| name | trellis:init |
| description | Initialize a project for Trellis by creating trellis.json, the specs directory, and guidelines. Use when setting up Trellis for the first time. |
| allowed-tools | Read, Write, Bash(mkdir:*) |
Init
When to use
- "initialize trellis", "set up trellis", "init"
- First time using Trellis in a project
Initialize a project for Trellis by creating trellis.json and the specs directory, then run /trellis:guidelines to establish project guidelines.
Recommended effort: minimal. Single question, two file operations, then hand off to guidelines.
Behavior
Check whether trellis.json exists at the project root.
If trellis.json does not exist
Ask the user: "Where should Trellis store spec artifacts? The default is .specs/ — press Enter to accept or provide a custom path (e.g., docs/specs, design)."
Write their choice (or the default) to trellis.json at the project root:
{
"specsDir": ".specs"
}
Create the specs directory if it doesn't exist.
Confirm to the user: "Trellis initialized — specs directory set to <specsDir>/."
If trellis.json already exists
Read specsDir from it. Confirm to the user: "Trellis is already initialized — specs directory is <specsDir>/."
Create the specs directory if it doesn't exist.
Do not re-ask or overwrite.
Next step
After trellis.json and the specs directory are in place, run the /trellis:guidelines skill to create or update project guidelines.
