Files
github-spec-kit/docs/reference/core.md
Pascal THUET a17a658bbd feat(scripts): add SPECIFY_INIT_DIR to target a member project from the repo root (#2892)
* feat(scripts): add SPECIFY_INIT_DIR to target a member project from the repo root

Resolve an explicit SPECIFY_INIT_DIR project override once in the core
get_repo_root / Get-RepoRoot, so a non-interactive / CI caller can target a
member project (the directory containing .specify/) from a monorepo root
without cd. Strict by design: the path must exist and contain .specify/,
otherwise it hard-errors with no silent fallback.

- Single resolver in core; the git feature-branch script inherits it by
  sourcing core, with no per-extension copies.
- PS resolver verifies the resolved path is a directory (Resolve-Path also
  succeeds for files) so a file value errors as "not an existing directory".
- get_feature_paths splits decl/assignment so a SPECIFY_INIT_DIR failure
  propagates instead of being masked by `local`.
- create-new-feature-branch: when core is absent (only git-common loaded) and
  SPECIFY_INIT_DIR is set, hard-error rather than silently using the git root.
- Document SPECIFY_INIT_DIR and SPECIFY_FEATURE_DIRECTORY in the core reference.
- Tests for valid/relative/trailing-slash/file/missing/no-.specify targets,
  feature-axis composition, the no-core guard, and a PowerShell mirror.

* fix: guard SPECIFY_INIT_DIR with stale core scripts

* docs: clarify SPECIFY_FEATURE_DIRECTORY precedence wording

* fix: normalize trailing slash in PowerShell SPECIFY_INIT_DIR resolver

Resolve-Path preserves a trailing separator from its input, so a
SPECIFY_INIT_DIR ending in a slash returned a root that didn't match the
bash resolver (whose `cd && pwd` strips it). That broke
test_ps_trailing_slash_tolerated on the CI runners, which do have pwsh.
Trim it with TrimEndingDirectorySeparator (no-op on a bare root or a path
with no trailing separator).

Also fix the misleading test comment: the PowerShell mirror runs on the
CI ubuntu/windows runners (they ship pwsh), it is not skipped there.

* test: normalize bash path expectations on Windows

* docs: clarify SPECIFY_INIT_DIR root helpers
2026-06-19 12:05:42 -05:00

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5.1 KiB
Markdown

# Core Commands
The core `specify` commands handle project initialization, system checks, and version information.
## Initialize a Project
```bash
specify init [<project_name>]
```
| Option | Description |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `--integration <key>` | AI coding agent integration to use (e.g. `copilot`, `claude`, `gemini`). See the [Integrations reference](integrations.md) for all available keys |
| `--integration-options` | Options for the integration (e.g. `--integration-options="--commands-dir .myagent/cmds"`) |
| `--script sh\|ps` | Script type: `sh` (bash/zsh) or `ps` (PowerShell) |
| `--here` | Initialize in the current directory instead of creating a new one |
| `--force` | Force merge/overwrite when initializing in an existing directory |
| `--ignore-agent-tools` | Skip checks for AI coding agent CLI tools |
| `--preset <id>` | Install a preset during initialization |
Creates a new Spec Kit project with the necessary directory structure, templates, scripts, and AI coding agent integration files.
> [!NOTE]
> Git repository initialization and branching are managed by the **git extension**, which is not installed by default. Run `specify extension add git` after init to enable git workflows.
Use `<project_name>` to create a new directory, or `--here` (or `.`) to initialize in the current directory. If the directory already has files, use `--force` to merge without confirmation.
When `--integration` is omitted, interactive terminals prompt you to choose an integration. Non-interactive sessions, such as CI or piped runs, default to GitHub Copilot; pass `--integration <key>` to choose a different integration explicitly.
### Examples
```bash
# Create a new project with an integration
specify init my-project --integration copilot
# Initialize in the current directory
specify init --here --integration copilot
# Force merge into a non-empty directory
specify init --here --force --integration copilot
# Use PowerShell scripts (Windows/cross-platform)
specify init my-project --integration copilot --script ps
# Install a preset during initialization
specify init my-project --integration copilot --preset compliance
```
### Environment Variables
| Variable | Description |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `SPECIFY_INIT_DIR` | Target a member project from outside its directory (e.g. a monorepo root) without `cd`, for non-interactive / CI use. Set it to the **project root** — the directory *containing* `.specify/` (relative paths resolve against the current directory). The path must exist and contain `.specify/`, otherwise the command errors and does **not** fall back to the current directory. Resolved once in the core root helper (`get_repo_root` in Bash, `Get-RepoRoot` in PowerShell), so it is honored by the core feature scripts (`/speckit.plan`, `/speckit.tasks`, …) and the Git extension's feature-branch creation, which inherit it. When unset, the project is detected by searching upward from the current directory as before. |
| `SPECIFY_FEATURE_DIRECTORY` | Override the active feature directory *within* the resolved project (takes precedence over `.specify/feature.json`). Relative paths resolve under the project root. Combine with `SPECIFY_INIT_DIR` to pick both the project and the feature non-interactively. |
| `SPECIFY_FEATURE` | Override feature detection for non-Git repositories. Set to the feature directory name (e.g., `001-photo-albums`) to work on a specific feature when not using Git branches. Must be set in the context of the agent prior to using `/speckit.plan` or follow-up commands. |
> **Two resolution axes.** `SPECIFY_INIT_DIR` selects the **project** (which directory contains `.specify/`); `SPECIFY_FEATURE_DIRECTORY` / `.specify/feature.json` select the **feature** within that project. They are independent — project first, then feature.
## Check Installed Tools
```bash
specify check
```
Checks that CLI-based AI coding agents are available on your system. IDE-based agents are skipped since they don't require a CLI tool.
This command stays offline. If a command behaves like an older Spec Kit version or an expected CLI feature is missing, run `specify self check` to check whether your local CLI is behind the latest release.
## Version Information
```bash
specify version
```
Displays the Spec Kit CLI version, Python version, platform, and architecture.
To inspect local CLI capabilities without checking the network:
```bash
specify version --features
specify version --features --json
```
The JSON form is intended for scripts and coding agents that need to choose a
workflow based on the installed CLI's supported features.
A quick version check is also available via:
```bash
specify --version
specify -V
```