initialize

name	initialize
description	Detect local toolchain versions and write .chipagent/env.json with capability flags. Updates CLAUDE.md Tech Stack table with detected versions.
disable-model-invocation	true
allowed-tools	["Bash","Read","Write","Edit"]

chip-agent:initialize

Detect the local toolchain environment and report which ChipAgent capabilities are available on this machine.

Usage

/chip-agent:initialize

Instructions

1. Determine the project root directory by finding the nearest ancestor directory of this skill file that contains .claude. Use that directory as the base for all paths below.

2. Run the environment detection script via Bash:

   <project-root>/scripts/detect-env.sh
   

   This script detects installed versions of Java, sbt, Scala, Verilator, Make, g++, Yosys, OpenROAD, and KLayout, detects the sky130hd PDK, ORFS installation, Docker availability, Chipyard installation, and RISCV toolchain, computes capability flags, and writes the results to .chipagent/env.json. The script output includes a human-readable summary.

3. Read the detection results using the Read tool:

   <project-root>/.chipagent/env.json
   

   Parse the JSON to extract tool versions and capability flags.

4. Update the CLAUDE.md Tech Stack table using the Edit tool. Update ONLY these rows with detected versions:

   • Scala: Update the Version column with the detected scala version. Note: the project pins Scala 2.13.10 in build.sbt regardless of the system Scala version -- add a note if they differ.
   • sbt: Update the Version column with the detected sbt version.
   • Verilator: Update the Version column with the detected verilator version.

   If a tool is not installed, leave the row unchanged (keep the existing placeholder version). Do NOT modify the Chisel, FIRRTL, or Claude Code Plugin rows -- those versions are pinned in project configuration files.

5. Present a summary to the user showing:

   • Each tool's status (installed with version, or missing)
   • Capability flags:
     • Can Compile (requires Java + sbt): whether Chisel-to-Verilog compilation is possible
     • Can Lint (requires Verilator): whether Verilog lint checking is possible
     • Can Simulate (requires Verilator + Make + g++): whether full simulation is possible
     • Can Synthesize (requires Yosys + sky130hd PDK + ORFS): whether RTL synthesis is possible
     • Can PnR (requires OpenROAD + sky130hd PDK): whether place-and-route is possible
     • Can GDS (requires KLayout + sky130hd PDK + GDS cell library): whether GDS export is possible
     • Can Chipyard (requires Chipyard + RISCV toolchain): whether Chipyard RTL generation is possible
   • For any missing tools, provide install instructions:
     • Java: Install JDK 11+ (apt install default-jdk or download from https://adoptium.net)
     • sbt: Install from https://www.scala-sbt.org/download
     • Scala: Install from https://www.scala-lang.org/download/ (optional -- sbt manages Scala for compilation)
     • Verilator: Install from https://verilator.org or apt install verilator
     • Make: Install via apt install make or Xcode Command Line Tools
     • g++: Install via apt install g++ or Xcode Command Line Tools
     • Yosys: Install via apt install yosys
     • OpenROAD: Install via apt install openroad
     • KLayout: Install via apt install klayout
   • sky130hd PDK: detected automatically from OpenROAD-flow-scripts installation at flow/platforms/sky130hd/
   • ORFS: detected automatically from OpenROAD-flow-scripts installation (flow/Makefile)
   • Docker: detected if available, determines backend_mode (local/docker)
   • Chipyard: Clone from https://github.com/ucb-bar/chipyard and follow setup instructions at https://chipyard.readthedocs.io
   • RISCV: Install via Chipyard's scripts/setup-tools.sh or set RISCV env var to toolchain path

Input

$ARGUMENTS -- none expected. This command takes no arguments.

Output

• .chipagent/env.json -- Machine-readable environment detection results (tools, PDK, Chipyard, RISCV, capabilities)
• Updated CLAUDE.md Tech Stack table with detected local versions