para-init

name	para-init
description	Initialize the PARA workflow structure in the current project. Triggers on: "initialize PARA", "set up PARA workflow", "init para", "set up context directory", "initialize context structure", "start PARA in this project".

Skill: para-init

Initialize the PARA-Programming workflow structure in the current project.

Usage

para-init
para-init --template=basic    # Minimal project CLAUDE.md (default)
para-init --template=full     # Comprehensive project CLAUDE.md

What to Do

1. Set up global methodology file at ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md:

   • Read the methodology content from METHODOLOGY.md (co-located in this skill directory)
   • If ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md does not exist, create it with that content
   • If it already exists, do NOT overwrite it — inform the user it was left intact

2. Create context directory structure in the current project:

   mkdir -p context/{data,plans,summaries,archives,servers}
   

3. Create context/context.md with initial structure:

   # Current Work Summary
   
   Ready to start first task.
   
   ---
   ```json
   {
     "active_context": [],
     "completed_summaries": [],
     "last_updated": "TIMESTAMP"
   }
   ```
   

   Replace TIMESTAMP with the current ISO 8601 datetime.

4. Create project CLAUDE.md (if missing) from the appropriate template:

   • --template=basic (default): use claude-basic-template.md (co-located in this skill directory)
   • --template=full: use claude-full-template.md (co-located in this skill directory)
   • Replace {PROJECT_NAME} placeholder with the current directory name
   • If CLAUDE.md already exists, do NOT overwrite it — inform the user

5. Display success output:

PARA-Programming Structure Initialized

context/
├── archives/     # Historical context snapshots
├── data/         # Input files, payloads, datasets
├── plans/        # Pre-work planning documents
├── servers/      # MCP tool wrappers
├── summaries/    # Post-work reports
└── context.md    # Active session context

Files created/updated:
- ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md (global methodology, if it didn't exist)
- context/context.md (fresh context file)
- CLAUDE.md (project-specific context, if it didn't exist)

Next steps:
1. Edit CLAUDE.md with your project-specific context
2. Create your first plan: para-plan <task-description>
3. Get help with the PARA workflow: refer to ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md

Notes

• The context/ directory should be added to .gitignore — it contains local-only work state
• The ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md file is global and shared across all projects
• Templates co-located in this skill directory are reference files read by this skill; they are not auto-installed into the project