init

init — bootstrap the Spine

The Spine (.spine/) is the shared memory every andreas-skill reads and writes. This skill creates it.

Steps

1. Check for an existing Spine. If .spine/ already exists, report what's there and ask whether to refresh specific files rather than overwriting.
2. Detect the stack. Inspect manifests (package.json, pyproject.toml, go.mod, Cargo.toml, etc.) and config to infer language, framework, test runner, and the install/test/typecheck/build commands.
3. Create the structure:
   • .spine/context.md
   • .spine/conventions.md
   • .spine/journal.md
   • .spine/decisions/ (empty, with a .gitkeep) Seed each from this skill's templates/, filling in detected values. Leave <placeholders> only where you genuinely lack information, and flag them.
4. Install the contracting gate. This makes align fire for every non-trivial request in this repo — the gate ships with the Spine, not just with the plugin. Two artifacts, both merged into what already exists (never clobber):
   • .claude/settings.json — merge in the UserPromptSubmit hook from templates/settings.gate.json. It self-gates on .spine/ existing, so it stays silent in a checkout where the Spine was removed. If the file already has a hooks.UserPromptSubmit array, append this entry; don't duplicate it if an identical Spine-gate command is already present.
   • CLAUDE.md — append the block from templates/claude-gate.md (create CLAUDE.md if absent). It's wrapped in opening/closing spine:contracting-gate markers; if the opening marker is already present anywhere in the file, the block is installed — leave it, don't add a second copy.
5. Confirm with the user. Show the seeded conventions.md commands and the context.md architecture map; correct anything wrong before finishing. Mention that the contracting gate is now active.
6. Suggest committing .spine/, .claude/settings.json, and CLAUDE.md so the memory and the gate are shared with the team.
7. Point to the dashboard. Tell the user they can view the Spine anytime in a browser with npx spine-dashboard (read-only).

Spine I/O

• Writes: context.md, conventions.md, journal.md, decisions/.
• Also writes (outside .spine/): .claude/settings.json (contracting-gate hook), CLAUDE.md (contracting-gate instruction).

Notes

• Never invent commands you haven't verified exist in the manifest/scripts.
• The Spine is for durable knowledge, not transient chatter.
• Merge, never overwrite, .claude/settings.json and CLAUDE.md — they routinely hold unrelated config the user cares about.