feat(ai-config): add framework prompt & early detect so command can always run

Author: damyanpetev

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+# 15.1.1 (2026-05-14)
+
+## What's Changed
+* feat(ai-config): `ig ai-config` now accepts a `--framework` / `-f` option for explicit framework specification. When omitted, the command still attempts to auto-detect the framework, but if detection fails it now also prompts the user for selection (in TTY).
+
 # 15.1.0 (2026-05-13)
 
 ## What's Changed

packages/cli/lib/PromptSession.ts

@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ export class PromptSession extends BasePromptSession {
 		await upgrade.upgrade({ skipInstall: true, _: ["upgrade"], $0: "upgrade" });
 	}
 
-	protected override async configureAI(): Promise<void> {
-		await aiConfigure();
+	protected override async configureAI(frameworkId: string): Promise<void> {
+		await aiConfigure(frameworkId);
 	}
 
 	protected override templateSelectedTask(type: "component" | "view" = "component"): Task<PromptTaskContext> {

packages/cli/lib/commands/ai-config.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,22 @@
-import { addMcpServers, AI_AGENT_LABELS, AI_AGENT_CHOICES, AIAgentTarget, copyAgentInstructionFiles, copyAISkillsToProject, GoogleAnalytics, InquirerWrapper, Util, AiCodingAssistant, AI_ASSISTANT_MCP_CONFIGS, AI_ASSISTANT_CHOICES, AI_ASSISTANT_LABELS } from "@igniteui/cli-core";
+import {
+	addMcpServers,
+	AI_AGENT_LABELS,
+	AI_AGENT_CHOICES,
+	type AIAgentTarget,
+	copyAgentInstructionFiles,
+	copyAISkillsToProject,
+	GoogleAnalytics,
+	InquirerWrapper,
+	Util,
+	type AiCodingAssistant,
+	AI_ASSISTANT_MCP_CONFIGS,
+	AI_ASSISTANT_CHOICES,
+	AI_ASSISTANT_LABELS,
+	detectFramework,
+	App,
+	type BaseTemplateManager,
+	TEMPLATE_MANAGER,
+} from "@igniteui/cli-core";
 import { ArgumentsCamelCase, CommandModule } from "yargs";
 
 export function configureMCP(assistants: AiCodingAssistant[]): void {
@@ -14,8 +32,8 @@ export function configureMCP(assistants: AiCodingAssistant[]): void {
 	}
 }
 
-export function configureSkills(agents: AIAgentTarget[]): void {
-	const result = copyAISkillsToProject(agents);
+export function configureSkills(agents: AIAgentTarget[], framework: string): void {
+	const result = copyAISkillsToProject(agents, framework);
 	if (result.found === 0) {
 		Util.warn("No AI skill files found. Make sure packages are installed (npm install) " +
 			"and your Ignite UI packages are up-to-date.", "yellow");
@@ -32,7 +50,7 @@ export function configureSkills(agents: AIAgentTarget[]): void {
 type AIAgentOption = AIAgentTarget | "none";
 type AIAssistantOption = AiCodingAssistant | "none";
 
-export async function configure(agents: AIAgentOption[] = [], assistants: AIAssistantOption[] = [], skills = true): Promise<{ agents: AIAgentTarget[], assistants: AiCodingAssistant[] }> {
+export async function configure(framework: string, agents: AIAgentOption[] = [], assistants: AIAssistantOption[] = [], skills = true): Promise<{ agents: AIAgentTarget[], assistants: AiCodingAssistant[] }> {
 	if (!agents.length) {
 		agents = await promptForAgents();
 	}
@@ -53,9 +71,9 @@ export async function configure(agents: AIAgentOption[] = [], assistants: AIAssi
 		Util.log("No AI configuration selected. Skipping.");
 	} else {
 		if (skills) {
-			configureSkills(resolvedAgents);
+			configureSkills(resolvedAgents, framework);
 		}
-		copyAgentInstructionFiles(resolvedAgents);
+		copyAgentInstructionFiles(resolvedAgents, framework);
 	}
 
 	return { agents: resolvedAgents, assistants: resolvedAssistants };
@@ -82,7 +100,7 @@ const AI_ASSISTANT_CHECKBOX_CHOICES = [
 	}))
 ];
 
