Consistent agent behavior across every project.
Helmsman is a reusable instruction pack — one integrated system that teaches coding agents to blueprint, build, understand, document and write code the same way, every time.
What it does
One integrated system
Blueprint before code
Plans then exhaustive, standalone task files — every step carries How to do it plus a checklist before a single line is written.
Build greenfield apps
Scaffold platforms like postgresql, minio, web and api, then verify everything end-to-end with Docker.
Understand existing repos
Brownfield discovery maps an unfamiliar codebase into a local project workspace before any change.
Document everything
Features, changes and project config live in a structured project/ workspace the agent maintains.
Write code by the rules
A single CODE.md governs every language; agents re-read it at every coding task for consistent quality.
Re-enter every session
A hard-stop re-entry gate makes agents re-read the rules at the start of every session — even after bootstrap.
Operating modes
Greenfield or brownfield
Greenfield
A new app from scratch. Helmsman drives platform inventory, scaffolds service and application platforms, and verifies the whole stack with Docker before calling it done.
Brownfield
An existing codebase. Helmsman runs discovery to understand the repo, records it in a local project workspace, and adapts to the conventions already in place.
Execution gates
Six gates from read to ship
| Gate | Requirement | Blocks until satisfied |
|---|---|---|
| A | Read-first | platforms/, deploy/, app source |
| B | Clarify & record | implementation |
| C | Documents & design | scaffold, platforms/, deploy/ |
| D | Blueprint plan | task, implementation |
| E | Task before code | application edits |
| F | Quality + E2E | marking complete |
How to use it
Four steps to ship with Helmsman
- 1
Clone it into your app
Inside your repo run
git clone <repo-url> helmsman— the folder must be named helmsman. - 2
Point your agent at it
Configure Cursor (or any agent) to read
helmsman/AGENTS.md— not a root-level copy. - 3
Use it in place
Agents read
helmsman/instructions/and write plans, tasks and config tohelmsman/project/. - 4
Build alongside it
Your app code (
platforms/,deploy/) is created as a sibling of the pack.