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AI PPT creation skill with structured 5-stage generation, machine-readable QA gates, checkpoint recovery, and experience accumulation. 20 layout methods, nat...
---
name: deckcraft
description: >
AI PPT creation skill with structured 5-stage generation, machine-readable QA gates,
checkpoint recovery, and experience accumulation. 20 layout methods, native charts,
visual QA pipeline, automated gate checks, and multi-canvas output (16:9/9:16/1:1/4:3/A4).
---
# DeckCraft v5 — Harness Engineering
> **Version**: 5.3.0 · **Engine**: DeckEngine (python-pptx native charts) + ChartEngine (native)
>
> **Required tools**: Read, Write, Bash
> **Requires**: `pip install python-pptx lxml Pillow`
> **Render QA**: LibreOffice Impress (soffice --headless) + poppler-utils (pdftoppm)
---
## Anti-Patterns (Read Before Every Generation)
### Anti-Pattern 1: Declaring "Gate Passed" Verbally
**Wrong**: "QA found 5 errors but all are minor, gate passed."
**Correct**: Run `gate_check.py`, read the JSON, only `"passed": true` means pass.
### Anti-Pattern 2: "I Checked In My Head"
Format errors in content JSON are invisible to mental review.
**Correct**: Run `gate_check_content.py`, read the JSON output.
### Anti-Pattern 3: Skipping the Process for "Simple" Decks
Even simple decks can have overflow, font issues, or broken layouts.
**Correct**: Use Fast Track (see below), but **never skip the QA gate**.
---
## HARD RULES
1. **Every generation must follow the 5-stage flow**
2. **Gates must be machine-readable** — run the script, read the JSON
3. **Experience accumulation is recommended** — note pattern-level fixes for future improvement
4. **All positioning values must use `int()` wrapping** for python-pptx
5. **Clear paragraphs before adding runs** — never assume `p.runs[0]` exists
---
## 5-Stage Generation Flow
```
S1 Brief → S2 Structure → S3 Content → S4 Render+QA → S5 Deliver
⭐ gate ⭐⭐ gate
```
### Stage 1: Brief
Collect: audience, goal, duration, key messages, style preference.
**Output**: `<project>/brief.md`
### Stage 2: Structure
Assign page types, write key points (full insight sentences).
**Output**: `<project>/outline.json`
### Stage 3: Content
Fill copy, numbers, chart data. Respect char budgets in `designs/layout_matrix.yaml`.
**Output**: `<project>/content.json`
**⭐ Gate S3**:
```bash
python3 scripts/gate_check_content.py <project>/content.json <project>
```
Read `gate_content.json` — only `"passed": true` allows proceeding.
### Stage 4: Render + QA
Generate PPTX from content.json, then run QA.
```bash
python3 scripts/gate_check.py <pptx_path> <project>
```
Read `gate_result.json` — only `"passed": true` allows proceeding.
**Visual QA (render preview)**:
```bash
# Render PPT → PDF → PNG for visual inspection
soffice --headless --convert-to pdf <pptx_path> --outdir <project>/
pdftoppm -png -r 200 <pdf_path> <project>/preview/slide
```
Inspect the PNG images to verify layout, fonts, colors, and chart rendering.
Fix any visual issues found, regenerate, and re-run gate.
### Stage 5: Deliver + Self-Refinement
Deliver the PPTX.
---
## Fast Track (Simple Requests)
When **all** conditions are met, skip S2/S3 gates:
- Total pages ≤ 5
- No data charts
- User says "quick" / "fast" / "simple"
**Still required**: S1 + S4 QA gate + S5 delivery.
---
## Checkpoint Recovery
When resuming a deck project, check which files exist:
- No `brief.md` → Stage 1
- No `outline.json` → Stage 2
- No `content.json` → Stage 3
- No `gate_content.json` → Stage 3-gate
- No `.pptx` → Stage 4
- No `gate_result.json` → Stage 4-gate
- All present → Stage 5
Resume from the identified stage. Do not restart from S1.
