/ipa-init
Interactively configure a project's .env file with the IPA-managed variables required by all downstream skills.
Invocation
/ipa-init
Parameters
/ipa-init prompts for all parameters interactively. No arguments are passed at invocation.
| Variable | Required | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
AWS_PROFILE | No | (skipped) | AWS CLI named profile. Omitted from .env if skipped. |
AWS_REGION | Yes | us-east-1 | AWS deployment region |
AWS_ACCOUNT_ID | Yes | (auto-detected) | 12-digit account ID, detected via aws sts get-caller-identity |
APP_NAMESPACE | Yes | app | 1-12 character project prefix (lowercase alphanumeric) |
APP_ENV | Yes | dev | Environment label (dev, stage, prod) |
APP_CODE_AGENT | Auto | claude-code | Fixed value, not prompted |
APP_IAC | Yes | cloudformation | IaC tool: cloudformation or terraform |
What It Does
-
First-time initialization — Presents a single batched prompt (5 questions) for all configurable variables with sensible defaults. Validates each input against strict regex patterns. Writes the
.envfile and generates a.env.exampletemplate (never committed to version control). TheAPP_IACchoice determines whether downstream skills generate CloudFormation or Terraform Makefile targets. -
Re-initialization — Detects an existing
.envfile and enters selective-update mode. Displays current values and prompts only for variables the user wants to change. Warns before overwriting existing values.
Next step: After /ipa-init completes, run /ipa-compose.
Outputs
| Artifact | Path | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Environment file | .env | Project configuration consumed by all IPA skills |
| Example template | .env.example | Sanitized template showing required variables |
Examples
Initialize a new project:
/ipa-init
Respond to the prompts with your AWS profile, region, namespace (myapp), and environment (dev). The skill writes .env and directs you to run /ipa-compose.
Update an existing configuration:
/ipa-init
The skill detects the existing .env, displays current values, and prompts for changes.
Related Skills
- /ipa-compose — Next step after initialization; reads
.envvariables written by this skill - /ipa-security — Embedded in
/ipa-composeon first run; also usable standalone