trellis-start

Initializes Trellis-managed development sessions by loading context, git status, and task routing.

Updated Jun 8, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/dev2019zheng/codex-beacon --skill trellis-start-dev2019zheng
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: trellis-start
Source: https://github.com/dev2019zheng/codex-beacon/tree/main/.agents/skills/trellis-start
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/dev2019zheng/codex-beacon --skill trellis-start-dev2019zheng

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? Starting a new AI coding session without project context leads to inconsistent work and missed conventions. This Skill restores full session context—developer identity, git status, active tasks, and project guidelines—so every session begins with the same grounding a session-start hook would normally provide. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Session Context Loading: Runs get_context.py to surface identity, git status, current task, active tasks, and journal location from the .trellis/ directory. - Task Classification & Routing: Decides the next action based on task state—routing to brainstorming, direct edits, or phased task workflows depending on whether a prd.md exists. - Skill Routing Table: Maps user intent (new feature, about to code, quality check, stuck in a loop) to the appropriate follow-up skill such as trellis-brainstorm or trellis-check. - Use Case: You return to a project after a week away. Run this Skill to reload your active task, see which phase you are in, and get routed to the correct next step without re-reading the entire workflow guide. ## Quick Start Start my Trellis development session and tell me what task I should work on next.

Frequently Asked Questions about trellis-start

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I start a Trellis-managed AI coding session?

Run the trellis-start skill, which executes get_context.py to load your identity, git status, and active tasks, then reads the workflow phase index and guideline indexes. It finishes by routing you to the correct next action based on your current task state.

How does the skill decide between brainstorming and direct editing?

It checks the active task directory for a prd.md file. An active task with prd.md routes to Phase 2 implementation, an active task without one routes to the trellis-brainstorm skill, and trivial one-off questions are answered directly without creating a task.

What is the .trellis directory and what does it contain?

The .trellis directory stores session context scripts, the workflow.md guide, task directories, and spec guideline indexes. The get_context.py script inside its scripts folder surfaces identity, git status, phases, and package information on demand.

When should I skip session initialization entirely?

Skip initialization for simple one-off questions or trivial edits that do not require project context. The skill explicitly directs you to answer directly without creating a task when no multi-step work is involved.

What happens if a Trellis update is available during session start?

If get_context.py outputs a line beginning with 'Trellis update available:', the skill instructs you to copy that full line verbatim into the session context summary without shortening any operational command hints.