init

name	init
description	Initialize PARA-Programming structure in the current project
model	haiku
effort	low

Initialize PARA-Programming 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 It Does

1. Set up global methodology file at ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md (copied from resources/CLAUDE.md if missing; never overwrites existing)
2. Create context directory structure:

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

3. Create context/context.md seeded from context-template.md:

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

   See context-schema.md for the full field reference.
4. Create project CLAUDE.md (if missing) from claude-basic-template.md (default, --template=basic) or claude-full-template.md (--template=full)
5. Update .gitignore to include .para-worktrees/:
   • If .gitignore exists, check for .para-worktrees/ entry; append if missing
   • If .gitignore does not exist, create it with .para-worktrees/ as its content
   • This prevents worktree directories from being tracked by git

Success Output

After initialization, display:

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

.para-worktrees/  # Git worktree isolation (gitignored)

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)
- .gitignore (added .para-worktrees/ entry)

Next steps:
1. Edit CLAUDE.md with your project-specific context
2. Create your first plan: /para:plan <task-description>
3. Check status: /para:status
4. Get help: /para:help