trellis-start

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

Updated Jun 9, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/gyc-12/Archipelago --skill trellis-start-gyc-12
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: trellis-start
Source: https://github.com/gyc-12/Archipelago/tree/main/docs/trellis/skills/trellis-start
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/gyc-12/Archipelago --skill trellis-start-gyc-12

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve? Starting or resuming a coding session often means manually reconstructing project context: who you are, what branch you're on, which tasks are active, and which workflow rules apply. This Skill automates that context-loading for Trellis-managed projects and routes you to the correct next workflow phase. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Session Context Loading: Runs get_context.py to surface developer identity, git status, current task, active tasks, and journal location from the .trellis/ directory. - Workflow Phase Routing: Classifies the incoming request and routes to brainstorm, direct edit, or task workflows based on whether an active task and prd.md exist. - Guideline Discovery: Reads spec layer index files so you know exactly which guideline docs to load before writing code. - Use Case: You return to a project after a week away. Invoke this Skill to instantly recover your active task, see the workflow phase index, and get routed to Phase 2.1 implementation or the trellis-brainstorm skill as appropriate. ## Quick Start Ask the AI to start a Trellis session and load my current project context so we can continue where we left off.

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 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. It automatically routes you to brainstorm, direct edit, or task workflows based on your current state.

How does Trellis decide which workflow to use for a task?

The skill checks your active task directory: if a prd.md exists it routes to Phase 2.1 implementation, if no prd.md exists it routes to the trellis-brainstorm skill, and with no active task it either starts brainstorming or answers simple questions directly.

What context does the get_context.py script provide?

It outputs developer identity, git status, current task, active tasks, and journal location in default mode. The --mode phase flag returns the phase index and skill routing table, while --mode packages discovers spec packages and layers.

When should I skip the Trellis session start workflow?

Skip it for simple one-off questions or trivial edits that need no task tracking. The skill explicitly directs you to answer directly without creating a task when the work does not involve multi-step development.

What other Trellis skills does session start route to?

It routes to trellis-brainstorm for new features or unclear requirements, trellis-before-dev before writing code, trellis-check for quality checks after coding, trellis-break-loop when stuck on repeated bugs, and trellis-update-spec for capturing learnings.