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SKA

Introduction

SKA (Your Scaffolding Buddy) is a powerful templating tool that allows you to expand folders based on local or remote blueprint templates hosted on GitHub, GitLab, or your local filesystem.

Why SKA?

Traditional scaffolding tools offer one-shot code generation. After the initial project is created, the code becomes autonomous with no way to centrally roll out new changes.

SKA is different. It maintains a connection between your scaffolded project and the upstream template, allowing you to:

  • Update projects when templates evolve
  • Maintain consistency across your organization
  • Keep sections synced while allowing customization elsewhere

Key Features

Dynamic Forms for Data Capture

Each blueprint supports a .ska-upstream.yaml file that defines template variables. SKA uses this to dynamically create an interactive Terminal UI form to collect input data with:

  • Input validation via regex patterns
  • Default values
  • Inline help text
  • Label customization

Central Management for Updates

Unlike traditional tools, SKA allows you to update scaffolded projects when the upstream template changes. Simply run:

Terminal window
ska update --path .

Your project will be updated with the latest template changes while preserving your customizations.

Partial File Management

SKA supports managing only specific sections of files. Using ska-start and ska-end markers, you can:

  • Keep certain sections centrally managed
  • Allow developers to customize everything else
  • Update managed sections without affecting local changes

Who Is SKA For?

SKA is designed for Platform Engineers and teams who need to:

  • Maintain multiple project templates
  • Ensure consistency across projects
  • Roll out template improvements over time
  • Balance standardization with flexibility

Next Steps

Ready to get started? Continue to the Installation guide.