Create Aptos Project Skill

Purpose

Scaffold new Aptos projects using npx create-aptos-dapp. This is the mandatory first step when a user wants to build any new Aptos app, dApp, or project — regardless of how they phrase it.

ALWAYS

Use npx create-aptos-dapp to scaffold — NEVER create projects from scratch manually
Ask the user about project type, framework, and network before scaffolding
Verify .env is in .gitignore before any git operations
Use the same network for both create-aptos-dapp and aptos init
Follow the full Build a dApp workflow after scaffolding (contracts, tests, audit, deploy, frontend)

NEVER

Skip scaffolding — even for "simple" projects, always start with create-aptos-dapp
Create project structure manually — the boilerplate template handles this
Display or read private keys — use "0x..." as placeholder
Run git add . or git add -A without first verifying .env is in .gitignore

Decision Tree

Before running the scaffold command, gather these inputs from the user:

1. Project Name

Derive from the user's description or ask directly. Use kebab-case (e.g., habit-tracker, nft-marketplace).

2. Project Type

Option	When to Use
Fullstack (default)	User wants a frontend + smart contracts
Contract-only	User only wants Move smart contracts (no frontend)

3. Framework (fullstack only)

Option	When to Use
Vite (default)	Default choice, lighter setup
Next.js	User asks for Next.js or SSR

4. Network

Option	When to Use
devnet (default)	Development and testing
testnet	Pre-production, user explicitly asks
mainnet	Production, user explicitly asks

5. API Key (optional)

Ask if the user has a Geomi API key. It's optional for devnet but recommended for testnet/mainnet to avoid rate limits. Get one at https://geomi.dev (create project -> API Resource -> copy key).

Scaffolding Commands

# Fullstack dApp with Vite (frontend + contracts)
npx create-aptos-dapp <project-name> \
  --project-type fullstack \
  --template boilerplate-template \
  --framework vite \
  --network <network>

# Fullstack dApp with Next.js
npx create-aptos-dapp <project-name> \
  --project-type fullstack \
  --template boilerplate-template \
  --framework nextjs \
  --network <network>

# Contract-only (Move project)
npx create-aptos-dapp <project-name> \
  --project-type move \
  --network <network>

Optional flags:

--api-key <key> — Pass a Geomi API key during scaffolding
--use-surf — Enable Surf for type-safe contract interactions

Post-Scaffold Checklist

After scaffolding, complete these steps in order:

cd <project-name>
Verify .env is in .gitignore before any git operations
Run aptos init --network <network> --assume-yes (use the same network as above)
Verify: npm run move:compile && npm run move:test
git init && git add . && git commit -m "Initial commit"

Build a dApp Workflow

ALWAYS follow this workflow when the user wants to build a new Aptos app, dApp, or project. This applies regardless of how the user phrases it ("build me a ...", "create a ...", "make a ...", "I want to build ...").

/create-aptos-project -> scaffold with npx create-aptos-dapp (this skill — NEVER skip)
/write-contracts -> write Move modules
/generate-tests -> create test suite, verify 100% coverage
/security-audit -> audit before deployment
/deploy-contracts -> deploy contract to specified network
/use-ts-sdk -> orchestrates frontend integration (routes to ts-sdk-client, ts-sdk-transactions, ts-sdk-view-and-query, ts-sdk-wallet-adapter as needed)

What the Boilerplate Includes

Fullstack Template

contract/ — Move smart contract with Move.toml and starter module
frontend/ — React app with Aptos wallet adapter pre-configured
package.json — Scripts for move:compile, move:test, move:publish, dev, build
.env — Environment variables for network, API key, and publisher account

Contract-Only Template

contract/ — Move smart contract with Move.toml and starter module
package.json — Scripts for move:compile, move:test, move:publish
.env — Environment variables for network and publisher account

Troubleshooting

`npx create-aptos-dapp` command not found

# Auto-confirm the npx package install prompt
npx --yes create-aptos-dapp <project-name> ...

If that still fails, verify Node.js and npm are installed (node -v && npm -v).

Compile failures after scaffold

Check contract/Move.toml has correct named addresses
Run aptos init --network <network> --assume-yes if not done
Verify my_addr is set to "_" in [addresses] section

Named address errors

The boilerplate uses my_addr = "_" which gets resolved from .env at compile time. Ensure VITE_MODULE_PUBLISHER_ACCOUNT_ADDRESS is set in .env (populated by aptos init).

create-aptos-project