-export async function promptForAgents(): Promise<AIAgentOption[]> {
+async function promptForAgents(): Promise<AIAgentOption[]> {
 	let selected: AIAgentOption[] = AI_AGENT_CHECKBOX_DEFAULTS;
 	if (Util.canPrompt()) {
 		const result = await InquirerWrapper.checkbox({
@@ -95,7 +113,7 @@ export async function promptForAgents(): Promise<AIAgentOption[]> {
 	return selected;
 }
 
-export async function promptForAssistant(): Promise<AIAssistantOption[]> {
+async function promptForAssistant(): Promise<AIAssistantOption[]> {
 	let selected: AIAssistantOption[] = AI_ASSISTANT_CHECKBOX_DEFAULTS;
 	if (Util.canPrompt()) {
 		const result = await InquirerWrapper.checkbox({
@@ -108,6 +126,23 @@ export async function promptForAssistant(): Promise<AIAssistantOption[]> {
 	return selected;
 }
 
+/** delayed call so it's not immediate on module import for testing purposes */
+function getTemplateManager(): BaseTemplateManager {
+	return App.container.get<BaseTemplateManager>(TEMPLATE_MANAGER);
+}
+
+/** Separate from the PromptSession prompt due to step by step config */
+async function promptForFrameworkId(): Promise<string> {
+	const tm = getTemplateManager();
+	const frameRes: string = await InquirerWrapper.select({
+		name: "framework",
+		message: "Choose framework:",
+		choices: tm.getFrameworkNames(),
+		default: "Angular"
+	});
+	return tm.getFrameworkByName(frameRes).id;
+}
+
 const command: CommandModule = {
 	command: "ai-config",
 	describe: "Configures Ignite UI AI tooling (MCP servers, AI coding skills and instructions)",
@@ -122,6 +157,12 @@ const command: CommandModule = {
 			describe: "Coding assistant(s) to configure MCP servers for",
 			choices: [...AI_ASSISTANT_CHOICES, "none"] as string[],
 			type: "array"
+		})
+		.option("framework", {
+			alias: "f",
+			describe: "Manually set project framework to configure AI for.",
+			choices: getTemplateManager()?.getFrameworkIds(),
+			type: "string"
 		}),
 	async handler(argv: ArgumentsCamelCase) {
 		const agents = (argv.agents ?? []) as AIAgentOption[];
@@ -131,7 +172,20 @@ const command: CommandModule = {
 			cd: "Ai Config"
 		});
 
-		const result = await configure(agents, assistants);
+		let framework: string = argv.framework as string ?? detectFramework();
+		if (!framework) {
+			Util.log("Framework not provided and couldn't detect project from config or structure.");
+			if (Util.canPrompt()) {
+				framework = await promptForFrameworkId();
+			} else {
+				return Util.error("Please provide --framework argument.", "red");
+			}
+		}
+		if (!getTemplateManager()?.getFrameworkById(framework)) {
+			return Util.error("Framework not supported", "red");
+		}
+
+		const result = await configure(framework, agents, assistants);
 
 		GoogleAnalytics.post({
 			t: "event",

packages/cli/lib/commands/new.ts

@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ const command: NewCommandType = {
 		}
 
 		process.chdir(argv.name);
-		await configure(argv.agents as (AIAgentTarget | "none")[], argv.assistants as (AiCodingAssistant | "none")[]);
+		await configure(argv.framework, argv.agents as (AIAgentTarget | "none")[], argv.assistants as (AiCodingAssistant | "none")[]);
 		process.chdir("..");
 
 		Util.log(Util.greenCheck() + " Project Created");

packages/core/prompt/BasePromptSession.ts

@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ export abstract class BasePromptSession {
 			}
 			// move cwd to project folder
 			process.chdir(projectName);
-			await this.configureAI();
+			await this.configureAI(framework.id);
 		}
 		await this.chooseActionLoop(projLibrary);
 		//TODO: restore cwd?
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ export abstract class BasePromptSession {
 	protected abstract upgradePackages();
 
