# Lotus Init > Initialize the Lotus `.local` + `.docs` workflow in a repository. Use when Codex needs to add the base Lotus structure, seed `.local/AGENTS.md` and `.docs/AGENTS.md`, create `.docs/spec`, `.docs/meetings/_draft.md`, `.docs/templates`, and choose whether `.docs` should stay committed or local-only. Use when this capability is needed. - Skill: `tomevault-io/lotus-init` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/lotus-init` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/lotus-init/raw - Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS) - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Productivity - Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/lotus-init --- # Lotus Init Use this skill when a repository needs the base Lotus setup. ## Inspect First 1. check whether these already exist: - `.local/AGENTS.md` - `.local/issues/` - `.local/issues-notes/` - `.local/reviews/` - `.local/pr-notes/` - `.local/WORKFLOW.md` - `.local/workflow.lotus.json` - `.docs/AGENTS.md` - `.docs/spec/` - `.docs/meetings/` - `.docs/templates/` - `.docs/practices/` 2. check current ignore rules for `.local/` and `.docs/` 3. inspect whether the repository looks mature or still bootstrap-only: - mature: substantial existing product code, signs of ongoing maintenance, or a repo that has clearly lived for a while - early: very few files, mostly example or starter code, or almost no real product code yet 4. read root `AGENTS.md` when present for host repo constraints, but do not edit it unless the human explicitly asks ## Apply - create the minimal missing base structure: - `.local/AGENTS.md` from `assets/local-agents.md` - `.local/issues/` with `.local/issues/.lotus.json` from `assets/local-issues.lotus.json` - `.local/issues-notes/` with `.local/issues-notes/.lotus.json` from `assets/local-issues-notes.lotus.json` - `.local/reviews/` with `.local/reviews/.lotus.json` from `assets/local-reviews.lotus.json` - `.local/pr-notes/` with `.local/pr-notes/.lotus.json` from `assets/local-pr-notes.lotus.json` - `.local/WORKFLOW.md` from `assets/local-workflow.md` - `.local/workflow.lotus.json` from the CLI-generated workflow config when profile or task-source choices are known - `.docs/AGENTS.md` from `assets/docs-agents.md` - `.docs/spec/` with `.docs/spec/.lotus.json` from `assets/docs-spec.lotus.json` - `.docs/meetings/_draft.md` from `assets/meetings-draft-template.md` - `.docs/templates/` with `.docs/templates/.lotus.json` from `assets/docs-templates.lotus.json` - create `.docs/practices/` only when the user wants practice files or wants the fuller starter shape - when `.local/AGENTS.md` or `.docs/AGENTS.md` already exists, merge only the missing Lotus rules and preserve repo-specific constraints ## Ignore Rules - ensure `.local/` is ignored via `.git/info/exclude` - if the user has already said whether `.docs/` should stay committed or local-only, follow that - if the repo already has meaningful code and the agent can ask a short clarifying question, ask which version the human prefers - if the repo already has meaningful code and the agent cannot ask or should not block on the question, default to hidden `.docs/`: - keep `.docs/` local-only - ensure `.docs/` is ignored via `.git/info/exclude` - mention that the human can ask to unhide or commit `.docs/` later - if the repo is still early, mostly bootstrap, example-heavy, or almost empty, default to committed `.docs/`: - do not ignore `.docs/` - mention that the human can ask to hide `.docs/` later ## Operating Rules - do not create or update root `AGENTS.md` as part of Lotus setup unless the human explicitly asks - do not create `AGENTS_TO_COPY.md` or `AGENTS_ISSUE_FLOW.md` - do not create `.local/context.md`, `.local/questions/`, or `.local/runs/` - keep the setup minimal when the repo already has part of the structure ## Assets - `assets/local-agents.md` - `assets/docs-agents.md` - `assets/meetings-draft-template.md` - `assets/local-issues.lotus.json` - `assets/local-issues-notes.lotus.json` - `assets/local-reviews.lotus.json` - `assets/local-pr-notes.lotus.json` - `assets/local-workflow.md` - `assets/docs-spec.lotus.json` - `assets/docs-templates.lotus.json` --- > Source: [MrMaxie/lotus-agents](https://github.com/MrMaxie/lotus-agents) — distributed by [TomeVault](https://tomevault.io).