| name | init-deep |
| description | Generate hierarchical AGENTS.md and ensure paired CLAUDE.md files for codebases. Creates root AGENTS.md + CLAUDE.md plus complexity-scored subdirectory files. Use when user asks to "generate AGENTS.md files", "create codebase knowledge base", "run /init-deep", or wants comprehensive project documentation. Supports update mode (default) and --create-new flag to regenerate from scratch. |
/init-deep
Generate hierarchical AGENTS.md files. Ensure every AGENTS.md has a paired CLAUDE.md (and vice versa) via symlinks. Root + complexity-scored subdirectories + all monorepo packages.
Usage
/init-deep # Update mode: modify existing + create new where warranted
/init-deep --create-new # Read existing → remove all → regenerate from scratch
/init-deep --max-depth=2 # Limit directory depth (default: 3)
Workflow (High-Level)
- Discovery + Analysis (concurrent)
- Fire background explore agents immediately
- Main session: bash structure + LSP codemap + read existing AGENTS.md and CLAUDE.md
- Score & Decide - Determine AGENTS.md/CLAUDE.md locations from merged findings
- Generate - Root first, then subdirs in parallel
- Review - Deduplicate, trim, validate, ensure pairs
**TodoWrite ALL phases. Mark in_progress → completed in real-time.**
```
TodoWrite([
{ id: "discovery", content: "Fire explore agents + LSP codemap + read existing AGENTS.md and CLAUDE.md", status: "pending", priority: "high" },
{ id: "scoring", content: "Score directories, determine locations + monorepo packages", status: "pending", priority: "high" },
{ id: "generate", content: "Generate AGENTS.md + CLAUDE.md files (root + subdirs)", status: "pending", priority: "high" },
{ id: "review", content: "Deduplicate, validate, trim, ensure file pairs", status: "pending", priority: "medium" }
])
```
Phase 1: Discovery + Analysis (Concurrent)
Mark "discovery" as in_progress.
Fire Background Explore Agents IMMEDIATELY
Don't wait—these run async while main session works.
// Fire all at once, collect results later
task(subagent_type="explore", load_skills=[], description="Explore project structure", run_in_background=true, prompt="Project structure: PREDICT standard patterns for detected language → REPORT deviations only")
task(subagent_type="explore", load_skills=[], description="Find entry points", run_in_background=true, prompt="Entry points: FIND main files → REPORT non-standard organization")
task(subagent_type="explore", load_skills=[], description="Find conventions", run_in_background=true, prompt="Conventions: FIND config files (.eslintrc, pyproject.toml, .editorconfig) → REPORT project-specific rules")
task(subagent_type="explore", load_skills=[], description="Find anti-patterns", run_in_background=true, prompt="Anti-patterns: FIND 'DO NOT', 'NEVER', 'ALWAYS', 'DEPRECATED' comments → LIST forbidden patterns")
task(subagent_type="explore", load_skills=[], description="Explore build/CI", run_in_background=true, prompt="Build/CI: FIND .github/workflows, Makefile → REPORT non-standard patterns")
task(subagent_type="explore", load_skills=[], description="Find test patterns", run_in_background=true, prompt="Test patterns: FIND test configs, test structure → REPORT unique conventions")
**DYNAMIC AGENT SPAWNING**: After bash analysis, spawn ADDITIONAL explore agents based on project scale:
| Factor | Threshold | Additional Agents |
|---|
| Total files | >100 | +1 per 100 files |
| Total lines | >10k | +1 per 10k lines |
| Directory depth | ≥4 | +2 for deep exploration |
| Large files (>500 lines) | >10 files | +1 for complexity hotspots |
| Monorepo | detected | +1 per package/workspace |
| Multiple languages | >1 | +1 per language |
total_files=$(find . -type f -not -path '*/node_modules/*' -not -path '*/.git/*' | wc -l)
total_lines=$(find . -type f \( -name "*.ts" -o -name "*.py" -o -name "*.go" \) -not -path '*/node_modules/*' -exec wc -l {} + 2>/dev/null | tail -1 | awk '{print $1}')
large_files=$(find . -type f \( -name "*.ts" -o -name "*.py" \) -not -path '*/node_modules/*' -exec wc -l {} + 2>/dev/null | awk '$1 > 500 {count++} END {print count+0}')
max_depth=$(find . -type d -not -path '*/node_modules/*' -not -path '*/.git/*' | awk -F/ '{print NF}' | sort -rn | head -1)
Example spawning:
// 500 files, 50k lines, depth 6, 15 large files → spawn 5+5+2+1 = 13 additional agents
