Automating Next.js + shadcn Setup Because Manual Steps Suck

After discovering I could install all shadcn components at once, I kept setting up new Next.js projects manually. Create app, init shadcn, install components, pick themes. Same process every time I wanted to prototype something.

The Problem: Repetitive Setup Hell

Every new project one has to:

• Run create-next-app
• Initialize shadcn with npx shadcn@latest init
• Install all 47 components manually or with --all
• Ever try keeping theming consistent with AI-Forward dev? Fucked
• Forget half the steps

The Solution: Script It

Built an automation script that handles the entire flow. Takes project name, location, and optional theme. Does everything in one command.

Implementation

The script handles:

• Next.js 15 + TypeScript + Tailwind v4 creation
• shadcn initialization with theme support
• All 47 shadcn components installation
• Additional package installation
• Directory validation and path resolution

# Basic usage - creates project with default theme
./create-nextjs-shadcn.sh my-app

# Specify location
./create-nextjs-shadcn.sh my-app /code

# With specific theme
./create-nextjs-shadcn.sh juicy-blog /code mocha-mousse

Claude Code Integration

Making Claude Code use this as a sort of 'tool' was my original idea on this. Interactive setup asks for project details and shows all 24 available themes. The idea of using Claude Code as an operator to automate annoying dev tasks works well for this kind of repetitive bullshit.

Instead of remembering which theme names exist or constantly checking documentation, the command shows options and handles the setup. Command file uses portable path resolution to find the script in the same directory. No hardcoded paths.

Results

New projects go from 10+ manual steps to one command. Works standalone or through Claude Code. All components pre-installed, theme applied, ready for npm run dev.

Setup time: 30 seconds instead of however long it took me .

Shits just more reliable for autonomous agents to build on then expecting them to build an entire web app from the ground up. I like to try and make things easy for my AI.

Implementation Notes

There's not much to talk about here - - - pretty simple tbh.

Add the .md file to the .claude/commands directory, make sure the script is close by.

Works on any machine without path configuration

The script handles edge cases like existing directories and network failures during theme downloads.

https://github.com/williavs/create-nextjs-app-claude-command

This automation eliminated the tedious parts of project setup. Now starting a new Next.js project with full shadcn integration takes one command instead of a dozen manual steps. The real value is using Claude Code as an operator to handle the repetitive dev tasks that you'll forget how to do properly six months from now.

❤️ Willy out.