improve apps init and validation commands (#4365)

## Changes
This PR adds project-type-aware initialization and validation for
Databricks Apps.
### Changes
**Project Initializers** (libs/apps/initializer/)
- Added Initializer interface with support for Node.js, Python/pip, and
Python/uv projects
- Each initializer handles: dependency installation, virtual environment
setup, and local dev server startup
- Detects project type from package.json, pyproject.toml, or
requirements.txt
- Reads app command from app.yaml or auto-detects (e.g., streamlit
projects)

**Validation Options**
- Added `--skip-tests` flag to apps validate and apps deploy commands
- Deploy defaults to `--skip-tests=true` for faster iteration
- Validate defaults to `--skip-tests=false` for full validation

**Interactive vs Flags Mode**
- Fixed flag handling so explicit flags (--name, --template, --deploy,
--run) are respected in non-interactive mode
- Prevents unexpected prompts when flags are provided

## Why
<!-- Why are these changes needed? Provide the context that the reviewer
might be missing.
For example, were there any decisions behind the change that are not
reflected in the code itself? -->

## Tests
<!-- How have you tested the changes? -->

<!-- If your PR needs to be included in the release notes for next
release,
add a separate entry in NEXT_CHANGELOG.md as part of your PR. -->

---------

Co-authored-by: MarioCadenas <MarioCadenas@users.noreply.github.com>

Author: MarioCadenas

.github/CODEOWNERS

@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 /acceptance/pipelines/    @jefferycheng1 @kanterov @lennartkats-db
 /cmd/pipelines/           @jefferycheng1 @kanterov @lennartkats-db
 /cmd/labs/                @alexott @nfx
+/cmd/apps/                @databricks/eng-app-devex
+/libs/apps/               @databricks/eng-app-devex
 /cmd/workspace/apps/      @databricks/eng-app-devex
 /libs/apps/               @databricks/eng-app-devex
 /acceptance/apps/         @databricks/eng-app-devex

cmd/apps/deploy_bundle.go

@@ -39,10 +39,12 @@ func BundleDeployOverrideWithWrapper(wrapError ErrorWrapper) func(*cobra.Command
 		var (
 			force          bool
 			skipValidation bool
+			skipTests      bool
 		)
 
 		deployCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&force, "force", false, "Force-override Git branch validation")
 		deployCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&skipValidation, "skip-validation", false, "Skip project validation (build, typecheck, lint)")
+		deployCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&skipTests, "skip-tests", true, "Skip running tests during validation")
 
 		// Update the command usage to reflect that APP_NAME is optional when in bundle mode
 		deployCmd.Use = "deploy [APP_NAME]"
@@ -68,7 +70,7 @@ func BundleDeployOverrideWithWrapper(wrapError ErrorWrapper) func(*cobra.Command
 				// Try to load bundle configuration
 				b := root.TryConfigureBundle(cmd)
 				if b != nil {
-					return runBundleDeploy(cmd, force, skipValidation)
+					return runBundleDeploy(cmd, force, skipValidation, skipTests)
 				}
 			}
 
@@ -109,7 +111,7 @@ Examples:
 }
 
 // runBundleDeploy executes the enhanced deployment flow for bundle directories.
-func runBundleDeploy(cmd *cobra.Command, force, skipValidation bool) error {
+func runBundleDeploy(cmd *cobra.Command, force, skipValidation, skipTests bool) error {
 	ctx := cmd.Context()
 
 	// Get current working directory for validation
@@ -122,7 +124,10 @@ func runBundleDeploy(cmd *cobra.Command, force, skipValidation bool) error {
 	if !skipValidation {
 		validator := validation.GetProjectValidator(workDir)
 		if validator != nil {
-			result, err := validator.Validate(ctx, workDir)
+			opts := validation.ValidateOptions{
+				SkipTests: skipTests,
+			}
+			result, err := validator.Validate(ctx, workDir, opts)
 			if err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("validation error: %w", err)
 			}

