# AGENTS.md — Build guide for Squarespace

## Project scope
Build a personal portfolio/blog using Eleventy with editable content files, meaningful URLs and a small contact form integration. Generate an RSS feed and preview the site before publishing to the owner's host.

Catalogue verdict: kinda. A portfolio or marketing site is easy to build, but Squarespace's paid value is templates, editor, hosting, commerce/forms, domains, and support.
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- Do not publish, spend money, contact customers, delete source data or run irreversible migrations without the project owner's authorization.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: template quality; editor

## 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: Markdown pages, blog posts, project entries, navigation, responsive assets and deployment manifests

## 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: Generated pages must not rely on the local editor at runtime; private drafts and environment secrets never enter the output directory.
- 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: Markdown pages, blog posts, project entries, navigation, responsive assets and deployment manifests
- Project rule — preserve this invariant: Generated pages must not rely on the local editor at runtime; private drafts and environment secrets never enter the output directory.
- Project rule — acceptance evidence: Build from the exported source archive on a clean machine; draft posts stay out of navigation, RSS and generated public files.

## 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 Squarespace-inspired workflow with owned or clearly labeled sample data: Build a personal portfolio/blog using Eleventy with editable content files, meaningful URLs and a small contact form integration. Generate an RSS feed and preview the site before publishing to the owner's host.
- Publish a reproducible walkthrough with this observable result: Build from the exported source archive on a clean machine; draft posts stay out of navigation, RSS and generated public files.
- Explain who can operate this scoped tool, its setup and ongoing costs, and these remaining product gaps: template quality; editor Avoid guaranteed savings, performance scores or implied endorsement.

## Engineering roadmap
1. Phase 1 — Scope and fixtures. Implement this bounded workflow: Build a personal portfolio/blog using Eleventy with editable content files, meaningful URLs and a small contact form integration. Generate an RSS feed and preview the site before publishing to the owner's host. Record prerequisites, select representative user-owned fixtures and document the unsupported features: template quality; editor
2. Phase 2 — Durable model. Model Markdown pages, blog posts, project entries, navigation, responsive assets and deployment manifests Add migrations or a versioned document format, explicit validation, stable IDs and a visible import-error report. Preserve this rule: Generated pages must not rely on the local editor at runtime; private drafts and environment secrets never enter the output directory.
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. Build from the exported source archive on a clean machine; draft posts stay out of navigation, RSS and generated public files. 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
- template quality
- editor
- hosting
- ecommerce/forms
- domains/email workflows
- mobile-responsive polish
- support

## Implementation prompt
WORKING SLICE
Build a personal portfolio/blog using Eleventy with editable content files, meaningful URLs and a small contact form integration. Generate an RSS feed and preview the site before publishing to the owner's host.

Build this scoped Squarespace-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: template quality; editor

Data model and correctness
Markdown pages, blog posts, project entries, navigation, responsive assets and deployment manifests
Invariant: Generated pages must not rely on the local editor at runtime; private drafts and environment secrets never enter the output directory.
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: Build a personal portfolio/blog using Eleventy with editable content files, meaningful URLs and a small contact form integration. Generate an RSS feed and preview the site before publishing to the owner's host. Record prerequisites, select representative user-owned fixtures and document the unsupported features: template quality; editor
2. Phase 2 — Durable model. Model Markdown pages, blog posts, project entries, navigation, responsive assets and deployment manifests Add migrations or a versioned document format, explicit validation, stable IDs and a visible import-error report. Preserve this rule: Generated pages must not rely on the local editor at runtime; private drafts and environment secrets never enter the output directory.
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. Build from the exported source archive on a clean machine; draft posts stay out of navigation, RSS and generated public files. Repeat the workflow after restart and with a denied permission or unavailable dependency; show recoverable failure rather than a success placeholder.

Acceptance
Build from the exported source archive on a clean machine; draft posts stay out of navigation, RSS and generated public files.
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: Markdown pages, blog posts, project entries, navigation, responsive assets and deployment manifests
Project rule — preserve this invariant: Generated pages must not rely on the local editor at runtime; private drafts and environment secrets never enter the output directory.
Project rule — acceptance evidence: Build from the exported source archive on a clean machine; draft posts stay out of navigation, RSS and generated public files.

## 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.