Hedgehog is an opinionated build system specifically designed for AI-assisted software development. While artificial intelligence tools can generate code at unprecedented speeds, maintaining project coherence as it scales remains a significant challenge. Issues like lost context, architecture drift, and compounding shortcuts often plague fast-paced development.

To combat this, Hedgehog enforces a disciplined, backend-first workflow following the sequence: Types → Schema → Backend → UI. By relying on small, verifiable changes and tool-enforced architecture, Hedgehog helps developers ensure that their AI-assisted projects remain structured, maintainable, and scalable over time.

Pros of Hedgehog

Enforces a disciplined, backend-first development workflow (Types → Schema → Backend → UI)
Helps prevent architecture drift and context loss in AI-assisted projects
Promotes small, verifiable code changes to keep software structured
Open-source developer tool available on GitHub

Cons of Hedgehog

Highly opinionated workflow may require adapting existing development habits
Focused primarily on backend-first structure which might not suit all prototyping styles
Relies heavily on tooling to enforce strict architectural rules

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hedgehog?

Hedgehog is an opinionated build system designed for AI-assisted software development to help keep growing projects structured, maintainable, and scalable by preventing context loss and architecture drift.