task(subagent_type="explore", load_skills=[], description="Analyze large files", run_in_background=true, prompt="Large file analysis: FIND files >500 lines, REPORT complexity hotspots")
task(subagent_type="explore", load_skills=[], description="Explore deep modules", run_in_background=true, prompt="Deep modules at depth 4+: FIND hidden patterns, internal conventions")
task(subagent_type="explore", load_skills=[], description="Find shared utilities", run_in_background=true, prompt="Cross-cutting concerns: FIND shared utilities across directories")
// ... more based on calculation
Main Session: Concurrent Analysis
While background agents run, main session does:
1. Bash Structural Analysis
find . -type d -not -path '*/\.*' -not -path '*/node_modules/*' -not -path '*/venv/*' -not -path '*/dist/*' -not -path '*/build/*' | awk -F/ '{print NF-1}' | sort -n | uniq -c
find . -type f -not -path '*/\.*' -not -path '*/node_modules/*' | sed 's|/[^/]*$||' | sort | uniq -c | sort -rn | head -30
find . -type f \( -name "*.py" -o -name "*.ts" -o -name "*.tsx" -o -name "*.js" -o -name "*.go" -o -name "*.rs" \) -not -path '*/node_modules/*' | sed 's|/[^/]*$||' | sort | uniq -c | sort -rn | head -20
find . -type f \( -name "AGENTS.md" -o -name "CLAUDE.md" \) -not -path '*/node_modules/*' 2>/dev/null
find . \( -name "package.json" -o -name "pyproject.toml" -o -name "Cargo.toml" -o -name "go.mod" \) -not -path '*/node_modules/*' -not -path '*/.git/*' | sed 's|/[^/]*$||' | sort | uniq
2. Read Existing AGENTS.md and CLAUDE.md
For each directory where either AGENTS.md or CLAUDE.md exists:
agents_exists = file exists at {dir}/AGENTS.md
claude_exists = file exists at {dir}/CLAUDE.md
If agents_exists AND claude_exists:
Read both files
Merge their contents into EXISTING_AGENTS map for that directory
Else if agents_exists AND NOT claude_exists:
Read AGENTS.md
Create symlink: ln -s AGENTS.md CLAUDE.md (or ln -s CLAUDE.md AGENTS.md if you prefer; standard: ln -s AGENTS.md CLAUDE.md)
Else if claude_exists AND NOT agents_exists:
Read CLAUDE.md
Create symlink: ln -s CLAUDE.md AGENTS.md
If `--create-new`: Read all existing first (preserve context) → delete all AGENTS.md and CLAUDE.md + their symlinks → regenerate.
3. LSP Codemap (if available)
LspServers() # Check availability
# Entry points (parallel)
LspDocumentSymbols(filePath="src/index.ts")
LspDocumentSymbols(filePath="main.py")
# Key symbols (parallel)
LspWorkspaceSymbols(filePath=".", query="class")
LspWorkspaceSymbols(filePath=".", query="interface")
LspWorkspaceSymbols(filePath=".", query="function")
# Centrality for top exports
LspFindReferences(filePath="...", line=X, character=Y)
LSP Fallback: If unavailable, rely on explore agents + AST-grep.
Collect Background Results
// After main session analysis done, collect all task results
for each task_id: background_output(task_id="...")
Merge: bash + LSP + existing + explore findings. Mark "discovery" as completed.
Phase 2: Scoring & Location Decision
Mark "scoring" as in_progress.
Scoring Matrix
| Factor | Weight | High Threshold | Source |
|---|
| File count | 3x | >20 | bash |
| Subdir count | 2x | >5 | bash |
| Code ratio | 2x | >70% | bash |
| Unique patterns | 1x | Has own config | explore |
| Module boundary | 2x | Has index.ts/init.py | bash |
| Symbol density | 2x | >30 symbols | LSP |
| Export count | 2x | >10 exports | LSP |
| Reference centrality | 3x | >20 refs | LSP |
Monorepo Rule
Every monorepo package directory MUST have an AGENTS.md + CLAUDE.md pair, regardless of score.
Detect packages via:
package.json in subdirectories (Node/Yarn/npm workspaces, pnpm)
pyproject.toml with [tool.poetry] or [project]
Cargo.toml (Rust workspace member)
go.mod (Go module)
Add all unique package directories to AGENTS_LOCATIONS with type: "package".
Decision Rules
| Score | Action |
|---|
| Root (.) | ALWAYS create |
| Monorepo package | ALWAYS create |
| >15 | Create AGENTS.md + CLAUDE.md |
| 8-15 | Create if distinct domain |
| <8 | Skip (parent covers) |
Output
AGENTS_LOCATIONS = [
{ path: ".", type: "root" },
{ path: "packages/core", type: "package", score: null, reason: "monorepo package" },
{ path: "src/hooks", score: 18, reason: "high complexity" },
{ path: "src/api", score: 12, reason: "distinct domain" }
]
Mark "scoring" as completed.
Phase 3: Generate AGENTS.md & CLAUDE.md
Mark "generate" as in_progress.