 	/** Configure Ignite UI AI tooling (MCP servers and AI coding skills) for the project */
-	protected abstract configureAI(): Promise<void>;
+	protected abstract configureAI(frameworkId: string): Promise<void>;
 
 	/**
 	 * Get user name and set template's extra configurations if any

packages/core/util/ai-skills.ts

@@ -3,10 +3,8 @@ import type { BaseTemplateManager } from "../templates";
 import { FS_TOKEN, IFileSystem } from "../types/FileSystem";
 import { NPM_ANGULAR, NPM_REACT, NPM_WEBCOMPONENTS, resolvePackage, UPGRADEABLE_PACKAGES } from "../update/package-resolve";
 import { App } from "./App";
-import { detectFrameworkFromPackageJson } from "./detect-framework";
 import { FsFileSystem } from "./FileSystem";
 import { TEMPLATE_MANAGER } from "./GlobalConstants";
-import { ProjectConfig } from "./ProjectConfig";
 import { Util } from "./Util";
 
 export const AI_AGENT_CHOICES = ["generic", "claude", "copilot", "cursor", "codex", "windsurf", "gemini", "junie"] as const;
@@ -86,17 +84,10 @@ function resolveTemplateFilesDir(framework: string): string | null {
  * Ignite UI packages that are relevant to the project's detected framework.
  * Falls back to the bundled template skills when no npm package is installed.
  */
-function resolveSkillsRoots(): string[] {
+function resolveSkillsRoots(framework: string): string[] {
 	const fs = App.container.get<IFileSystem>(FS_TOKEN);
 	const roots: string[] = [];
 
-	let framework: string | null = null;
-	try {
-		if (ProjectConfig.hasLocalConfig()) {
-			framework = ProjectConfig.getConfig().project?.framework?.toLowerCase() ?? null;
-		}
-	} catch { /* config not readable – fall through to scan all */ }
-
 	const allPkgKeys = Object.keys(UPGRADEABLE_PACKAGES);
 	let candidates = new Set<string>();
 	if (framework === "angular") {
@@ -120,12 +111,9 @@ function resolveSkillsRoots(): string[] {
 
 	if (!roots.length) {
 		// if no root discovered, take the root from the appropriate project template files:
-		framework ??= detectFrameworkFromPackageJson();
-		if (framework) {
-			const filesDir = resolveTemplateFilesDir(framework);
-			if (filesDir) {
-				roots.push(path.join(filesDir, AI_SKILLS_DIR_NAME));
-			}
+		const filesDir = resolveTemplateFilesDir(framework);
+		if (filesDir) {
+			roots.push(path.join(filesDir, AI_SKILLS_DIR_NAME));
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -137,14 +125,14 @@ function resolveSkillsRoots(): string[] {
  * skills directories for each of the given AI agents.
  * @param agents – list of AI agent targets to copy skills for
  */
-export function copyAISkillsToProject(agents: AIAgentTarget[]): AISkillsCopyResult {
+export function copyAISkillsToProject(agents: AIAgentTarget[], framework: string): AISkillsCopyResult {
 	const result: AISkillsCopyResult = { found: 0, skipped: 0, failed: 0 };
 	// Source reads (glob + readFile) always use physical FS - skill files can
 	// come from sources outside the project virtual tree (external/global package):
 	const srcFs = new FsFileSystem();
 	// Destination writes respect the App FS (which may be virtual):
 	const destFs = App.container.get<IFileSystem>(FS_TOKEN);
-	const skillsRoots = resolveSkillsRoots();
+	const skillsRoots = resolveSkillsRoots(framework);
 
