trellis-start

name	trellis-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 a Trellis-managed development session. This platform has no session-start hook, so manually load the equivalent compact context by following these steps.

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Step 1: Current state

Identity, git status, current task, active tasks, journal location.

python ./.trellis/scripts/get_context.py

If this output includes a line beginning Trellis update available:, copy the full line verbatim when summarizing session context. Do not shorten operational command hints.

Step 2: Workflow overview

Compact Phase Index, request triage rules, planning artifact contract, and the step-detail command.

python ./.trellis/scripts/get_context.py --mode phase

Full guide in .trellis/workflow.md (read on demand).

Step 3: Guideline indexes

Discover packages + spec layers, then read each relevant index file.

python ./.trellis/scripts/get_context.py --mode packages
cat .trellis/spec/guides/index.md
cat .trellis/spec/<package>/<layer>/index.md   # for each relevant layer

Index files list the specific guideline docs to read when you actually start coding.

Step 4: Decide next action

From Step 1 you know the current task and status. Check the task directory:

• Active task status planning + no prd.md → Phase 1.1. Load the trellis-brainstorm skill.
• Active task status planning + prd.md exists → stay in Phase 1. Lightweight tasks can be PRD-only; complex tasks need design.md + implement.md. Load the relevant Phase 1 step detail before task.py start.
• Active task status in_progress → Phase 2 step 2.1. Load the step detail:

  python ./.trellis/scripts/get_context.py --mode phase --step 2.1 --platform codex
  

• No active task → classify first. For simple conversation / small task, ask only whether this turn should create a Trellis task. For complex work, ask whether you may create a Trellis task and enter planning. If the user says no, skip Trellis for this session.

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Skill routing (quick reference)

User intent	Skill
New feature / unclear requirements	trellis-brainstorm
About to write code	trellis-before-dev
Done coding / quality check	trellis-check
Stuck / fixed same bug multiple times	trellis-break-loop
Learned something worth capturing	trellis-update-spec

Full rules + anti-rationalization table in .trellis/workflow.md.