# Domain

When you want to brainstorm and check available .com domains for a new project, brand...

- Repository: https://github.com/coreyhaines31/makerskills (880 stars)
- Category: AI and agents
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-10-26
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add coreyhaines31/makerskills --skill domain -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add coreyhaines31/makerskills --skill domain -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add coreyhaines31/makerskills --skill domain -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add coreyhaines31/makerskills --skill domain -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add coreyhaines31/makerskills`

## Description

When you want to brainstorm and check available .com domains for a new project, brand naming, aftermarket pricing (HugeDomains / Afternic / Sedo / Dan), USPTO trademark screening, and social handle availability. Built on Laura Roeder's \"work backwards from availability\" method. Combines Vercel CLI, whois, Domainr, Namecheap, and agent-browser, each for what it reliably does. Workflow: budget → brainstorm → availability check → whois cross-check → price → aftermarket sweep (plus liveness probe and drop-watch) → bucket → negotiate → trademark + socials → buy. Triggers on \"/domain,\" \"find a domain,\" \"check domain availability,\" \"brainstorm a domain,\" \"what .com is available for X,\" \"domain hunt,\" \"name my project,\" \"is X.com available,\" \"aftermarket price on X.com,\" \"trademark check for X.\

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# /domain, Brainstorm + check available .com domains

Multi-tool workflow to find a great, affordable, available .com for a new project. Built on Laura Roeder's rule: **work backwards from what's actually available, don't fall in love with a name first** ([source](https://lauraroeder.com/how-i-nabbed-the-com-for-my-bootstrapped-startup-without-spending-a-million-bucks-6dc35c4606e9)).

Defaults to `.com` only. Only deviate (.dev, .co, .io, .ai) if the project is dev-tooling-only or the user explicitly asks.

## Step 0, Environment checks

Verify these before proceeding (surface install commands if missing, don't try to install silently):

| Tool | Check | Install if missing |
|---|---|---|
| Vercel CLI | `vercel whoami` | `npm i -g vercel && vercel login` |
| whois | `which whois` | `brew install whois` (macOS) |
| Domainr API key | `[ -n "$DOMAINR_API_KEY" ]` | Get free key at rapidapi.com/domainr/api/domainr, add to `~/.zshenv` |
| Namecheap API | `[ -n "$NAMECHEAP_API_KEY" ] && [ -n "$NAMECHEAP_API_USER" ] && [ -n "$NAMECHEAP_CLIENT_IP" ]` | Enable API at ap.www.namecheap.com/settings/tools/apiaccess/, add 3 env vars, whitelist your IP |

Domainr + Namecheap are optional, the workflow degrades gracefully without them (skips the corresponding cross-check steps).

## Step 1, Set the budget

Ask: **what would you pay for a great .com on this project?** Anchor defaults:

| Budget | What it buys |
|---|---|
| **$0** | Only unregistered domains (rare for anything good) |
| **$250, $1k** | Aftermarket sweet spot (HugeDomains is the standout, Laura found "a ton of great .com's available for less than $1k") |
| **$1k, $2k** | Laura's Paperbell.com range, plenty of brandable options |
| **$2k+** | Premium |

**Filter all candidates to under-budget BEFORE falling in love.**

## Step 2, Seed words for "branded" combos

Ask what the product does + the feeling/category. Brainstorm 20, 40 candidate domains using these preferences (in order):

The rest: https://github.com/coreyhaines31/makerskills/blob/HEAD/skills/domain/SKILL.md