ALCHEMY PROJECT KIT
====================

You do not need to be a programmer to use this.

WHAT THIS FOLDER IS
-------------------
This is a starter kit for building software with AI agents (Grok, Codex, Claude, Cursor, and others).

Think of it like a briefing packet you hand a new engineer on day one.

THE TWO KINDS OF FILES
----------------------
1. PROJECT.md  = the project brain. YOU edit this. One file. Every agent reads it.

2. adapters/   = tiny notes for a specific tool.
   They point the tool at PROJECT.md. They are NOT a second copy of your project.

     adapters/CLAUDE.md  → for Claude Code (copy to CLAUDE.md in the project root)
     adapters/AGENTS.md  → for Codex (copy to AGENTS.md in the project root)
     adapters/GROK.md    → for Grok Build (keep next to PROJECT.md or paste the first prompt)
     adapters/CURSOR.md  → for Cursor (paste the rules block into Cursor)
     adapters/GEMINI.md  → for Gemini CLI / Code Assist

WHAT YOU EDIT
-------------
Open PROJECT.md.
Replace every [bracket] and every "Example:" line with YOUR project.
Never paste secret keys or passwords into PROJECT.md.

Environment variables example:

  Right:  STRIPE_SECRET_KEY = Stripe server authentication credential
  Wrong:  STRIPE_SECRET_KEY=sk_live_actual_secret_here

WHERE THE FILES GO
------------------
1. Create a folder for your project (example: C:\Users\you\projects\my-app)
2. Put PROJECT.md in that folder (the root — the top level, not inside a subfolder)
3. Copy ONE adapter for the agent you will launch:
      Claude Code  → copy adapters/CLAUDE.md  to  CLAUDE.md
      Codex        → copy adapters/AGENTS.md  to  AGENTS.md
      Grok         → keep adapters/GROK.md handy; PROJECT.md is still the brain
      Cursor       → follow adapters/CURSOR.md
4. Open that folder in VS Code: File → Open Folder

HOW TO START AN AGENT
---------------------
In VS Code: Terminal → New Terminal
Then type ONE of these and press Enter:

  grok
  codex

You may see "Type copilot to use Copilot CLI." That is a different agent. Ignore it unless you mean Copilot.

WHAT TO SAY FIRST
-----------------
Copy this:

  Read PROJECT.md. Do not write code yet. Write a numbered Phase 1 plan.
  After each step include: what will be built, how I will test it, and any command.
  Wait for my approval.

You remain the builder. The agent is the engineering team. You approve consequential actions.

LEARN MORE
----------
https://alchemy-ai.dev/pages/getting-started.html
https://alchemy-ai.dev/pages/terminal.html
https://alchemy-ai.dev/pages/template.html
