Phase 1 — Detect

Run the detection script via the Bash tool:

uv run python skills/add-badges/scripts/detect.py <path>

Parse the JSON output. The script detects: repo info, languages, package managers, frameworks, CI/CD, infrastructure, code quality, testing, docs, license, release, security, community, developer tooling, databases, monorepo signals, and existing badges.

If the script fails (uv unavailable, Python missing, script error, invalid JSON), fall back to manual detection:

• Glob for manifest files (pyproject.toml, package.json, go.mod, Cargo.toml, etc.)
• Read .git/config or run git remote get-url origin for owner/repo
• Glob .github/workflows/*.yml for CI badge candidates
• Read LICENSE first line for SPDX type
• Check for Dockerfile, .pre-commit-config.yaml, codecov.yml, etc.

Phase 2 — Select

Read references/badge-catalog-core.md (always). Read references/badge-catalog-extended.md when detection reports any non-basic signals (any of: frameworks, infrastructure, code_quality linters/formatters/type_checkers, docs, release, security, monorepo, databases, developer_tooling, community).

Read references/style-guide.md for layout, ordering, and URL conventions.

Selection rules:

• Prefer dynamic endpoints over static — never hardcode version numbers, coverage %, download counts
• Include ?logo={slug}&logoColor={white|black} on every badge with a Simple Icons slug
• Match existing badge style if README already has badges (from existing_badges.style); default to flat-square
• If platform is GitLab or Bitbucket, use shields.io platform paths (/gitlab/..., /bitbucket/...)
• --profile <name>: preset badge selection by maturity. new (3-5 badges: status, license, language), active (8-12: core + quality, code-style, frameworks), mature (12-18: core + all extended except developer-tooling), enterprise (15-20: ALL 16 categories including OpenSSF). Overrides --include/--exclude. No profile = auto-select based on detected features
• Target 8-15 badges; group by display super-groups: Status > Quality > Package > Tech Stack > Social

Display super-group → category mapping:

• Deduplicate against existing badges by comparing badge URL service/metric paths
• For CI status: prefer native badge URL (e.g., github.com/{owner}/{repo}/actions/workflows/{file}/badge.svg) — works for private repos. For repos with 5+ workflows, prioritize CI/test workflows; let user select others in Phase 3
• If repo.visibility is "private", skip badges marked requires: public-api and warn user. Prefer native URLs for CI and direct service URLs for coverage
• If existing badges reference dead services (from existing_badges.dead_services), flag them and suggest catalog replacements
• Custom badge support: if user requests a badge not in the catalog (Discord server, sponsor, custom API), construct from shields.io static badge API or endpoint badge API (/badge/dynamic/json?url=...&query=...). Ask for required params
• If user requests forthebadge.com-style decorative badges, use forthebadge.com API. Note: forthebadge is decorative only — no dynamic data. For dynamic badges in large bold style, use shields.io ?style=for-the-badge

Flag handling:

• --include <categories>: only generate badges from named categories (comma-separated). Category names: status, quality, package, license, language, social, code-style, frameworks, infrastructure, docs, release, databases, monorepo, community, security, developer-tooling. Mutually exclusive with --exclude — error if both provided
• --exclude <categories>: skip named categories. Same names as --include. Also accepts display group alias: tech-stack expands to language,frameworks,infrastructure,docs,release,databases,monorepo,developer-tooling. Mutually exclusive with --include
• --style <style>: override badge style (flat, flat-square, plastic, for-the-badge, social)
• --layout <layout>: badge arrangement — inline (default), centered, grouped, table, collapsible. collapsible wraps secondary groups (Tech Stack, Social) in <details><summary> elements — ideal for 15+ badges. See style-guide.md
• --readme <path>: target a specific file instead of auto-detected README
• --dark-mode: generate <picture> elements with <source media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)"> for theme-aware badges on GitHub. Produce HTML instead of pure markdown
• --dry-run: output proposed badge block and diff without modifying any file. Exit after preview
• --yes: skip approval prompt before modifying files
• --replace: replace content within markers AND consolidate scattered badges into the marker block

Phase 3 — Present

Show grouped preview with category headers. Render badges as actual [![alt](url)](link) markdown so the user can see them.

