bmad-init

Overview

This skill is the configuration entry point for all BMad skills. It has two modes:

• Fast path: Config exists for the requested module — returns vars as JSON. Done.
• Init path: Config is missing — walks the user through configuration, writes config files, then returns vars.

Every BMad skill should call this on activation to get its config vars. The caller never needs to know whether init happened — they just get their config back.

The script bmad_init.py is located in this skill's scripts/ directory. Locate and run it using python for all commands below.

On Activation — Fast Path

Run the bmad_init.py script with the load subcommand. Pass --project-root set to the project root directory.

• If a module code was provided by the calling skill, include --module {module_code}
• To load all vars, include --all
• To request specific variables with defaults, use --vars var1:default1,var2
• If no module was specified, omit --module to get core vars only

If the script returns JSON vars — store them as {var-name} and return to the calling skill. Done.

If the script returns an error or init_required — proceed to the Init Path below.

Init Path — First-Time Setup

When the fast path fails (config missing for a module), run this init flow.

Step 1: Check what needs setup

Run bmad_init.py with the check subcommand, passing --module {module_code}, --skill-path {calling_skill_path}, and --project-root.

The response tells you what's needed:

• "status": "ready" — Config is fine. Re-run load.
• "status": "no_project" — Can't find project root. Ask user to confirm the project path.
• "status": "core_missing" — Core config doesn't exist. Must ask core questions first.
• "status": "module_missing" — Core exists but module config doesn't. Ask module questions.

The response includes:

• core_module — Core module.yaml questions (when core setup needed)
• target_module — Target module.yaml questions (when module setup needed, discovered from --skill-path or _bmad/{module}/)
• core_vars — Existing core config values (when core exists but module doesn't)