---
## DeckEngine API
```python
import sys, os
sys.path.insert(0, '<skill-path>')
from engine import DeckEngine
# v5.2+: canvas parameter (16:9 / 9:16 / 1:1 / 4:3 / A4)
eng = DeckEngine(theme_name="business", canvas="16:9") # default
eng = DeckEngine(theme_name="business", canvas="9:16") # vertical mobile (TikTok, Reels, Stories)
eng = DeckEngine(theme_name="business", canvas="1:1") # square (Instagram)
eng = DeckEngine(theme_name="business", canvas="4:3") # classic projector
eng = DeckEngine(theme_name="business", canvas="A4") # print landscape
eng.cover(title="Title", subtitle="Sub", author="Author", date="2026")
eng.toc(items=[("1", "Chapter", "Description")])
eng.section_divider("Section Title", section_number=1)
eng.content(title="Slide", bullets=["Point 1", "Point 2"], key_point="Insight")
eng.content_with_icon(title="Slide", items=[("01", "Head", "Desc")])
eng.two_col(title="Compare", left_title="A", left_items=[], right_title="B", right_items=[])
eng.vs_compare(title="VS", left_title="Before", right_title="After", rows=[("Dim", "Val1", "Val2")])
eng.table(title="Data", headers=["H1", "H2"], rows=[["a", "b"]], insights=["Key takeaway"])
eng.stat_cards(title="KPIs", stats=[("99%", "Uptime"), ("$2M", "Revenue")])
eng.chart_bar(title="Revenue", data=[[4.2, 3.8]], labels=["A", "B"], series_names=["S1"])
eng.chart_pie(title="Mix", data=[45, 30, 25], labels=["X", "Y", "Z"], donut=True)
eng.chart_line(title="Trend", data=[[1, 2, 3]], labels=["Q1", "Q2", "Q3"])
eng.chart_gauge(title="Score", value=87, max_value=100, label="NPS")
eng.timeline(title="Roadmap", milestones=[("Q1", "Launch"), ("Q2", "Scale")])
eng.process_flow(title="Steps", steps=["Research", "Build", "Launch"])
eng.matrix_2x2(title="Priority", quadrants=[("TL", "desc"), ("TR", "desc"), ("BL", "desc"), ("BR", "desc")])
eng.quote(title="Insight", quote_text="Words matter.", attribution="Author")
eng.image_full(title="Visual", image_path="photo.jpg", caption="Detail")
eng.image_split(title="Split", image_path="photo.jpg", bullets=["Point"])
eng.kpi_dashboard(title="Dashboard", kpis=[("Revenue", 12.4, 15, "M")])
eng.team_grid(title="Team", members=[("Name", "Role")])
eng.checklist(title="Tasks", items=["Task 1", "Task 2"], checked=[True, False])
eng.summary(title="Takeaways", key_points=["Point 1"], conclusion="Next step")
eng.closing(title="Thank You", message="Questions?") # no page_num (closing slide)
eng.save("output.pptx")
```
**10 themes**: business, business_dark, tech, tech_gradient, minimal, elegant, creative, green, red, ocean
**Canvas presets (v5.2+)**: `16:9` (default, widescreen), `9:16` (vertical mobile, TikTok/Reels/Stories), `1:1` (square, Instagram), `4:3` (classic projector), `A4` (print landscape), `A4-portrait`. Aliases: `mobile`=9:16, `square`=1:1, `ppt`=16:9.
List available canvases: `from engine.constants import list_canvases; print(list_canvases())`
---
## Design Guide
### Color
Extract from user's original PPT first. Pick a bold palette matching the topic.
One dominant color (60-70%), 1-2 supporting, one sharp accent.
### Typography
| Element | Size | Notes |
|---------|------|-------|
| Slide title | 26-36pt bold | Must stand out |
| Body text | 14-16pt | Never below 10pt |
| Captions | 10-12pt | Muted color |
CJK: Noto Sans CJK SC / Latin: Arial / Calibri
### Spacing
- Minimum margin: 0.5"
- Between blocks: 0.3-0.5"
- Leave breathing room
### Avoid
- Repeating the same layout on every slide
- Text-only slides — add visual elements
- Center-aligned body text
- Low-contrast text (light on light, dark on dark)
---
## Dependencies
| Tool | Install |
|------|---------|
| python-pptx | `pip install python-pptx` |
| lxml | `pip install lxml` |
| Pillow | `pip install Pillow` |
**Render QA (optional but recommended)**:
| Tool | Install |
|------|----------|
| LibreOffice Impress | `apt install libreoffice-impress` |
| poppler-utils | `apt install poppler-utils` |
| Noto Sans CJK | `apt install fonts-noto-cjk` |
---
## Skill File Structure
```
deckcraft/
├── SKILL.md # This file
├── engine/
│ ├── __init__.py
│ ├── constants.py # 10 theme color palettes, typography, grid
│ ├── core.py # Drawing primitives, XML cleanup, CJK font
│ ├── chart_engine.py # Native bar/pie/line/gauge charts (python-pptx)
│ ├── deck_engine.py # 20 layout methods, 40+ high-level API
│ └── importers/ # v5.3+ source importers
│ ├── __init__.py
│ ├── base.py # Shared heuristics
│ ├── pdf.py # PDF → outline (PyMuPDF)
│ ├── docx.py # DOCX → outline (python-docx)
│ └── text.py # TXT/MD → outline
├── scripts/
│ ├── generate_ppt.py # CLI: outline JSON → PPTX
│ ├── import_source.py # v5.3+ CLI: PDF/DOCX/MD → outline
│ ├── gate_check.py # S4 QA gate → gate_result.json
│ └── gate_check_content.py # S3 content gate → gate_content.json
├── designs/
│ └── layout_matrix.yaml # 23 layout definitions with char budgets
├── examples/ # Working code samples
│ ├── 01_basic_cover_to_closing.py
│ ├── 02_multi_canvas.py
│ ├── 03_from_outline_json.py
│ └── 04_from_source.py # v5.3+
└── tests/
├── test_smoke.py # 95 layout × canvas tests
├── test_validation.py # 20 input validation tests
└── test_importers.py # v5.3+ 34 importer tests
```
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