**File Writing Rule**:
- If AGENTS.md already exists at the target path → use `Edit` tool.
- If AGENTS.md does NOT exist → use `Write` tool.
- NEVER use Write to overwrite an existing file. ALWAYS check existence first via `Read` or discovery results.
- After writing AGENTS.md, ensure CLAUDE.md exists in the same directory. If missing, create it as a symlink to AGENTS.md.
- If both files already exist and both are regular files (not symlinks), merge their content mentally and then use `Edit` to update both to the merged content.
Pairing Rules Per Directory
For every location in AGENTS_LOCATIONS:
- Generate AGENTS.md content using the templates below.
- Ensure CLAUDE.md exists in the same directory:
- If neither exists: Write AGENTS.md, then
ln -s AGENTS.md CLAUDE.md
- If only AGENTS.md exists:
ln -s AGENTS.md CLAUDE.md
- If only CLAUDE.md exists:
mv CLAUDE.md AGENTS.md, then ln -s AGENTS.md CLAUDE.md
- If both exist as regular files: Merge content from both, then use
Edit to update both to the merged content.
Preferred approach: Write AGENTS.md as the canonical file, then ln -s AGENTS.md CLAUDE.md in all cases where no conflict exists.
Root AGENTS.md (Full Treatment)
# PROJECT KNOWLEDGE BASE
**Generated:** {TIMESTAMP}
**Commit:** {SHORT_SHA}
**Branch:** {BRANCH}
## OVERVIEW
{1-2 sentences: what + core stack}
## STRUCTURE
{root}/
├── {dir}/ # {non-obvious purpose only}
└── {entry}
## WHERE TO LOOK
| Task | Location | Notes |
|------|----------|-------|
## CODE MAP
{From LSP - skip if unavailable or project <10 files}
| Symbol | Type | Location | Refs | Role |
|--------|------|----------|------|------|
## CONVENTIONS
{ONLY deviations from standard}
## ANTI-PATTERNS (THIS PROJECT)
{Explicitly forbidden here}
## UNIQUE STYLES
{Project-specific}
## COMMANDS
{dev/test/build}
## NOTES
{Gotchas}
Quality gates: 50-150 lines, no generic advice, no obvious info.
Monorepo Package AGENTS.md
Same structure as root but scoped to the package:
- Mention package name and its role in the monorepo
- Link to root AGENTS.md for global conventions
- 30-80 lines max
Subdirectory AGENTS.md (Parallel)
Launch writing tasks for each location:
for loc in AGENTS_LOCATIONS (except root):
task(category="writing", load_skills=[], run_in_background=false, description="Generate AGENTS.md", prompt=`
Generate AGENTS.md for: ${loc.path}
- Type: ${loc.type} (package | subdir)
- Reason: ${loc.reason}
- 30-80 lines max
- NEVER repeat parent content
- Sections: OVERVIEW (1 line), STRUCTURE (if >5 subdirs), WHERE TO LOOK, CONVENTIONS (if different), ANTI-PATTERNS
If type is "package", include the package's role in the monorepo and link to root conventions.
`)
After each AGENTS.md is written, run the pairing check to ensure CLAUDE.md exists (create symlink if missing).
Wait for all. Mark "generate" as completed.
Phase 4: Review & Deduplicate
Mark "review" as in_progress.
For each generated file:
- Remove generic advice
- Remove parent duplicates
- Trim to size limits
- Verify telegraphic style
- Verify every AGENTS.md has a paired CLAUDE.md in the same directory
- Fix any missing symlinks
Mark "review" as completed.
Final Report
=== init-deep Complete ===
Mode: {update | create-new}
Files:
[OK] ./AGENTS.md (root, {N} lines)
[OK] ./CLAUDE.md → symlinked to ./AGENTS.md
[OK] ./packages/core/AGENTS.md ({N} lines)
[OK] ./packages/core/CLAUDE.md → symlinked to ./AGENTS.md
[OK] ./src/hooks/AGENTS.md ({N} lines)
[OK] ./src/hooks/CLAUDE.md → symlinked to ./AGENTS.md
Dirs Analyzed: {N}
AGENTS.md Created: {N}
CLAUDE.md Created: {N}
Pairs Ensured: {N}
Hierarchy:
./AGENTS.md
├── packages/core/AGENTS.md
└── src/hooks/AGENTS.md
Anti-Patterns
- Static agent count: MUST vary agents based on project size/depth
- Sequential execution: MUST parallel (explore + LSP concurrent)
- Ignoring existing: ALWAYS read existing first, even with --create-new
- Over-documenting: Not every dir needs AGENTS.md (except monorepo packages)
- Redundancy: Child never repeats parent
- Generic content: Remove anything that applies to ALL projects
- Verbose style: Telegraphic or die
- Orphan files: NEVER leave AGENTS.md without CLAUDE.md in the same directory