google-agents-cli-scaffold Skill for Claude: Create and Upgrade ADK Agent Projects

Teaches Claude to create, extend and upgrade ADK agent projects with agents-cli, including the deployment target and CI/CD.

Installs: 532.1K; on skills.sh
Stars: 6.3K; on GitHub
Files: 1; besides SKILL.md
Updated: Oct 2026; last repo commit

google-agents-cli-scaffold covers the three scaffolding commands in agents-cli: scaffold create, scaffold enhance and scaffold upgrade. It explains the two built-in templates, adk_python and adk_go, and the deployment targets agent_runtime, cloud_run, gke and none. It recommends a prototype-first flow, adding deployment later.

It makes Claude clarify your requirements before creating anything. It forbids creating the folder first, changing a model in existing code, or creating a Git repo or pushing without asking you. The upgrade --force option overwrites scaffolding files.

Good for

Developers starting a new ADK agent project
Teams adding deployment or CI/CD to a prototype
Projects that need an upgrade to a newer agents-cli version

Install google-agents-cli-scaffold

Claude Code

Copy this prompt.

Install the google-agents-cli-scaffold skill in Claude Code. Run this command:

uvx google-agents-cli setup

Then check that it loaded and tell me how to use it.

2
Paste it into Claude Code. It shows the change and asks before running it.

Requires Python 3.11+, uv, Node.js.

Pick one route. setup installs the agents-cli program and the skills into your coding agent. The README says that with the skills-only route your coding agent handles the rest. The seven skills in the suite point to each other, so take the whole set.

From the project README. Source.

What's in the skill

When it loads

This skill should be used when the user wants to "create an agent project", "start a new ADK project", "build me a new agent", "add CI/CD to my project", "add deployment", "enhance my project", or "upgrade my project". Part of the agents-cli skills suite. Covers `agents-cli scaffold create`, `scaffold enhance`, and `scaffold upgrade` commands, template options, deployment targets, and the prototype-first workflow. Do NOT use for writing agent code (ADK projects: use google-agents-cli-adk-code) or deployment operations (use google-agents-cli-deploy).

Sections in SKILL.md

Prerequisite: Clarify Requirements (MANDATORY for new projects)
Step 1: Choose Architecture
Product name mapping
Step 2: Create or Enhance the Project
Create a New Project
Reference Files
Enhance an Existing Project
Upgrade a Project
Execution Modes
Common Workflows
Template Options
Deployment Options
"Prototype First" Pattern (Recommended)
Agent Runtime and session_type
Step 3: Load Dev Workflow
Scaffold as Reference

Key facts

Author: Google
License: Apache-2.0 (stated in SKILL.md)
GitHub stars: 6,276 for the whole google/agents-cli repo (Nov 2, 2026)
Last commit: Oct 27, 2026
What installs: SKILL.md plus 1 bundled file (guides and examples); no scripts in the file list
Needs: agents-cli (uv tool install google-agents-cli); the other skills in the suite
Part of: The google-agents-cli plugin in google/agents-cli
skills.sh audits: Gen Agent Trust Hub pass, Socket pass, Snyk pass
Works in: Antigravity CLI, Claude Code, Codex and other coding agents (README)

What it includes

Creates a new project from adk_python or adk_go
Flags choose the agent template, deployment target and prototype mode.
Runs code · scaffold create
Adds a deployment target or CI/CD runner to a project
Works on an existing project, such as a prototype.
Runs code · scaffold enhance
Upgrades a project to a newer agents-cli version
Has --dry-run, --auto-approve and --force options; --force overwrites scaffolding files.
Runs code · scaffold upgrade
Picks a template, deployment target and session storage
Agent Runtime, Cloud Run, GKE or none.
Architecture choices
Starts with a prototype and adds deployment later
create --prototype, then enhance --deployment-target.
Prototype-first pattern
Clarify first, no pre-made folder, ask before Git or push
Listed under Critical Rules in the SKILL.md.
Critical rules

From the official docs

Permissions

Medium risk

Claude creates and can overwrite project files, including deploy and CI/CD files. Run it in a clean Git state and use --dry-run before an upgrade.

What it can do

Read your data
Create and change things
Delete things
Read-only mode

Watch out for

upgrade --force overwrites scaffolding files
It is a fallback for when smart-merge fails. Use --dry-run first to see what would change.
It adds CI/CD and deploy files to your repo
Enhance adds deployment and pipeline files. Review the diff before you commit.
It asks before creating a Git repo
The skill says never to create a repo or push without asking.

Technical details

Scopes	Creates and rewrites project files Installs and runs the agents-cli program Can add Terraform and CI/CD files for Google Cloud

Questions

What does google-agents-cli-scaffold do?

It teaches Claude to create, enhance and upgrade ADK agent projects with agents-cli, and to choose a template and a deployment target.

How do I install it?

Use the install box at the top of this page. The setup command installs the agents-cli program and all seven skills in the suite, which is what you want. The README says that with the skills-only route your coding agent handles the rest. You need Python 3.11+, uv and Node.js first.

Which templates does it support?

adk_python (the default) and adk_go are the only built-in templates. Other frameworks ship as template repos you scaffold from directly.

Does it need an API key?

The SKILL.md names no API key. It needs the agents-cli program and a Google Cloud sign-in, which agents-cli login handles; the README says login also supports AI Studio.

Is it safe?

It creates and can overwrite project files, so run it in a clean Git state and use --dry-run when upgrading. skills.sh lists Gen Agent Trust Hub, Socket and Snyk as pass.

What is the prototype-first pattern?

Create a prototype with no deployment target, iterate on the agent, then run scaffold enhance to add deployment. The SKILL.md recommends this.

Does it work in the Claude app, Codex or Cursor?

The README names Antigravity CLI, Claude Code and Codex, and says any other coding agent works too. It does not name the Claude desktop or web app or Cursor.

Information

updated Nov 2, 2026

Repository: google/agents-cli
Folder: skills/google-agents-cli-scaffold

google/agents-cli skills.sh

Sources

Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.

Show all 3

google/agents-cli README · github.com
google-agents-cli-scaffold SKILL.md · github.com
google-agents-cli-scaffold on skills.sh · skills.sh