Building Multi-Platform Developer Tools: Scaling an Open-Source Project from 1 to 5 Platforms

Posted on Sep 27, 2025

The Challenge

Yesterday I open-sourced Claude AutoBlog SlashCommands - a tool that automates blog publishing for developers. Within hours, I got feedback: “Can you make this work for platforms beyond just Hugo?”

The request revealed a classic software design challenge: How do you scale a specialized tool to serve diverse use cases without losing simplicity?

The Approach

Rather than rewrite the original commands for each platform, I identified what made them valuable:

  1. Analyzing complete development sessions (git + conversation)
  2. Generating contextual, honest blog posts
  3. Maintaining quality control through review
  4. Automating the entire publishing pipeline

These core capabilities could work for any blogging platform - the differences were in the publishing mechanics.

Solution Architecture

I created a template-based approach with two layers:

Layer 1: Universal Analysis Engine

  • Git history review
  • Conversation context extraction
  • Cross-link discovery
  • Content generation
  • Draft review workflow

Layer 2: Platform-Specific Adapters

  • Jekyll: _posts/YYYY-MM-DD-slug.md with bundle exec jekyll build
  • Gatsby: content/posts/slug.md with gatsby build or npm run build
  • Next.js: App/Pages Router with npm run build
  • WordPress: WP-CLI or REST API direct publishing

This design meant 80% shared logic, 20% platform-specific code - maximizing reusability while respecting platform differences.

Technical Execution

Command Templates

Created 4 new command files (467+ lines each):

  • blog-jekyll-technical.md
  • blog-gatsby-technical.md
  • blog-nextjs-technical.md
  • blog-wordpress-technical.md

Each includes:

  • Platform-specific setup instructions
  • Customization requirements clearly marked
  • Build command variations
  • Deployment options
  • Troubleshooting guidance

Comprehensive Documentation

Built docs/PLATFORM_SETUP.md (400+ lines) covering:

  • Prerequisites and installation per platform
  • Directory structure examples
  • Front matter format variations
  • Build command options
  • Deployment workflow choices
  • Common troubleshooting scenarios

Professional Documentation Site

Integrated The Monospace Web framework to create a GitHub Pages site with:

  • Clean monospace aesthetic
  • ASCII art workflow diagrams
  • Platform comparison tables
  • One-command installation
  • Tree view of command structure

The site demonstrates technical taste and attention to UX - important for developer tools.

Skills Demonstrated

Technical Architecture:

  • Designed extensible command system with clear separation of concerns
  • Created platform adapters for 5 distinct blogging ecosystems
  • Integrated third-party CSS framework (The Monospace Web) into project

Documentation:

  • 400+ line platform setup guide
  • Command templates with inline customization instructions
  • GitHub Pages site with semantic HTML and responsive design
  • CONTRIBUTING.md for community engagement

Open-Source Leadership:

  • Responded to user feedback within 24 hours
  • Expanded from 1 platform to 5 in single day
  • Created contribution guidelines and issue templates
  • Added professional badges and metadata

Developer Experience:

  • One-command installation (30 seconds to set up)
  • Clear customization points in templates
  • Multiple deployment options documented
  • Troubleshooting sections for common issues

Results

Commits:

2cfb80c feat: add monospace-themed GitHub Pages site (904 additions)
d5c3633 feat: add multi-platform support (1267 additions)
5fb6d23 fix: correct broken documentation links

Repository expansion:

  • 2 Hugo example commands → 6 total command templates
  • Single platform → 5 major platforms supported
  • Basic README → Professional GitHub Pages site
  • No contribution guide → Comprehensive CONTRIBUTING.md

Community enablement:

  • Jekyll developers can now use the tool
  • Gatsby users have working templates
  • Next.js projects (both routing styles) supported
  • WordPress sites via CLI or REST API
  • One-liner install for all platforms

What This Shows

Problem-solving methodology:

  1. Identified core value proposition (analysis + automation)
  2. Separated universal logic from platform-specific mechanics
  3. Created reusable templates with clear customization points
  4. Documented exhaustively with examples

Technical judgment:

  • Chose templates over full abstraction (simpler, more maintainable)
  • Prioritized documentation quality (adoption depends on clarity)
  • Integrated existing framework (The Monospace Web) rather than building from scratch
  • Designed for extensibility (community can add platforms)

Execution speed:

  • User feedback → fully implemented expansion in <8 hours
  • No compromise on documentation quality
  • Professional site design included
  • Maintained backward compatibility with existing commands

Professional Impact

This project demonstrates capabilities employers value:

For Engineering Leadership Roles:

  • Designing extensible systems
  • Making architecture decisions with clear tradeoffs
  • Balancing simplicity with flexibility
  • Creating developer-friendly experiences

For Open-Source Maintainership:

  • Responding to community feedback
  • Creating contribution pathways
  • Professional documentation standards
  • Building for scale and adoption

For Technical Writing/DevRel:

  • Comprehensive setup guides
  • Platform-specific examples
  • Visual documentation (ASCII art, tables)
  • Clear troubleshooting sections

Repository

GitHub: https://github.com/jeremylongshore/Claude-AutoBlog-SlashCommands GitHub Pages: https://jeremylongshore.github.io/Claude-AutoBlog-SlashCommands/ License: MIT

Skills: Python, Shell Scripting, Git, Hugo, Jekyll, Gatsby, Next.js, WordPress, GitHub Actions, Documentation, Open-Source Maintenance, Developer Experience Design