launchkey

A universal CLI and template distribution system for rapid project scaffolding across any language and framework.

Vision

Inspired by the exceptional developer experience of shadcn/ui's CLI and registry system, launchkey aims to bring that same elegance and efficiency to the broader development ecosystem. While shadcn/ui revolutionized component distribution for React and Next.js projects, launchkey extends this paradigm to support any programming language, framework, or project type.

The Problem

Starting new projects and adding functionality often involves:

• Searching for boilerplate code across different repositories
• Copy-pasting code that may be outdated or incompatible
• Manually adapting templates to fit your specific tech stack
• Reinventing the wheel for common patterns and integrations
• Inconsistent project structures across teams and organizations

Our Solution

launchkey provides a unified CLI and registry system that makes code distribution and project scaffolding effortless:

Template-Driven Project Initialization

launchkey init

Choose from curated templates for any language or framework - from Python FastAPI backends to Rust CLI tools, from React frontends to Go microservices.

Incremental Feature Addition

launchkey add authentication
launchkey add database
launchkey add ci-cd

Add complex functionality with a single command. Each addition intelligently integrates with your existing codebase, following your project's conventions and patterns.

Flexible Registry System

• Default Registry: Curated, high-quality templates and components maintained by the community
• Custom Registries: Configure your own registries for internal tools, company standards, or specialized use cases
• Private Registries: Keep proprietary templates and components secure within your organization

Inspired by Excellence

launchkey builds upon the foundation laid by shadcn/ui's innovative approach to component distribution. Where shadcn/ui excels in the React ecosystem, launchkey expands this model to serve the entire software development landscape:

• Language Agnostic: Support for Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Rust, Go, Java, C#, and more
• Framework Flexible: Works with any framework or no framework at all
• Registry Driven: Extensible system that grows with your needs
• Developer Focused: Prioritizes developer experience and rapid iteration

Key Principles

• Code Ownership: Templates and components are copied into your project, not abstracted away
• Customizable: Every piece of generated code can be modified to fit your specific needs
• Composable: Mix and match components from different registries and sources
• Consistent: Maintain coding standards and architectural patterns across projects
• Discoverable: Rich metadata and search capabilities to find exactly what you need

What Makes It Different

Unlike traditional scaffolding tools that provide one-time project generation, launchkey enables continuous enhancement throughout your project's lifecycle. Add new features, integrate third-party services, or adopt new patterns without the friction of manual implementation.

The registry system ensures that best practices evolve with the community, while the CLI provides a consistent interface regardless of your technology choices.

Current Status

launchkey is in early development. We're currently designing the core architecture, registry format, and CLI interface. The technical implementation details will be shared as the project evolves.

License

MIT