 	if (!skillsRoots.length) {
 		return result;
@@ -198,20 +186,8 @@ export function copyAISkillsToProject(agents: AIAgentTarget[]): AISkillsCopyResu
  * Resolves the AGENTS.md source file content from the bundled project template files.
  * AGENTS.md lives only in the template files/ directory, not in npm packages.
  */
-function resolveAgentsContent(): string | null {
-	let framework: string | null = null;
-	try {
-		if (ProjectConfig.hasLocalConfig()) {
-			framework = ProjectConfig.getConfig().project?.framework?.toLowerCase() ?? null;
-		}
-	} catch { /* fall through */ }
-	framework ??= detectFrameworkFromPackageJson();
-
-	if (!framework) {
-		return null;
-	}
-
-	const filesDir = resolveTemplateFilesDir(framework);
+function resolveAgentsContent(framework: string): string | null {
+	const filesDir = resolveTemplateFilesDir(framework.toLowerCase());
 	if (!filesDir) {
 		return null;
 	}
@@ -228,8 +204,8 @@ function resolveAgentsContent(): string | null {
  * each of the given agents.
  * @param agents – list of AI agent targets to create instruction files for
  */
-export function copyAgentInstructionFiles(agents: AIAgentTarget[]): void {
-	const content = resolveAgentsContent();
+export function copyAgentInstructionFiles(agents: AIAgentTarget[], framework: string): void {
+	const content = resolveAgentsContent(framework);
 	if (!content) {
 		return;
 	}

packages/core/util/detect-framework.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,27 @@
 import { App } from "./App";
 import { IFileSystem, FS_TOKEN } from "../types/FileSystem";
+import { ProjectConfig } from "./ProjectConfig";
+
+type Framework = "angular" | "react" | "webcomponents";
+
+/**
+ * Attempt to detect project framework by first checking for local cli-config,
+ * then falling back to package.json analysis of `detectFrameworkFromPackageJson()`.
+ * @returns The detected framework Id or `null` if no framework could be detected.
+ */
+export function detectFramework():  Framework | null {
+	let framework: Framework | null = null;
+	try {
+		// try project config first:
+		if (ProjectConfig.hasLocalConfig()) {
+			framework = ProjectConfig.getConfig().project?.framework?.toLowerCase() as Framework ?? null;
+		}
+	} catch { /* fall through */ }
+
+	framework ??= detectFrameworkFromPackageJson();
+
+	return framework;
+}
 
 /**
  * Attempts to detect the front-end framework by inspecting for well-known,
@@ -12,7 +34,7 @@ import { IFileSystem, FS_TOKEN } from "../types/FileSystem";
  *  - "webcomponents"→ fallback when neither of the above is found
  *  - `null` if `package.json` is absent or cannot be parsed.
  */
-export function detectFrameworkFromPackageJson(): "angular" | "react" | "webcomponents" | null {
+export function detectFrameworkFromPackageJson(): Framework | null {
 	const fs = App.container.get<IFileSystem>(FS_TOKEN);
 	if (!fs.fileExists("./package.json")) {
 		return null;

packages/ng-schematics/src/cli-config/index.ts

@@ -132,8 +132,8 @@ function aiConfig({ init, agents, assistants }: { init: boolean; agents: AIAgent
 		if (init) {
 			appInit(tree);
 		}
-		copyAISkillsToProject(agents);
-		copyAgentInstructionFiles(agents);
+		copyAISkillsToProject(agents, "angular");
+		copyAgentInstructionFiles(agents, "angular");
 
 		const angularCliServer: Record<string, McpServerEntry> = {
 			"angular-cli": {

packages/ng-schematics/src/cli-config/index_spec.ts

@@ -332,8 +332,8 @@ export const appConfig: ApplicationConfig = {
 			await runner.runSchematic("ai-config", {}, tree);
 
 			expect(aiSkillsModule.copyAISkillsToProject).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-			expect(aiSkillsModule.copyAISkillsToProject).toHaveBeenCalledWith(["claude", "generic"]);
-			expect(aiSkillsModule.copyAgentInstructionFiles).toHaveBeenCalledWith(["claude", "generic"]);
+			expect(aiSkillsModule.copyAISkillsToProject).toHaveBeenCalledWith(["claude", "generic"], "angular");
+			expect(aiSkillsModule.copyAgentInstructionFiles).toHaveBeenCalledWith(["claude", "generic"], "angular");
 		});
 
 		it("should create .vscode/mcp.json with igniteui and angular-cli servers when file does not exist", async () => {
@@ -407,30 +407,30 @@ export const appConfig: ApplicationConfig = {
 		it("should pass agents when agents option is provided", async () => {
 			await runner.runSchematic("ai-config", { agents: ["cursor"] }, tree);
 
