From 4dff9899cc4f6b1e66949680fa2f772e472f9318 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: David Sienkowski <dave@sienkowski.com>
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2026 18:05:52 -0500
Subject: [PATCH] fix(settings): auto-create config.json when missing (#264)

set-profile and settings commands hard-errored when .planning/config.json
did not exist, blocking users from changing model profile before running
new-project. Create config.json with balanced defaults when missing.
---
 commands/gsd/set-profile.md | 20 +++++++++++++++-----
 commands/gsd/settings.md    | 18 ++++++++++++++++--
 2 files changed, 31 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-)

diff --git a/commands/gsd/set-profile.md b/commands/gsd/set-profile.md
index 9791d68f1..74f13ae7c 100644
--- a/commands/gsd/set-profile.md
+++ b/commands/gsd/set-profile.md
@@ -30,17 +30,27 @@ if $ARGUMENTS.profile not in ["quality", "balanced", "budget"]:
   STOP
 ```
 
-## 2. Check for project
+## 2. Ensure config exists
 
 ```bash
 ls .planning/config.json 2>/dev/null
 ```
 
-If no `.planning/` directory:
+If `.planning/config.json` missing, create it with defaults:
+```bash
+mkdir -p .planning
 ```
-Error: No GSD project found.
-Run /gsd:new-project first to initialize a project.
+```json
+{
+  "model_profile": "balanced",
+  "workflow": {
+    "research": true,
+    "plan_check": true,
+    "verifier": true
+  }
+}
 ```
+Write this to `.planning/config.json`, then continue.
 
 ## 3. Update config.json
 
@@ -49,7 +59,7 @@ Read current config:
 cat .planning/config.json
 ```
 
-Update `model_profile` field (or add if missing):
+Update `model_profile` field:
 ```json
 {
   "model_profile": "$ARGUMENTS.profile"
diff --git a/commands/gsd/settings.md b/commands/gsd/settings.md
index f508e6066..bd9887f2f 100644
--- a/commands/gsd/settings.md
+++ b/commands/gsd/settings.md
@@ -15,13 +15,27 @@ Updates `.planning/config.json` with workflow preferences and model profile sele
 
 <process>
 
-## 1. Validate Environment
+## 1. Ensure config exists
 
 ```bash
 ls .planning/config.json 2>/dev/null
 ```
 
-**If not found:** Error - run `/gsd:new-project` first.
+If `.planning/config.json` missing, create it with defaults:
+```bash
+mkdir -p .planning
+```
+```json
+{
+  "model_profile": "balanced",
+  "workflow": {
+    "research": true,
+    "plan_check": true,
+    "verifier": true
+  }
+}
+```
+Write this to `.planning/config.json`, then continue.
 
 ## 2. Read Current Config