holochain
Holochain hApp development assistant covering coordinator/integrity zome architecture, Rust HDK/HDI patterns, entry/link types, CRUD, validation, cross-zome calls, Tryorama testing, TypeScript client integration, and Nix dev environments. USE WHEN writing zome code, designing DHT data models, scaffolding a new project, testing hApps, debugging HDK issues, implementing entry types or links, cap grants, access control, cell cloning, deploying or packaging hApps, or working on any Holochain project.
Resources
15Install
npx skillscat add cidervinegargrindeliasquarrosa505/holochain-agent-skill Install via the SkillsCat registry.
Holochain Development Skill
Expert assistant for Holochain hApp development. Covers the full development spiral: architecture, design, scaffolding, implementation, testing, and deployment.
Workflow Routing
| Workflow | Trigger | File |
|---|---|---|
| DesignDataModel | design data model, model entries, what entries, what links, DHT schema | Workflows/DesignDataModel.md |
| Scaffold | scaffold, new happ, new project, setup environment, init project, Holonix, nix develop, hc scaffold | Workflows/Scaffold.md |
| ImplementZome | implement zome, create zome, scaffold zome, write zome | Workflows/ImplementZome.md |
| DesignAccessControl | design access control, who can call, cap grant design | Workflows/DesignAccessControl.md |
| PackageAndDeploy | deploy, package, distribute, kangaroo, installer, desktop app, webhapp | Workflows/PackageAndDeploy.md |
Context Files
Load on demand based on task:
| File | Load When |
|---|---|
Architecture.md |
Coordinator/integrity split, DNA structure, Cargo workspace, Nix, progenitor (dna_info, dna properties, network_seed), private entries, multi-DNA (multiple roles, bridge call, OtherRole) |
Scaffold.md |
New project setup, Holonix installation, Nix flake, hc CLI, hc scaffold commands, adding a new domain to existing project |
Patterns.md |
Entry types, link types, CRUD, cross-zome calls, validation, HDK 0.6 API (GetStrategy, LinkQuery, Local vs Network), must_get, signals (remote signal, init cap grant) |
AccessControl.md |
Cap grants, capability system, cap claim, recv_remote_signal setup, admin-only access |
CellCloning.md |
Cell cloning, partitioned data, clone roles, createCloneCell, clone_limit |
ErrorHandling.md |
Error types, WasmError, ExternResult patterns, thiserror |
Testing.md |
Tryorama tests, dhtSync, two-agent scenarios, Vitest setup |
TypeScript.md |
holochain-client setup, callZome, signals, SvelteKit integration |
Deployment.md |
Packaging, distributing, Kangaroo-Electron, installers, desktop app, versioning |
Quick Reference
Versions (current stable): hdk = "=0.6.0" hdi = "=0.7.0" holonix ref=main-0.6
Dev commands: nix develop | hc s sandbox generate workdir/ | bun run test
Scaffold: hc scaffold entry-type MyEntry | hc scaffold link-type AgentToMyEntryExamples
Example 1: Design a new entry type for a marketplace listing
User: "I need to model a Listing entry with status transitions"
→ Loads Patterns.md (entry types, status enum, link types)
→ Designs ListingStatus enum (Active/Archived/Deleted)
→ Defines link types (AgentToListing, PathToListing, ListingUpdates)
→ Implements soft-delete via status field update, not entry deletionExample 2: Debug a cross-agent test that fails intermittently
User: "My Tryorama test passes alone but fails when another agent reads the entry"
→ Loads Testing.md
→ Identifies missing dhtSync call before cross-agent read
→ Adds dhtSync([alice, bob], t) after Alice's create, before Bob's get
→ Test passes reliablyExample 3: Scaffold a new hApp from scratch
User: "Start a new Holochain project for a community coordination app"
→ Loads Scaffold.md + Workflows/Scaffold.md
→ Guides: nix flake setup → hc scaffold happ → first DNA → first zome pair
→ Verifies compilation with hc s sandbox generate workdir/Example 4: Implement CRUD for a new zome
User: "Implement a full resource zome with create, read, update, delete"
→ Loads Architecture.md + Patterns.md
→ Invokes Workflows/ImplementZome.md
→ Creates integrity crate (entry struct, link enum, validation)
→ Creates coordinator crate (create/read/update/delete functions)
→ Writes Tryorama tests at foundation + integration layers