---
title: Init Command
description: Learn more about the `init` command in Melos.
---

# Init Command

The `init` command initializes a new Melos workspace.
It creates the necessary configuration files and
directory structure for your monorepo.

## Basic Usage

```bash
melos init [workspace_name]
```

If no workspace name is provided, you'll be prompted to enter one.
By default, it uses the current directory name.

## Options

### --directory (-d)
Specifies the directory where the workspace should be created.
If not provided, you'll be prompted to enter one.
Defaults to the workspace name, or current directory ('.')
if the workspace name matches the current directory name.

```bash
melos init my_workspace --directory custom_dir
```

### --packages (-p)
Defines additional glob patterns for package directories
to include in the workspace. Accepts comma-separated values and can be
specified multiple times.

```bash
melos init --packages "modules/*" --packages "libs/*"
```

## Interactive Setup

When running `melos init`, you'll be guided through
an interactive setup process that will:

1. Prompt for a workspace name 
(if not provided, defaults to current directory name)
2. Ask for a directory location 
(defaults to workspace name, or '.' if matching current directory)
3. Ask if you want to include an `apps` directory (defaults to true)

## Created Files

The command creates the following structure:

```
<directory>/
├── melos.yaml    # Workspace configuration
├── pubspec.yaml  # Root package configuration
├── packages/     # Packages directory (always created)
└── apps/         # Apps directory (created if confirmed during setup)
```

### melos.yaml
Contains the workspace configuration with:
- Workspace name
- Package locations (defaults to ['packages/*'] and optionally 'apps/*')
- Additional package glob patterns (if specified via --packages)

### pubspec.yaml
Contains the root package configuration with:
- Project name (same as workspace name)
- Dart SDK constraints (based on current Dart version)
- Melos as a dev dependency

## Example

```bash
# Basic initialization
melos init my_workspace

# Custom initialization with options
melos init my_workspace \
  --directory custom_dir \
  --packages "modules/*"
```

After initialization, you can bootstrap your workspace by running:
```bash
cd <directory>
melos bootstrap
```