start

name	start
description	Initializes an AI development session by reading workflow guides, developer identity, git status, active tasks, and project guidelines from .trellis/. Classifies incoming tasks and routes to brainstorm, direct edit, or task workflow. Use when beginning a new coding session, resuming work, starting a new task, or re-establishing project context.

Start Session

Initialize your AI development session and begin working on tasks.

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Operation Types

Marker	Meaning	Executor
[AI]	Bash scripts or tool calls executed by AI	You (AI)
[USER]	Skills executed by user	User

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Initialization [AI]

Step 1: Read Project Entry

First, read the canonical project entry:

cat AGENTS.md

AGENTS.md defines:

• Rule priority
• Minimal reading path
• Global gates
• Which layer owns which kind of rule

Step 2: Understand Development Workflow

Then read the workflow guide to understand the development process:

cat .trellis/workflow.md

Step 3: Get Current Context

python3 ./.trellis/scripts/get_context.py

This shows: developer identity, git status, current task (if any), active tasks.

Step 4: Read Guidelines Index

python3 ./.trellis/scripts/get_context.py --mode packages

This shows available spec layers for the current single-repo project. Read the relevant spec indexes:

cat .trellis/spec/frontend/index.md            # Frontend guidelines
cat .trellis/spec/backend/index.md             # Backend guidelines
cat .trellis/spec/guides/index.md              # Thinking guides (always read)

If the task is about rule entry, documentation governance, ignore policy, or host hook behavior, also read:

cat .trellis/spec/guides/project-instruction-layering-guide.md

Important: The index files are navigation — they list the actual guideline files (e.g., error-handling.md, conventions.md, mock-strategies.md). At this step, just read the indexes to understand what's available. When you start actual development, you MUST go back and read the specific guideline files relevant to your task, as listed in the index's Pre-Development Checklist.

Step 5: Report and Ask

Report what you learned and ask: "What would you like to work on?"

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Task Classification

When user describes a task, classify it:

Type	Criteria	Workflow
Question	User asks about code, architecture, or how something works	Answer directly
Trivial Fix	Typo fix, comment update, single-line change, < 5 minutes	Direct Edit
Simple Task	Clear goal, 1-2 files, well-defined scope	Quick confirm → Task Workflow
Complex Task	Vague goal, multiple files, architectural decisions	Brainstorm → Task Workflow

Decision Rule

If in doubt, use Brainstorm + Task Workflow.

Task Workflow ensures code-specs are injected to the right context, resulting in higher quality code. The overhead is minimal, but the benefit is significant.

Subtask Decomposition: If brainstorm reveals multiple independent work items, consider creating subtasks using --parent flag or add-subtask command. See the brainstorm skill's Step 8 for details.

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Question / Trivial Fix

For questions or trivial fixes, work directly:

1. Answer question or make the fix
2. If code was changed, remind user to run $finish-work

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Simple Task

For simple, well-defined tasks:

1. Quick confirm: "I understand you want to [goal]. Shall I proceed?"
2. If no, clarify and confirm again
3. If yes: execute ALL steps below without stopping. Do NOT ask for additional confirmation between steps.
   • Create task directory (Phase 1 Path B, Step 2)
   • Write PRD (Step 3)
   • Research codebase (Phase 2, Step 5)
   • Configure context (Step 6)
   • Activate task (Step 7)
   • Implement (Phase 3, Step 8)
   • Check quality (Step 9)
   • Complete (Step 10)

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Complex Task - Brainstorm First

For complex or vague tasks, automatically start the brainstorm process — do NOT skip directly to implementation.

See $brainstorm for the full process. Summary:

1. Acknowledge and classify - State your understanding
2. Create task directory - Track evolving requirements in prd.md
3. Ask questions one at a time - Update PRD after each answer
4. Propose approaches - For architectural decisions
5. Confirm final requirements - Get explicit approval
6. Proceed to Task Workflow - With clear requirements in PRD

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Task Workflow (Development Tasks)

Why this workflow?

• Run a dedicated research pass before coding
• Configure specs in jsonl context files
• Implement using injected context
• Verify with a separate check pass
• Result: Code that follows project conventions automatically

Overview: Two Entry Points

From Brainstorm (Complex Task):
  PRD confirmed → Research → Configure Context → Activate → Implement → Check → Complete

From Simple Task:
  Confirm → Create Task → Write PRD → Research → Configure Context → Activate → Implement → Check → Complete

Key principle: Research happens AFTER requirements are clear (PRD exists).

