Guide · Agent skill

How to use the Spring Boot Kotlin Project Setup agent skill

Updated 2026-10-29 · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

This guide explains how to install and use the create-spring-boot-kotlin-project agent skill, which tells an AI agent how to build a new Spring Boot project in Kotlin from a fixed set of steps. It is written for readers who have never used agent skills. By the end you will know what the skill does, how to add it to Claude, how to ask for it in plain language, and what to check before running it.

Spring Boot Kotlin Project Setupgithub/awesome-copilot · MIT Download the skill

Quick start

1Download the skill ZIP. Download the create-spring-boot-kotlin-project ZIP from our page.
2Install the skill. Unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or into .claude/skills/ in your project, or upload it under Settings, Capabilities, Skills in the Claude apps.
3Install the prerequisites. Make sure Java 21, Docker, Docker Compose, curl and unzip are installed and that you can reach start.spring.io.
4Ask for a new project. Describe in plain language that you want a new Spring Boot project in Kotlin, and name the project if you have one in mind.
5Let the agent run the steps. The agent checks Java, downloads and unzips the template, and adds the SpringDoc, ArchUnit, Redis, R2DBC and MongoDB settings.
6Check the generated files. Review docker-compose.yaml, application.properties and .gitignore, and replace the default rootroot password before any non-local use.
7Run the tests. Confirm the project builds by running ./gradlew clean test in the project folder.

What does this skill make the agent do?

The skill is a repeatable recipe rather than a general coding assistant. When you ask the agent to start a new Spring Boot project in Kotlin, it follows the steps written in the skill's SKILL.md file instead of improvising a setup.

In order, the source describes these steps: check that Java is present, download a project template from start.spring.io with the chosen dependencies, unzip it, add SpringDoc, ArchUnit, Redis, R2DBC and MongoDB settings, create a docker-compose file for the databases, update .gitignore, and run the Gradle tests.

Checks the installed Java version with java -version
Downloads a Gradle Kotlin project template from start.spring.io using curl
Unzips the template and removes the downloaded zip file
Adds SpringDoc and ArchUnit dependencies and Redis, R2DBC and MongoDB settings to application.properties
Creates docker-compose.yaml with redis, postgresql and mongo services
Adds redis_data, postgres_data and mongo_data to .gitignore
Runs ./gradlew clean test to confirm the project works

Check whether this skill fits your project

The skill is aimed at Java and Kotlin developers who want a reactive Spring Boot starter connected to Redis, PostgreSQL and MongoDB, teams that want the same local Docker Compose setup for everyone, and developers who want a quick baseline to adapt.

It is not a good fit if your project does not use Redis, PostgreSQL and MongoDB, because the skill adds all three regardless of need. It is also not for production. The skill hardcodes the default password rootroot in application.properties and docker-compose, which is only suitable for local development. If you cannot run terminal commands, skip it, because every step is a shell command.

Install the skill in Claude

Skills are folders containing a SKILL.md file. This skill is distributed as a ZIP from our page. You can install it in one of two ways.

For a personal install that works across your projects, unzip the download into ~/.claude/skills/. For a single project, unzip it into the .claude/skills/ folder inside that project. Alternatively, in the Claude apps, open Settings, go to Capabilities, and upload the skill under Skills.

Personal: unzip into ~/.claude/skills/
Project only: unzip into .claude/skills/ in the project folder
Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload the skill

Install the prerequisites

Before you ask the agent to run the skill, make sure the required software is available on your machine. The source lists these requirements: Java 21, Docker, Docker Compose, Gradle through the generated wrapper, the curl and unzip command-line tools, and network access to start.spring.io.

The skill runs scripts and uses the network, so it will only work in an environment where the agent can run terminal commands. Check Java first.

Java 21
Docker and Docker Compose
curl and unzip command-line tools
Network access to start.spring.io
Gradle is provided by the generated ./gradlew wrapper

java -version

Trigger the skill with a natural request

You do not need to type the skill name. Describe what you want in plain language that matches the skill's purpose, such as creating a new Spring Boot project in Kotlin. The agent should recognise the request and follow the skill's steps.

If you want a different project name or Spring Boot version, say so in your request. The source notes that these values are set in the download step, through the artifactId, packageName and bootVersion parameters, so you can also edit the skill's file yourself before you run it.

Create a new Spring Boot Kotlin project called orders-api
Start a Kotlin Spring Boot project with Redis, PostgreSQL and MongoDB for local development
Set up a Spring Boot Kotlin baseline with Docker Compose and run the Gradle tests

Review the result and start the services

When the skill finishes, check the generated project before you build on it. Look at application.properties, docker-compose.yaml and .gitignore. The source's optional final step starts the databases with docker-compose up -d and stops them with docker-compose rm -sf.

The source also lists ./gradlew spring-boot:run to run the application, but review that command before you rely on it, since it is written as a suggestion rather than a tested procedure.

Confirm that application.properties contains the Redis, R2DBC and MongoDB settings
Confirm that docker-compose.yaml defines the redis, postgresql and mongo services
Confirm that the data directories are listed in .gitignore

docker-compose up -d
./gradlew clean test
docker-compose rm -sf

What people use it for

Starting a reactive Spring Boot Kotlin backend that needs Redis caching and PostgreSQL access through R2DBC
Giving a team the same local Docker Compose stack for Redis, PostgreSQL and MongoDB
Creating a quick baseline project with SpringDoc OpenAPI docs and ArchUnit tests to build on

Frequently asked questions

Is the create-spring-boot-kotlin-project skill free to use?

The skill is listed under the MIT licence on its source repository. Check the licence file that comes with your download for the full terms before you reuse or modify it.

What do I need installed to use this skill?

The source lists Java 21, Docker, Docker Compose, Gradle through the generated wrapper, the curl and unzip command-line tools, and network access to start.spring.io. Without these, the agent's steps will fail.

Where do I put the skill so Claude can use it?

Unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or into .claude/skills/ inside a project for that project only. You can also upload it in the Claude apps under Settings, Capabilities, Skills.

Can I use this skill for a production app?

No. The skill hardcodes the default password rootroot in application.properties and docker-compose, which the source says is only suitable for local development. Change credentials and review the configuration before any production use.

Why does the skill add Redis, PostgreSQL and MongoDB even if I only need one?

The skill adds all three regardless of need, so it is a poor fit if your project uses only some of them. You would need to remove the unused settings and services by hand.

What should I do if the skill fails at the download step?

Check that curl is installed and that you have network access to start.spring.io. Also confirm that the zip file is not left in place from an earlier run, since the skill removes it after unzipping.

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Our verdict

Use this skill if you are a Java or Kotlin developer who wants a reactive Spring Boot starter with Redis, PostgreSQL and MongoDB wired up for local Docker Compose development, or a team that wants everyone on the same local setup. Pick something else if you do not need all three databases, if you are deploying to production without rewriting its default credentials, or if you cannot run terminal commands.

Download the skill