How do I install the Zerg:init skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add tools-only/zerg-init in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

What does the Zerg:init skill do?

Initialize ZERG for a project. Detects the project state and operates in one of two modes. It is listed under Coding & Dev Tools on SkillMD.

Is Zerg:init safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Independent scanners report: SkillSpector: PASS, Skill Scanner: PASS. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Zerg:init?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Zerg:init free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Zerg:init?

tools-only (@tools-only) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Zerg:init by tools-only — Agent Skill

Name: Zerg:init
Author: tools-only

File contents

/zerg:init

Initialize ZERG for a project. Detects the project state and operates in one of two modes.

Synopsis

/zerg:init [OPTIONS]

Description

/zerg:init prepares a project for ZERG by creating the .zerg/ directory structure, detecting languages and frameworks, and generating configuration files.

The command operates in two modes depending on whether the current directory contains existing code:

Inception Mode (Empty Directory)

When run in an empty directory, ZERG launches an interactive wizard that:

Gathers project requirements through prompts (name, description, target platform, architecture style).
Recommends and confirms a technology stack (language, framework, test framework).
Scaffolds the project structure with starter files.
Initializes a git repository and creates an initial commit.

Supported languages for scaffolding:

Language	Package Manager	Default Framework
Python	uv	FastAPI / Typer
TypeScript	pnpm	Fastify / Commander
Go	go mod	Gin / Cobra
Rust	cargo	Axum / Clap

Discovery Mode (Existing Project)

When run in a directory with existing code, ZERG analyzes the project:

Detects languages by checking for package.json, pyproject.toml, go.mod, Cargo.toml, and similar markers.
Identifies frameworks (React, FastAPI, Express, Django, and others).
Detects existing infrastructure (Docker, CI/CD, devcontainers).
Generates .zerg/, .devcontainer/, and .claude/ configuration directories.

For multi-language projects, ZERG generates a devcontainer configuration with appropriate runtime features for each detected language.

Options

Option	Description
`--workers N`	Set default worker count for this project
`--security strict`	Enable strict security rule enforcement
`--no-security-rules`	Skip security rule generation
`--with-containers`	Build the devcontainer image after initialization

Examples

# Initialize a new project from scratch (Inception Mode)
mkdir my-api && cd my-api
/zerg:init

# Initialize an existing project (Discovery Mode)
cd my-existing-project
/zerg:init

# Initialize with custom settings
/zerg:init --workers 3 --security strict

# Skip security rules
/zerg:init --no-security-rules

# Build devcontainer image after init
/zerg:init --with-containers

Generated Structure

After running /zerg:init on an existing project, the following directories are created:

project/
  .zerg/           # ZERG runtime state and configuration
  .devcontainer/   # Container configuration for workers
    mcp-servers/
  .claude/
    commands/      # Slash command files
    agents/
  .gsd/
    specs/         # Feature specifications
    PROJECT.md     # Project metadata

For Inception Mode with Python selected:

my-api/
  my_api/
    __init__.py
    main.py
  tests/
    __init__.py
    test_main.py
  .gsd/
    PROJECT.md
  pyproject.toml
  README.md
  .gitignore
  .git/

---name: zerg-initdescription: Initialize ZERG for a project. Detects the project state and operates in one of two modes.---# /zerg:initInitialize ZERG for a project. Detects the project state and operates in one of two modes.## Synopsis```/zerg:init [OPTIONS]```## Description`/zerg:init` prepares a project for ZERG by creating the `.zerg/` directory structure, detecting languages and frameworks, and generating configuration files.The command operates in two modes depending on whether the current directory contains existing code:### Inception Mode (Empty Directory)When run in an empty directory, ZERG launches an interactive wizard that:1. Gathers project requirements through prompts (name, description, target platform, architecture style).2. Recommends and confirms a technology stack (language, framework, test framework).3. Scaffolds the project structure with starter files.4. Initializes a git repository and creates an initial commit.Supported languages for scaffolding:| Language | Package Manager | Default Framework ||----------|-----------------|-------------------|| Python | uv | FastAPI / Typer || TypeScript | pnpm | Fastify / Commander || Go | go mod | Gin / Cobra || Rust | cargo | Axum / Clap |### Discovery Mode (Existing Project)When run in a directory with existing code, ZERG analyzes the project:1. Detects languages by checking for `package.json`, `pyproject.toml`, `go.mod`, `Cargo.toml`, and similar markers.2. Identifies frameworks (React, FastAPI, Express, Django, and others).3. Detects existing infrastructure (Docker, CI/CD, devcontainers).4. Generates `.zerg/`, `.devcontainer/`, and `.claude/` configuration directories.For multi-language projects, ZERG generates a devcontainer configuration with appropriate runtime features for each detected language.## Options| Option | Description ||--------|-------------|| `--workers N` | Set default worker count for this project || `--security strict` | Enable strict security rule enforcement || `--no-security-rules` | Skip security rule generation || `--with-containers` | Build the devcontainer image after initialization |## Examples```bash# Initialize a new project from scratch (Inception Mode)mkdir my-api && cd my-api/zerg:init# Initialize an existing project (Discovery Mode)cd my-existing-project/zerg:init# Initialize with custom settings/zerg:init --workers 3 --security strict# Skip security rules/zerg:init --no-security-rules# Build devcontainer image after init/zerg:init --with-containers```## Generated StructureAfter running `/zerg:init` on an existing project, the following directories are created:```project/ .zerg/ # ZERG runtime state and configuration .devcontainer/ # Container configuration for workers mcp-servers/ .claude/ commands/ # Slash command files agents/ .gsd/ specs/ # Feature specifications PROJECT.md # Project metadata```For Inception Mode with Python selected:```my-api/ my_api/ __init__.py main.py tests/ __init__.py test_main.py .gsd/ PROJECT.md pyproject.toml README.md .gitignore .git/```## See Also- [[zerg-plan]] -- Next step after initialization: capture feature requirements- [[zerg-Reference]] -- Full command index

Frequently asked questions

Zerg:init