Diff indicators when updating existing badges:

• [+] new badge being added
• [=] existing badge being kept
• [-] existing badge being removed

If scattered badges exist outside markers, show their locations and offer to consolidate into the marker block.

If user requests removal only (e.g., "remove social badges"), skip detection, read existing badge block, remove specified badges, present updated block.

Offer to reorder, add, or remove individual badges before finalizing. Accept natural language adjustments ("move stars before license", "drop the forks badge", "add a Discord badge").

Ask for approval before modifying files. Skip approval if --yes passed. Never skip prompts for missing required info (owner/repo, workflow file names, etc.) even with --yes.

If --dry-run, output the proposed block and exit without modifying files.

Phase 4 — Insert

Find existing <!-- BADGES:START --> / <!-- BADGES:END --> markers or create them.

Insert approved badges grouped by display super-group (Status, Quality, Package, Tech Stack, Social). Separate groups with a blank line. Add <!-- generated by add-badges YYYY-MM-DD --> comment inside the marker block.

Insertion point priority:

1. Existing markers (replace content between them)
2. After first # Title heading
3. Top of file if no heading found

If no README exists, create one with # {repo-name} heading then add badges.

If --dark-mode, wrap each badge in <picture> elements per style-guide.md.

--replace consolidates any scattered badges found outside markers into the marker block. Show user exactly what will be moved — nothing silently deleted.

Preserve any manual content outside markers.

After insertion, optionally run uv run python skills/add-badges/scripts/validate-badges.py <readme-path> via Bash to verify all badge URLs return valid responses. Report any broken or slow badges to the user.

Style Rules

Default style: flat-square. Match existing style if badges already present. Use for-the-badge for hero/landing sections. Use social style for star/follow count badges. Separate display groups with a blank line in the output.

Error Handling

• No git remote: prompt for owner/repo. If user declines, generate only static language/framework/tooling badges (no remote-dependent badges)
• No manifest files: static-only badges
• RST/AsciiDoc README: use appropriate image syntax (see style-guide.md for format-specific syntax)
• Mixed existing styles: recommend standardizing, ask user which style
• Style-only change (--style with no other changes): preserve current badge set, update style param only
• Private repo detected: skip requires: public-api badges, prefer native badge URLs, warn user
• detect.py produces partial results: work with what is available, note missing sections

Tricky Icon Slugs

Common Simple Icons gotchas: gnubash not bash, nodedotjs not node, vuedotjs not vue, nextdotjs not next, .env is dotenv, springboot not spring-boot, flydotio not fly. Note: nuxt is now correct (was nuxtdotjs). For icons not in the catalog, use lowercase brand name; check simpleicons.org if unsure.

Golden Example

<!-- BADGES:START -->
<!-- generated by add-badges 2025-01-15 -->
[![CI](https://github.com/{owner}/{repo}/actions/workflows/ci.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/{owner}/{repo}/actions)
[![PyPI](https://img.shields.io/pypi/v/{package}?style=flat-square&logo=pypi&logoColor=white)](https://pypi.org/project/{package}/)
[![License](https://img.shields.io/github/license/{owner}/{repo}?style=flat-square)](https://github.com/{owner}/{repo}/blob/main/LICENSE)
[![OpenSSF Scorecard](https://api.scorecard.dev/projects/github.com/{owner}/{repo}/badge)](https://scorecard.dev/viewer/?uri=github.com/{owner}/{repo})
<!-- BADGES:END -->

Reference File Index

Canonical Vocabulary

Critical Rules

Non-negotiable constraints for every badge operation:

1. Never hardcode dynamic values. Always use shields.io dynamic endpoints for versions, coverage, and download counts.
2. Always include logo parameters. Every badge with a Simple Icons slug must have ?logo={slug}&logoColor={white|black}.
3. Respect existing style. Match the style of badges already present in the README; default to flat-square only when no badges exist.
4. Never modify content outside markers. Preserve all manual content outside <!-- BADGES:START --> / <!-- BADGES:END --> markers.
5. Always ask before writing. Never modify the README without user approval unless --yes was explicitly passed.
6. Check icon slugs carefully. Use the Tricky Icon Slugs list; verify against simpleicons.org when uncertain.
7. Skip private-incompatible badges. When repo.visibility is "private", never generate badges marked requires: public-api.