cmd/apps/init.go

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/charmbracelet/huh"
 	"github.com/databricks/cli/cmd/root"
 	"github.com/databricks/cli/libs/apps/features"
+	"github.com/databricks/cli/libs/apps/initializer"
 	"github.com/databricks/cli/libs/apps/prompt"
 	"github.com/databricks/cli/libs/cmdctx"
 	"github.com/databricks/cli/libs/cmdio"
@@ -80,15 +81,19 @@ Environment variables:
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			ctx := cmd.Context()
 			return runCreate(ctx, createOptions{
-				templatePath: templatePath,
-				branch:       branch,
-				name:         name,
-				warehouseID:  warehouseID,
-				description:  description,
-				outputDir:    outputDir,
-				features:     featuresFlag,
-				deploy:       deploy,
-				run:          run,
+				templatePath:    templatePath,
+				branch:          branch,
+				name:            name,
+				nameProvided:    cmd.Flags().Changed("name"),
+				warehouseID:     warehouseID,
+				description:     description,
+				outputDir:       outputDir,
+				features:        featuresFlag,
+				deploy:          deploy,
+				deployChanged:   cmd.Flags().Changed("deploy"),
+				run:             run,
+				runChanged:      cmd.Flags().Changed("run"),
+				featuresChanged: cmd.Flags().Changed("features"),
 			})
 		},
 	}
@@ -107,15 +112,19 @@ Environment variables:
 }
 
 type createOptions struct {
-	templatePath string
-	branch       string
-	name         string
-	warehouseID  string
-	description  string
-	outputDir    string
-	features     []string
-	deploy       bool
-	run          string
+	templatePath    string
+	branch          string
+	name            string
+	nameProvided    bool // true if --name flag was explicitly set (enables "flags mode")
+	warehouseID     string
+	description     string
+	outputDir       string
+	features        []string
+	deploy          bool
+	deployChanged   bool // true if --deploy flag was explicitly set
+	run             string
+	runChanged      bool // true if --run flag was explicitly set
+	featuresChanged bool // true if --features flag was explicitly set
 }
 
 // templateVars holds the variables for template substitution.
@@ -170,7 +179,8 @@ func parseDeployAndRunFlags(deploy bool, run string) (bool, prompt.RunMode, erro
 
 // promptForFeaturesAndDeps prompts for features and their dependencies.
 // Used when the template uses the feature-fragment system.
-func promptForFeaturesAndDeps(ctx context.Context, preSelectedFeatures []string) (*prompt.CreateProjectConfig, error) {
+// skipDeployRunPrompt indicates whether to skip prompting for deploy/run (because flags were provided).
+func promptForFeaturesAndDeps(ctx context.Context, preSelectedFeatures []string, skipDeployRunPrompt bool) (*prompt.CreateProjectConfig, error) {
 	config := &prompt.CreateProjectConfig{
 		Dependencies: make(map[string]string),
 		Features:     preSelectedFeatures,
@@ -260,10 +270,12 @@ func promptForFeaturesAndDeps(ctx context.Context, preSelectedFeatures []string)
 	}
 	prompt.PrintAnswered(ctx, "Description", config.Description)
 
-	// Step 4: Deploy and run options
-	config.Deploy, config.RunMode, err = prompt.PromptForDeployAndRun(ctx)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+	// Step 4: Deploy and run options (skip if any deploy/run flag was provided)
+	if !skipDeployRunPrompt {
+		config.Deploy, config.RunMode, err = prompt.PromptForDeployAndRun(ctx)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
 	}
 
 	return config, nil
@@ -474,11 +486,17 @@ func runCreate(ctx context.Context, opts createOptions) error {
 	// Step 3: Determine template type and gather configuration
 	usesFeatureFragments := features.HasFeaturesDirectory(templateDir)
 
