> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.zenable.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Starting New Projects

> Automated project scaffolding with built-in governance, security, and compliance

## Overview

New projects start without proper governance setup, creating technical debt from day one. Zenable provides automated project scaffolding with built-in governance, security, and compliance - ensuring projects start right with zero governance debt.

## AI-Native Python Template

The [AI-Native Python](https://github.com/Zenable-io/ai-native-python?utm_source=docs\&utm_medium=starting-new-project\&utm_content=cookiecutter) is a cookiecutter template that provides a production-ready Python project with built-in governance, automated quality checks, and AI-optimized development.

### Quick Start

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install Homebrew">
    Install the package manager from [brew.sh](https://brew.sh/)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install uv and Generate Project">
    ```bash theme={null}
    # Install uv package manager (if not already installed)
    which uvx || brew install uv

    # Create new project from template
    uvx --with gitpython cookiecutter gh:zenable-io/ai-native-python
    ```

    You'll be prompted for configuration options such as:

    * Project name and description
    * Organization details
    * GitHub settings
    * Technical preferences (Python version, Docker support, etc.)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start Developing">
    ```bash theme={null}
    # Navigate to your new project
    cd your-project-name

    # Initialize the project
    task init

    # Start coding with AI assistance
    claude # or your favourite IDE
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  **Zenable MCP Included!** The project generator automatically installs and configures the Zenable MCP server in your project, so AI assistants will immediately start enforcing your governance policies - no additional setup required.
</Note>

## What's Included

The AI-Native Python template provides a complete, production-ready foundation with everything configured:

### Key Features

* **Modern Python Development** - Uses `uv` for lightning-fast dependency management
* **100% Test Coverage** - Enforced automatically, not aspirational
* **Security First** - Vulnerability scanning and SBOM generation built-in
* **Automated Everything** - Releases, versioning, and changelog generation
* **AI-Optimized** - Works seamlessly with Copilot, Cursor, Claude, and Antigravity
* **Docker Ready** - Multi-platform builds with optimized image sizes
* **Simple Yet Powerful** - One-command local setup, testing, deployment, and more

<Tip>
  **Zenable Included by Default** - The template comes with Zenable pre-configured. No additional setup needed - governance checks and policy enforcement work automatically from your first commit.
</Tip>

### Key Benefits

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Instant Productivity">
    * 5-minute project setup
    * Start coding immediately
    * No configuration overhead
    * Everything just works
  </Card>

  <Card title="Built-in Quality">
    * 100% test coverage enforced
    * Type safety guaranteed
    * Security scanning automated
    * Code quality checks on every commit
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI-Optimized">
    * Works with Copilot, Cursor, Claude
    * Governance checks on AI suggestions
    * Consistent patterns for AI to follow
    * Reduced AI-generated bugs
  </Card>

  <Card title="Production Ready">
    * CI/CD fully configured
    * Docker builds automated
    * Semantic versioning
    * Dependency updates managed
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Why Use AI-Native Python?

### The Traditional Way

* Spend hours setting up project structure
* Configure testing, linting, CI/CD manually
* Inconsistent practices across projects
* Security and compliance added as afterthoughts
* AI tools generate code that doesn't meet standards

### The AI-Native Way

* **5-minute setup** - Project ready with one command
* **Everything configured** - Testing, quality, CI/CD, security
* **Standardized approach** - Consistent across all projects
* **Built-in governance** - Security and compliance from day one
* **AI-optimized** - Tools generate conformant code automatically

## Next Steps

* Explore [AI Tools Integration](/use-cases/ai-tools-new-features) for development
* Set up [Policy as Code](/use-cases/policy-as-code) for your project
* Configure [Security Assessment](/use-cases/security-assessment) automation