/scaffold-wp-theme

description: Generate an empty, valid WordPress block theme scaffold from scratch — no source HTML required.

/scaffold-wp-theme

**Purpose:** Generate an empty, valid WordPress Block Theme scaffold with no source HTML to convert. Useful for starting a new theme from scratch.

Trigger

User types `/scaffold-wp-theme` followed by basic theme info.

Workflow

Step 1: Gather Minimum Inputs

Ask the user these questions in your response (one batch):

1. **Theme name** — free text 2. **Style preset** — single select: "Minimal blog", "Editorial magazine", "Portfolio", "Business landing", "WooCommerce store" 3. **Build system** — single select: "Vite 6 (recommended)", "wp-scripts", "None (vanilla)"

If WooCommerce is selected, also ask: 4. **WC features needed** — multi-select: "Single product page", "Product archive", "Cart/Checkout", "My Account", "All of the above"

Step 2: Apply Style Preset

Each preset maps to a different default `theme.json` and starter patterns:

| Preset | Default Colors | Default Fonts | Starter Patterns | |--------|---------------|---------------|------------------| | Minimal blog | Black/white/gray | Inter + Lora | hero-blog, post-grid, newsletter | | Editorial magazine | Cream/black/red accent | Fraunces + Inter Tight | hero-editorial, featured-grid, author-bio | | Portfolio | Dark theme, neon accent | Space Grotesk + JetBrains Mono | hero-portfolio, project-grid, contact | | Business landing | Blue/white | Plus Jakarta Sans | hero-saas, features, pricing, testimonials, cta, footer | | WooCommerce store | Black/white/gold | Inter + Cormorant | hero-product, product-grid, bundle, reviews, trust-badges |

Step 3: Generate Files

Output the same file structure as `/convert-to-wp-theme`, but with placeholder content rather than converted source. Read `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/references/file-structure.md`.

Use templates from the `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/templates/` directory:

• `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/templates/style.css.tpl` for the theme header
• `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/templates/theme.json.tpl` for the theme.json
• `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/templates/functions.php.tpl` for functions.php
• `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/templates/template-skeleton.html.tpl` for empty templates
• `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/templates/pattern-header.php.tpl` for pattern files
• `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/templates/package.json.tpl` for package.json
• `${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/templates/vite.config.js.tpl` for Vite config

Generate at minimum:

• `style.css`
• `theme.json` (with preset colors/fonts)
• `functions.php`
• `inc/theme-setup.php`, `inc/enqueue.php`, `inc/block-patterns.php`
• `templates/index.html`, `front-page.html`, `single.html`, `page.html`, `archive.html`, `404.html`
• `parts/header.html`, `footer.html`
• 3-5 starter patterns based on preset
• `assets/css/style.css`, `editor.css`
• `assets/js/main.js`
• `package.json`, `vite.config.js` (if Vite chosen)
• `readme.txt`, `.gitignore`

Step 4: Verify with the Doctor (required)

When every file is written, run the bundled checker on the theme directory with the Bash tool. Do not just describe the command:

node "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/scripts/doctor.mjs" <theme-dir>

It runs five checks: theme structure, `theme.json`, block markup, pattern headers, and i18n. **Do not tell the user the theme is done until it exits 0.** If it reports violations, fix each one in the theme files and run it again, repeating until it passes. Quote its final `Overall: 5/5 scripts passed.` line in your closing summary. If Bash is unavailable, say so plainly and give the user the command to run. Never claim a theme was verified when the doctor did not run.

Step 5: Closing Output

## Scaffold Complete

Your `{{theme-slug}}` theme scaffold is ready.

## Next Steps

1. **Customize:** Edit `theme.json` to match your brand colors and fonts
2. **Add content:** Use Site Editor to populate templates and parts
3. **Add patterns:** Run `/wp-pattern` to convert HTML sections into patterns
4. **Build:** `npm install && npm run build`
5. **Activate:** Upload to WordPress and activate

## Files Generated

{{count}} files across {{n}} directories.

Example Invocation

User: /scaffold-wp-theme

Make me an editorial magazine theme called "The Northaven Review"

→ Claude asks 2-3 quick questions → generates complete scaffold with editorial preset.