HTML and attach a user-owned domain after local export review. Record prerequisites, select representative user-owned fixtures and document the unsupported features: the visual editor; hosted forms
2. Phase 2 — Durable model. Model single-page sections, anchor IDs, theme tokens, assets and contact-form configuration Add migrations or a versioned document format, explicit validation, stable IDs and a visible import-error report. Preserve this rule: Forms need a real configured endpoint and clear success/error handling; no hardcoded analytics scores or fake testimonials.
3. Phase 3 — Complete the first useful path. Implement the workflow's input, review and output interface, with clear controls and explicit empty/error states. Build into a new output directory from a saved content revision. Preview at narrow and wide widths and deploy the complete artifact atomically; retain the previous release.
4. Phase 4 — Permissions and integration failure. Escape content, sanitize Markdown, constrain asset paths and never embed API secrets in the static output. Private content requires a real authenticated server rather than a hidden URL. Request integration credentials and permissions only for the enabled feature; show a disconnected state instead of mock results.
5. Phase 5 — Portable handoff. Export source Markdown/JSON and original assets alongside the generated site. A clean build from that archive must not depend on an editor database. Include setup, operating limits, fixture walkthrough and shutdown/restart instructions in the README.
6. Phase 6 — Acceptance scenarios. Tab through every link and submit a form against a failing endpoint without a false success; the exported page works without the local editor. Repeat the workflow after restart and with a denied permission or unavailable dependency; show recoverable failure rather than a success placeholder.

Acceptance
Tab through every link and submit a form against a failing endpoint without a false success; the exported page works without the local editor.
Use real source data or clearly labeled fixtures. Explain unsupported input and provider failures; do not fabricate analytics, delivery receipts, accuracy claims or security guarantees.

Optional agent guidance
Optional external skill: [frontend-design](https://github.com/anthropics/skills/blob/main/skills/frontend-design/SKILL.md) — Create intentional web layouts, typography, component styling and responsive frontend interfaces. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
Optional external skill: [seo-audit](https://github.com/coreyhaines31/marketingskills/blob/main/skills/seo-audit/SKILL.md) — Investigate crawlability, indexing, page metadata, internal linking and on-page content issues. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
Optional external skill: [web-design-guidelines](https://github.com/vercel-labs/agent-skills/blob/main/skills/web-design-guidelines/SKILL.md) — Review web interfaces for accessibility, keyboard focus, forms, navigation and interaction quality. Review its instructions and compatibility before use; it does not grant deployment, data-access or publication permission.
Project rule — data model: single-page sections, anchor IDs, theme tokens, assets and contact-form configuration
Project rule — preserve this invariant: Forms need a real configured endpoint and clear success/error handling; no hardcoded analytics scores or fake testimonials.
Project rule — acceptance evidence: Tab through every link and submit a form against a failing endpoint without a false success; the exported page works without the local editor.

## Completion evidence
Demonstrate the prompt's acceptance scenarios against the scoped workflow. Include setup from a clean checkout and failure recovery. Check persistence across restart and export/restore only for the state the prompt says to store; for memory-only tools, confirm that temporary content is discarded as specified. Record actual results and remaining limitations. A detailed plan alone does not establish a working replacement.