Automated Code Development with New SPARC 'npx create-sparc' command

Automate your development workflow with SPARC methodology and AI-powered assistance

create-sparc is a zero-install agentic development toolkit that kickstarts projects using the SPARC methodology — Specification, Pseudocode, Architecture, Refinement, and Completion. It’s built for automation, modularity, and AI-assisted execution across every phase of development.

This comprehensive platform enables AI agents to securely connect with external services like databases, APIs, and cloud resources, allowing developers to create modular, secure, and maintainable applications with unprecedented efficiency while seamlessly bridging the gap between AI and real-world systems.

Installation

You don't need to install this package directly. Use npx to run it:

npx create-sparc init        

This bootstraps your project with SPARC's structured architecture and Roo Code integration. It sets up .roo and .roomodes files, fully wired for modular AI-driven development. The Boomerang Mode hands off tasks between specialized agents — from specs, to code, to tests, to secure deployments — all in isolated, auditable phases.

What's new is deep MCP integration.

The MCP Wizard connects your agents to external services like Supabase, OpenAI, GitHub, and AWS — securely and interactively. It uses the MCP Registry to auto-discover available services, pre-load configuration templates, and validate permissions.

All sensitive data is handled through environment variables. No hardcoded secrets. Built-in security auditing flags risks and can auto-fix common issues. You can even lock down permissions by scope, enforce least privilege, and validate the full config with one line:

npx create-sparc configure-mcp --security-audit --auto-fix        

Step 1: Create Your Project with npx create-sparc

Start with a fresh folder or navigate to an existing codebase. Then run:

npx create-sparc init         

This initializes the SPARC environment and creates two core files:

• .roo/ — contains templates, rule definitions, and configuration for SPARC-specific behavior
• .roomodes — defines the AI agent modes used throughout your workflow (spec writing, architecture, coding, testing, etc.)

This drops only the SPARC scaffolding into the current directory — clean and contained.

Step 2: Start Roo Code and Select SPARC Mode

Open the project in VS Code with the Roo Code extension installed (from the marketplace). It’ll automatically detect .roo and .roomodes and load the Boomerang Task system.

Your starting point is the ⚡️ SPARC Orchestrator mode.

Type your project goal:

I want to build a REST API for a simple todo app.

From there, Roo agents activate one-by-one in isolated contexts: writing specs, drafting pseudocode, defining architecture, coding modules, running tests, and generating docs — all without losing state, context, or structure.

Each phase returns results and suggestions before handing off to the next. You review, approve, or adjust. The whole thing feels more like managing a team than writing code line-by-line.

Step 3: Enable Secure Automation with MCP

The real power unlocks with MCP (Model Context Protocol). MCP allows your AI agents to directly and securely interact with services like Supabase, OpenAI, GitHub, Firebase, and AWS — but without exposing secrets or writing integration code yourself.

To get started, run:

npx create-sparc configure-mcp        

This launches the MCP Wizard, which guides you through:

• Choosing services (like Supabase or GitHub)
• Entering project credentials securely
• Setting scopes and permissions
• Generating mcp.json and roomodes entries

You’re not just wiring up services. You’re teaching your AI agents how to use them — responsibly, securely, and contextually.

Example output config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "supabase": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@supabase/mcp-server-supabase@latest",
        "--access-token",
        "${env:SUPABASE_ACCESS_TOKEN}"
      ],
      "alwaysAllow": ["list_tables", "execute_sql"]
    }
  }
}        

No secrets stored. Everything routes through environment variables.

Step 4: Run a Security Audit

SPARC was built security-first, and MCP makes that actionable.

After setting up, audit your config:

npx create-sparc configure-mcp --security-audit        

You’ll get a full breakdown of potential issues, categorized by severity — along with fix suggestions. Or skip the manual part entirely:

npx create-sparc configure-mcp --security-audit --auto-fix        

The system will automatically refactor your config for best practices — environment variable enforcement, permission scoping, and even hashed integrity checks.

Step 5: Add Components or Extend the System

Need to add a new feature?

npx create-sparc add component --name AuthModule        

It auto-generates the component, wires up tests, and assigns it to the relevant Boomerang mode. You’re not babysitting the process — you’re steering it.

You can also generate additional services, routes, or database functions this way, and Roo agents will understand what needs to happen and where. They’ll coordinate, file-by-file, like a micro-team of specialists.

Step 6: Customize, Deploy, and Monitor

SPARC isn’t just scaffolding. It’s a live system that evolves. Use the following modes for each post-launch task:

• 🔐 Security Reviewer: Runs audits, static analysis, and checks for logic leaks or exposed envs.
• 📈 Deployment Monitor: Hooks into logs, telemetry, and cloud resources to detect drift and performance regressions.
• 🧹 Optimizer: Refactors bloated files, normalizes architecture, and improves performance.
• 🔗 System Integrator: Merges everything together into a deployable package — docs, tests, production files.

All these modes are invoked inside Roo Code. The terminal, the editor, the orchestrator — all in sync.

Step 7: Use MCP Registry to Expand Services

The MCP Registry connects you to an ever-growing list of officially supported services. Run:

npx create-sparc configure-mcp --discover        

This scans the public MCP Registry API for new integrations you can use — everything from Redis to Hugging Face. You can search, filter by tags, and get pre-validated templates for safe integration.

Want to test without connecting live?

npx create-sparc configure-mcp --registry https://mock.registry.io/api        

This uses a mock registry for dry-run setups, sandbox testing, or local development without service calls.

Best Practices

1. Never commit secrets — use .env for local and Vault or AWS Secrets Manager in production.
2. Keep components under 500 LOC — Boomerang Modes expect modularity.
3. Add .roo/mcp.json to version control, but exclude actual .env files.
4. Use --template options to scaffold specific stacks (REST API, CLI tool, etc.).
5. Run regular audits using --security-audit to stay ahead of vulnerabilities.

Final Thoughts

SPARC is the most direct path I’ve found to build agentic systems that don’t spiral into chaos. With create-sparc, I get a structured workflow, real AI assistance, security by design, and actual automation that does what I’d usually have to do myself — just faster and more consistently.

The Boomerang Mode lets me delegate without losing visibility. The MCP layer connects everything together — safely, flexibly, and without the usual glue code.

Whether you’re building fast MVPs or managing larger systems, npx create-sparc is the starting point.

One line. Whole system.

npx create-sparc init        

Let the agents do the rest.

License

MIT