+	// When --name is provided, user is in "flags mode" - use defaults instead of prompting
+	flagsMode := opts.nameProvided
+
 	if usesFeatureFragments {
 		// Feature-fragment template: prompt for features and their dependencies
-		if isInteractive && len(selectedFeatures) == 0 {
-			// Need to prompt for features (but we already have the name)
-			config, err := promptForFeaturesAndDeps(ctx, selectedFeatures)
+		// Skip deploy/run prompts if in flags mode or if deploy/run flags were explicitly set
+		skipDeployRunPrompt := flagsMode || opts.deployChanged || opts.runChanged
+
+		if isInteractive && !opts.featuresChanged && !flagsMode {
+			// Interactive mode without --features flag: prompt for features, dependencies, description
+			config, err := promptForFeaturesAndDeps(ctx, selectedFeatures, skipDeployRunPrompt)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
@@ -487,15 +505,41 @@ func runCreate(ctx context.Context, opts createOptions) error {
 			if config.Description != "" {
 				opts.description = config.Description
 			}
-			shouldDeploy = config.Deploy
-			runMode = config.RunMode
+			// Use prompted values for deploy/run (only set if we prompted)
+			if !skipDeployRunPrompt {
+				shouldDeploy = config.Deploy
+				runMode = config.RunMode
+			}
 
 			// Get warehouse from dependencies if provided
 			if wh, ok := dependencies["sql_warehouse_id"]; ok && wh != "" {
 				opts.warehouseID = wh
 			}
+		} else if isInteractive && opts.featuresChanged && !flagsMode {
+			// Interactive mode with --features flag: validate features, prompt for deploy/run if no flags
+			flagValues := map[string]string{
+				"warehouse-id": opts.warehouseID,
+			}
+			if len(selectedFeatures) > 0 {
+				if err := features.ValidateFeatureDependencies(selectedFeatures, flagValues); err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+			}
+			dependencies = make(map[string]string)
+			if opts.warehouseID != "" {
+				dependencies["sql_warehouse_id"] = opts.warehouseID
+			}
+
+			// Prompt for deploy/run if no flags were set
+			if !skipDeployRunPrompt {
+				var err error
+				shouldDeploy, runMode, err = prompt.PromptForDeployAndRun(ctx)
+				if err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+			}
 		} else {
-			// Non-interactive or features provided via flag
+			// Flags mode or non-interactive: validate features and use flag values
 			flagValues := map[string]string{
 				"warehouse-id": opts.warehouseID,
 			}
@@ -508,6 +552,10 @@ func runCreate(ctx context.Context, opts createOptions) error {
 			if opts.warehouseID != "" {
 				dependencies["sql_warehouse_id"] = opts.warehouseID
 			}
+		}
+
+		// Apply flag values for deploy/run when in flags mode, flags were explicitly set, or non-interactive
+		if skipDeployRunPrompt || !isInteractive {
 			var err error
 			shouldDeploy, runMode, err = parseDeployAndRunFlags(opts.deploy, opts.run)
 			if err != nil {
@@ -562,11 +610,13 @@ func runCreate(ctx context.Context, opts createOptions) error {
 			}
 		}
 
-		// Prompt for description and post-creation actions
-		if isInteractive {
-			if opts.description == "" {
-				opts.description = prompt.DefaultAppDescription
-			}
+		// Set default description if not provided
+		if opts.description == "" {
+			opts.description = prompt.DefaultAppDescription
+		}
+
+		// Only prompt for deploy/run if not in flags mode and no deploy/run flags were set
+		if isInteractive && !flagsMode && !opts.deployChanged && !opts.runChanged {
 			var deployVal bool
 			var runVal prompt.RunMode
 			deployVal, runVal, err = prompt.PromptForDeployAndRun(ctx)
@@ -576,6 +626,7 @@ func runCreate(ctx context.Context, opts createOptions) error {
 			shouldDeploy = deployVal
 			runMode = runVal
 		} else {
+			// Flags mode or explicit flags: use flag values (or defaults if not set)
 			var err error
 			shouldDeploy, runMode, err = parseDeployAndRunFlags(opts.deploy, opts.run)
 			if err != nil {
@@ -659,21 +710,34 @@ func runCreate(ctx context.Context, opts createOptions) error {
 		return runErr
 	}
 
-	// Run npm install
-	runErr = runNpmInstall(ctx, absOutputDir)
-	if runErr != nil {
-		return runErr
+	// Initialize project based on type (Node.js, Python, etc.)
+	var nextStepsCmd string
+	projectInitializer := initializer.GetProjectInitializer(absOutputDir)
+	if projectInitializer != nil {
+		result := projectInitializer.Initialize(ctx, absOutputDir)
+		if !result.Success {
+			if result.Error != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", result.Message, result.Error)
+			}
+			return errors.New(result.Message)
+		}
+		nextStepsCmd = projectInitializer.NextSteps()
 	}
 
