# Mb Init

> Create the Memory Bank skeleton and project command proxies in the current repository.

- Skill: `mrvladd-d/mb-init` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add mrvladd-d/mb-init`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/mrvladd-d/mb-init/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: mrvladd-d (https://skillmd.com/u/mrvladd-d)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/mrvladd-d/mb-init

---


# mb-init — Initialize Memory Bank skeleton

- **What it does:** creates the base folders, core docs, and project-native command proxies.
- **Use it when:** you want the skeleton only, without immediately choosing PRD or brownfield mapping.
- **Input:** repository root.
- **Output:** `.memory-bank/`, `.tasks/`, `.protocols/`, `AGENTS.md`, and generated command stubs.

## Goal
Create a consistent baseline so agents can work with **repo-local context** instead of ad-hoc prompts.

## Steps

### 1) Create directories
Create (if missing):
- `.memory-bank/` with subfolders (see `./references/shared-structure-template.md`)
- `.tasks/`
- `.protocols/`

### 2) Create core Memory Bank files
From templates, create:
- `AGENTS.md`
- `CLAUDE.md` → symlink/copy to `AGENTS.md`
- `.memory-bank/index.md`
- `.memory-bank/constitution.md`
- `.memory-bank/mbb/index.md`
- `.memory-bank/spec-index.md`
- `.memory-bank/glossary.md`
- `.memory-bank/invariants.md`
- `.memory-bank/product.md`
- `.memory-bank/requirements.md`
- `.memory-bank/schemas/task.schema.json`
- `.memory-bank/tasks/index.json`
- `.memory-bank/testing/index.md`
- `.memory-bank/skills/index.md`

Fresh PRD-less bootstrap must not create `.memory-bank/features/FT-001-*.md`, `.memory-bank/tasks/TASK-001.task.json`, or any other fake roadmap artifact. `.memory-bank/tasks/index.json` starts as `{ "version": 1, "tasks": [] }`; `/write-prd` creates a clarified PRD, `/spec-init` prepares only the lightweight SDD route map, `/prd` creates real features, mandatory `/spec-design` creates a minimal or full backbone gate, `/spec-improve FT-<NNN>` completes or marks unnecessary feature design, and `/prd-to-tasks FT-<NNN>` creates real `TASK-*.task.json` records after that. `/clarify-feature FT-<NNN>` is optional for explicitly pending/blocked features.

Also create optional folders that support the richer normative layer without making it mandatory:
- `.memory-bank/contracts/`
- `.memory-bank/states/`
- `.memory-bank/runbooks/`

### 3) Create command stubs
So links from `AGENTS.md` are not broken, create minimal docs under `.memory-bank/commands/`.
Use `./references/shared-commands-*.md`:
- `mb.md`
- `analysis.md`
- `brainstorm.md`
- `brief.md`
- `constitution.md`
- `write-prd.md`
- `spec-init.md`
- `prd.md`
- `spec-design.md`
- `spec-improve.md`
- `spec-auto.md`
- `clarify-feature.md`
- `prd-to-tasks.md`
- `execute.md`
- `verify.md`
- `red-verify.md`
- `autopilot.md`
- `autonomous.md`
- `map-codebase.md`
- `discuss.md`
- `add-tests.md`
- `review.md`
- `find-skills.md`

### 4) Create native skills (proxy commands)
Create thin proxy skills for each command so they work natively across runtimes:
- `.claude/skills/<name>/SKILL.md` → Claude Code + OpenCode
- `.agents/skills/<name>/SKILL.md` → Codex CLI + OpenCode

Each proxy contains: `Read and follow the instructions in .memory-bank/commands/<name>.md`.
This registers commands natively: `/mb` in Claude Code, `$mb` in Codex, `/mb` in OpenCode.

The `init-mb.js` script creates both sets automatically.

Agents must read `.memory-bank/constitution.md` early during priming. It records project governing principles and does not replace `.memory-bank/invariants.md`, `.memory-bank/contracts/*`, or `.memory-bank/spec-index.md`; use `/constitution` only to create or amend those principles.

### 5) Enforce MBB rules immediately
- Every `.memory-bank/**/*.md` must have frontmatter (`description`, `status`).

## Optional fast path
If Node.js is available, you may run the helper script (safe: doesn’t overwrite existing files):

```bash
# Option A: copy ./scripts/shared-init-mb.js into your repo then run:
node scripts/init-mb.js
```

If you don’t want a script, just create the files manually using the templates.

## Definition of done
- `AGENTS.md` exists and points to `.memory-bank/index.md`.
- `CLAUDE.md` exists and mirrors `AGENTS.md`.
- `.memory-bank/` has the seeded docs.
- `.memory-bank/constitution.md` exists as the governing-principles doc and `/constitution` is available in `.memory-bank/commands/`.
- `.memory-bank/tasks/index.json` and `.memory-bank/schemas/task.schema.json` exist; task state is JSON-backed.
- `.memory-bank/tasks/index.json` has an empty `tasks` array in a PRD-less skeleton.
- Skeleton bootstrap creates no fake feature docs; task planning starts later with `/write-prd`, `/spec-init`, `/prd`, mandatory `/spec-design`, `/spec-improve FT-<NNN>`, then `/prd-to-tasks FT-<NNN>`.
- No `.memory-bank/tasks/TASK-001.task.json` is created by bootstrap.
- Future task records must contain mandatory `tier: T0|T1|T2|T3`; routing is only through `task.tier`, not the removed `risk` / `risk.level` model.
- `.memory-bank/commands/` has stub command docs.
- `.tasks/` and `.protocols/` exist.