Framework Detection

When to Use

• Starting work on an unfamiliar project
• Determining appropriate tooling and patterns for recommendations
• Providing framework-specific guidance and best practices
• Identifying package manager for dependency operations
• Understanding project architecture before making changes

Detection Methodology

Step 1: Package Manager Detection

Check for package manager indicators in the project root:

File	Package Manager	Ecosystem
package-lock.json	npm	Node.js
yarn.lock	Yarn	Node.js
pnpm-lock.yaml	pnpm	Node.js
bun.lockb	Bun	Node.js
requirements.txt	pip	Python
Pipfile.lock	pipenv	Python
poetry.lock	Poetry	Python
uv.lock	uv	Python
Cargo.lock	Cargo	Rust
go.sum	Go Modules	Go
Gemfile.lock	Bundler	Ruby
composer.lock	Composer	PHP

Step 2: Configuration File Analysis

Examine root-level configuration files for framework indicators:

1. Read package.json - Check dependencies and devDependencies for framework packages
2. Read pyproject.toml - Check [project.dependencies] or [tool.poetry.dependencies]
3. Read framework-specific configs - next.config.js, vite.config.ts, angular.json, etc.

Step 3: Directory Structure Patterns

Identify framework conventions:

• app/ or src/app/ - Next.js App Router, Angular
• pages/ - Next.js Pages Router, Nuxt.js
• components/ - React/Vue component-based architecture
• routes/ - Remix, SvelteKit
• views/ - Django, Rails, Laravel
• controllers/ - MVC frameworks (Rails, Laravel, NestJS)

Step 4: Framework-Specific Patterns

Apply detection patterns from the framework signatures reference.

Detection Workflow

START
  |
  v
[Check lock files] --> Identify package manager
  |
  v
[Read manifest] --> package.json / pyproject.toml / Cargo.toml
  |
  v
[Check dependencies] --> Match against known frameworks
  |
  v
[Check config files] --> Framework-specific configuration
  |
  v
[Verify directory structure] --> Confirm framework conventions
  |
  v
[Output] --> Framework, version, package manager, key patterns

Output Format

When reporting detected framework, include:

1. Framework name and version (if determinable)
2. Package manager (with command examples)
3. Key configuration files to be aware of
4. Directory conventions the framework expects
5. Common commands for development workflow

Best Practices

• Always verify detection by checking multiple indicators (config + dependencies + structure)
• Report confidence level when patterns are ambiguous
• Note when multiple frameworks are present (e.g., Next.js + Tailwind + Prisma)
• Check for meta-frameworks built on top of base frameworks
• Consider monorepo patterns where different packages may use different frameworks

References

See references/framework-signatures.md for comprehensive detection patterns for all major frameworks.