mattjaikaran /meridian:init — Initialize Meridian in Current Project
Initialize Meridian state tracking in the current project directory.
What This Does
- Creates
.meridian/directory in the project root - Initializes SQLite database with schema at
.meridian/state.db - Gathers project context (repo info, tech stack, structure)
- Creates the default project record
- Optionally creates the first milestone
Procedure
Step 1: Find Project Root
Look for indicators of project root (.git/, package.json, pyproject.toml, Cargo.toml, etc.). If none found, use current directory.
Step 2: Initialize Database
cd <project_root>
PYTHONPATH=$MERIDIAN_HOME uv run --project $MERIDIAN_HOME -- python -c "
from scripts.db import init
path = init('.')
print(f'Database initialized at {path}')
"
Step 3: Gather Context
Use an Explore agent to analyze the project:
- Repository URL (from
git remote -v) - Tech stack (from config files)
- Directory structure overview
- Key patterns and conventions
Step 4: Create Project Record
PYTHONPATH=$MERIDIAN_HOME uv run --project $MERIDIAN_HOME -- python -c "
from scripts.db import connect, get_db_path
from scripts.state import create_project
conn = connect(get_db_path('.'))
create_project(conn, name='<name>', repo_path='<path>', tech_stack=<stack>, repo_url='<url>')
conn.close()
"
Step 5: Create First Milestone (if user provides goal)
Ask the user what the first milestone should be. If they provide one:
PYTHONPATH=$MERIDIAN_HOME uv run --project $MERIDIAN_HOME -- python -c "
from scripts.db import connect, get_db_path
from scripts.state import create_milestone, transition_milestone
conn = connect(get_db_path('.'))
create_milestone(conn, '<id>', '<name>', description='<desc>')
transition_milestone(conn, '<id>', 'active')
conn.close()
"
Step 6: Add .meridian to .gitignore
Append .meridian/ to .gitignore if not already present. The state DB is local — only the exported JSON is tracked.
Step 7: Show Status
Run /meridian:status to confirm initialization.
Output
Print a summary showing:
- Project name and path
- Tech stack detected
- Milestone (if created)
- Next recommended action