Archived cli/archive/14-add-path.md

patties add --path

The destination for patties add is hard-coded to app/components/ui/. shadcn's

Purpose

The destination for patties add is hard-coded to app/components/ui/. shadcn's --path lets users redirect where component source is written; the matrix calls this "the only hard-coded convention shadcn users will miss immediately" (matrix §2 --path — gap; "Gaps worth an RFC" #3). This spec adds a per- invocation --path flag, backed by the optional config.ui.componentsDir introduced in [[framework/25-ui-config-block]].

Usage

patties add --path src/ui button        # stamp button.tsx into src/ui/
patties add --path packages/web/ui --all

--path overrides the destination for this invocation only. For a durable project-wide change, set config.ui.componentsDir instead ([[framework/25-ui-config-block]]).

Behavior

  1. parseArgs gains a --path <value> option (add.ts:161). It takes the next argv token as its value; a missing value is EXIT.USAGE.
  2. The path is resolved relative to ctx.cwd. Reject absolute paths and paths that resolve outside the project root → EXIT.USAGE, one-line message. (Same guard as the config block.)
  3. The resolved dir replaces componentsDir in the path set threaded through the stamper. _internal/ helpers go to <path>/_internal/ (mirrors the internalDir default). The tokensFile is not affected by --path — only component + helper destinations move; tokens stay where config/convention puts them (one stylesheet per project).
  4. Precedence: --path > config.ui.componentsDir > convention default (app/components/ui).
  5. Composes with --dry-run, --view, --force, --all — the plan/preview reflects the redirected destination.

Acceptance criteria

  • patties add --path src/ui button stamps src/ui/button.tsx and src/ui/_internal/cn.ts; nothing lands in app/components/ui/.
  • --path with no following value exits EXIT.USAGE.
  • An absolute --path /etc or a --path ../../outside exits EXIT.USAGE; no files written.
  • --path overrides config.ui.componentsDir for that invocation only; a later patties add with no flag uses the config/convention value again.
  • patties add --path src/ui --dry-run button shows src/ui/button.tsx in the plan.
  • tokens.css destination is unchanged by --path.