wursor/docs/decisions/0008-empty-packages-not-stubs.md

8. Workspace ships empty packages, not placeholder source

• Status: Accepted
• Date: 2026-08-15

Context

The repo had only documentation. A buildable monorepo was needed before code could land, but Phase 0 was not done. The wursor-principles skill says "subtract before you add" and "delete the placeholder rather than working around it."

Decision

Create the pnpm workspace (api, web, e2e, plus plugin composer + infrastructure dirs) with real manifests and tsconfigs but no application source — only .gitkeep markers and the Phase 0 spike/runner code that has tests.

Options considered

• Empty packages.
• Stub every file from the IMPLEMENTATION.md tree.

Rejected

• Stubs — // TODO files are placeholders we would have to delete; they also look like progress without being testable.

Consequences

• pnpm install / pnpm test:e2e are green and prove the workspace is real.
• Product code remains gated on Phase 0 (ADR 2).