-			expect(aiSkillsModule.copyAISkillsToProject).toHaveBeenCalledWith(["cursor"]);
-			expect(aiSkillsModule.copyAgentInstructionFiles).toHaveBeenCalledWith(["cursor"]);
+			expect(aiSkillsModule.copyAISkillsToProject).toHaveBeenCalledWith(["cursor"], "angular");
+			expect(aiSkillsModule.copyAgentInstructionFiles).toHaveBeenCalledWith(["cursor"], "angular");
 		});
 
 		it("should pass agents for copilot agents", async () => {
 			await runner.runSchematic("ai-config", { agents: ["copilot"] }, tree);
 
-			expect(aiSkillsModule.copyAISkillsToProject).toHaveBeenCalledWith(["copilot"]);
-			expect(aiSkillsModule.copyAgentInstructionFiles).toHaveBeenCalledWith(["copilot"]);
+			expect(aiSkillsModule.copyAISkillsToProject).toHaveBeenCalledWith(["copilot"], "angular");
+			expect(aiSkillsModule.copyAgentInstructionFiles).toHaveBeenCalledWith(["copilot"], "angular");
 		});
 
 		it("should pass agents for generic agents", async () => {
 			await runner.runSchematic("ai-config", { agents: ["generic"] }, tree);
 
-			expect(aiSkillsModule.copyAISkillsToProject).toHaveBeenCalledWith(["generic"]);
-			expect(aiSkillsModule.copyAgentInstructionFiles).toHaveBeenCalledWith(["generic"]);
+			expect(aiSkillsModule.copyAISkillsToProject).toHaveBeenCalledWith(["generic"], "angular");
+			expect(aiSkillsModule.copyAgentInstructionFiles).toHaveBeenCalledWith(["generic"], "angular");
 		});
 
 		it("should configure multiple agents", async () => {
 			await runner.runSchematic("ai-config", { agents: ["claude", "cursor"] }, tree);
 
 			expect(aiSkillsModule.copyAISkillsToProject).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-			expect(aiSkillsModule.copyAISkillsToProject).toHaveBeenCalledWith(["claude", "cursor"]);
-			expect(aiSkillsModule.copyAgentInstructionFiles).toHaveBeenCalledWith(["claude", "cursor"]);
+			expect(aiSkillsModule.copyAISkillsToProject).toHaveBeenCalledWith(["claude", "cursor"], "angular");
+			expect(aiSkillsModule.copyAgentInstructionFiles).toHaveBeenCalledWith(["claude", "cursor"], "angular");
 		});
 
 		it("should default MCP config to .vscode/mcp.json with servers key", async () => {

packages/ng-schematics/src/ng-new/index_spec.ts

@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ describe("Schematics ng-new", () => {
 			expect(mockFunc[1]).toHaveBeenCalled();
 		}
 		expect(AppProjectSchematic.default).toHaveBeenCalled();
-		expect(tree.files.length).toEqual(2);
+		expect(tree.files.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(2);
 		expect(tree.exists(`${workingDirectory}/.gitignore`)).toBeTruthy();
 		const taskOptions = runner.tasks.map(task => task.options);
 		const expectedInstall: NodePackageTaskOptions = {
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ describe("Schematics ng-new", () => {
 
 		const tree = await runner.runSchematic("ng-new", { version: "8.0.3", name: workingDirectory }, myTree);
 		expect(AppProjectSchematic.default).toHaveBeenCalled();
-		expect(tree.files.length).toEqual(2);
+		expect(tree.files.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(2);
 		expect(tree.exists(`${workingDirectory}/.gitignore`)).toBeTruthy();
 		const taskOptions = runner.tasks.map(task => task.options);
 		const expectedInstall: NodePackageTaskOptions = {