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Phase 1: Establish Requirements

Path A: From Brainstorm (skip to Phase 2)

PRD and task directory already exist from brainstorm. Skip directly to Phase 2.

Path B: From Simple Task

Step 1: Confirm Understanding [AI]

Quick confirm:

• What is the goal?
• What type of development? (frontend / backend / fullstack)
• Any specific requirements or constraints?

If unclear, ask clarifying questions.

Step 2: Create Task Directory [AI]

TASK_DIR=$(python3 ./.trellis/scripts/task.py create "<title>" --slug <name>)

Step 3: Write PRD [AI]

Create prd.md in the task directory with:

# <Task Title>

## Goal
<What we're trying to achieve>

## Requirements
- <Requirement 1>
- <Requirement 2>

## Acceptance Criteria
- [ ] <Criterion 1>
- [ ] <Criterion 2>

## Technical Notes
<Any technical decisions or constraints>

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Phase 2: Prepare for Implementation (shared)

Both paths converge here. PRD and task directory must exist before proceeding.

Step 4: Code-Spec Depth Check [AI]

If the task touches infra or cross-layer contracts, do not start implementation until code-spec depth is defined.

Trigger this requirement when the change includes any of:

• New or changed command/API signatures
• Database schema or migration changes
• Infra integrations (storage, queue, cache, secrets, env contracts)
• Cross-layer payload transformations

Must-have before proceeding:

• Target code-spec files to update are identified
• Concrete contract is defined (signature, fields, env keys)
• Validation and error matrix is defined
• At least one Good/Base/Bad case is defined

Step 5: Research the Codebase [AI]

Based on the confirmed PRD, run a focused research pass and produce:

1. Relevant spec files in .trellis/spec/
2. Existing code patterns to follow (2-3 examples)
3. Files that will likely need modification

Use this output format:

## Relevant Specs
- <path>: <why it's relevant>

## Code Patterns Found
- <pattern>: <example file path>

## Files to Modify
- <path>: <what change>

Step 6: Configure Context [AI]

Initialize default context:

python3 ./.trellis/scripts/task.py init-context "$TASK_DIR" <type>
# type: backend | frontend | fullstack

Add specs found in your research pass:

# For each relevant spec and code pattern:
python3 ./.trellis/scripts/task.py add-context "$TASK_DIR" implement "<path>" "<reason>"
python3 ./.trellis/scripts/task.py add-context "$TASK_DIR" check "<path>" "<reason>"

Step 7: Activate Task [AI]

python3 ./.trellis/scripts/task.py start "$TASK_DIR"

This sets .current-task so hooks can inject context.

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Phase 3: Execute (shared)

Step 8: Implement [AI]

Implement the task described in prd.md.

• Follow all specs injected into implement context
• Keep changes scoped to requirements
• Run lint and typecheck before finishing

Step 9: Check Quality [AI]

Run a quality pass against check context:

• Review all code changes against the specs
• Fix issues directly
• Ensure lint and typecheck pass

Step 10: Complete [AI]

1. Verify lint and typecheck pass
2. Report what was implemented
3. Remind user to:
   • Test the changes
   • Commit when ready
   • Run $record-session to record this session

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Continuing Existing Task

If get_context.py shows a current task:

1. Read the task's prd.md to understand the goal
2. Check task.json for current status and phase
3. Ask user: "Continue working on ?"

If yes, resume from the appropriate step (usually Step 7 or 8).

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Skills Reference

User Skills [USER]

Skill	When to Use
$start	Begin a session (this skill)
$finish-work	Before committing changes
$record-session	After completing a task

AI Scripts [AI]

Script	Purpose
python3 ./.trellis/scripts/get_context.py	Get session context
python3 ./.trellis/scripts/task.py create	Create task directory
python3 ./.trellis/scripts/task.py init-context	Initialize jsonl files
python3 ./.trellis/scripts/task.py add-context	Add spec to jsonl
python3 ./.trellis/scripts/task.py start	Set current task
python3 ./.trellis/scripts/task.py finish	Clear current task
python3 ./.trellis/scripts/task.py archive	Archive completed task

Workflow Phases [AI]

Phase	Purpose	Context Source
research	Analyze codebase	direct repo inspection
implement	Write code	implement.jsonl
check	Review & fix	check.jsonl
debug	Fix specific issues	debug.jsonl

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Key Principle

Code-spec context is injected, not remembered.

The Task Workflow ensures agents receive relevant code-spec context automatically. This is more reliable than hoping the AI "remembers" conventions.