-	// Run npm run setup
-	runErr = runNpmSetup(ctx, absOutputDir)
-	if runErr != nil {
-		return runErr
+	// Validate dev-remote is only supported for appkit projects
+	if runMode == prompt.RunModeDevRemote {
+		if projectInitializer == nil || !projectInitializer.SupportsDevRemote() {
+			return errors.New("--run=dev-remote is only supported for Node.js projects with @databricks/appkit")
+		}
 	}
 
 	// Show next steps only if user didn't choose to deploy or run
 	showNextSteps := !shouldDeploy && runMode == prompt.RunModeNone
-	prompt.PrintSuccess(ctx, opts.name, absOutputDir, fileCount, showNextSteps)
+	if showNextSteps {
+		prompt.PrintSuccess(ctx, opts.name, absOutputDir, fileCount, nextStepsCmd)
+	} else {
+		prompt.PrintSuccess(ctx, opts.name, absOutputDir, fileCount, "")
+	}
 
 	// Execute post-creation actions (deploy and/or run)
 	if shouldDeploy || runMode != prompt.RunModeNone {
@@ -694,7 +758,7 @@ func runCreate(ctx context.Context, opts createOptions) error {
 
 	if runMode != prompt.RunModeNone {
 		cmdio.LogString(ctx, "")
-		if err := runPostCreateDev(ctx, runMode); err != nil {
+		if err := runPostCreateDev(ctx, runMode, projectInitializer, absOutputDir); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
@@ -716,15 +780,15 @@ func runPostCreateDeploy(ctx context.Context) error {
 }
 
 // runPostCreateDev runs the dev or dev-remote command in the current directory.
-func runPostCreateDev(ctx context.Context, mode prompt.RunMode) error {
+func runPostCreateDev(ctx context.Context, mode prompt.RunMode, projectInit initializer.Initializer, workDir string) error {
 	switch mode {
 	case prompt.RunModeDev:
-		cmdio.LogString(ctx, "Starting development server (npm run dev)...")
-		cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "npm", "run", "dev")
-		cmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
-		cmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
-		cmd.Stdin = os.Stdin
-		return cmd.Run()
+		if projectInit != nil {
+			return projectInit.RunDev(ctx, workDir)
+		}
+		// Fallback for unknown project types
+		cmdio.LogString(ctx, "⚠ Unknown project type, cannot start development server automatically")
+		return nil
 	case prompt.RunModeDevRemote:
 		cmdio.LogString(ctx, "Starting remote development server...")
 		executable, err := os.Executable()
@@ -741,39 +805,6 @@ func runPostCreateDev(ctx context.Context, mode prompt.RunMode) error {
 	}
 }
 
-// runNpmInstall runs npm install in the project directory.
-func runNpmInstall(ctx context.Context, projectDir string) error {
-	// Check if npm is available
-	if _, err := exec.LookPath("npm"); err != nil {
-		cmdio.LogString(ctx, "⚠ npm not found. Please install Node.js and run 'npm install' manually.")
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	return prompt.RunWithSpinnerCtx(ctx, "Installing dependencies...", func() error {
-		cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "npm", "install")
-		cmd.Dir = projectDir
-		cmd.Stdout = nil // Suppress output
-		cmd.Stderr = nil
-		return cmd.Run()
-	})
-}
-
-// runNpmSetup runs npx appkit-setup in the project directory.
-func runNpmSetup(ctx context.Context, projectDir string) error {
-	// Check if npx is available
-	if _, err := exec.LookPath("npx"); err != nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	return prompt.RunWithSpinnerCtx(ctx, "Running setup...", func() error {
-		cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "npx", "appkit-setup", "--write")
-		cmd.Dir = projectDir
-		cmd.Stdout = nil // Suppress output
-		cmd.Stderr = nil
-		return cmd.Run()
-	})
-}
-
 // renameFiles maps source file names to destination names (for files that can't use special chars).
 var renameFiles = map[string]string{
 	"_gitignore":  ".gitignore",