ak kit init

ak kit init

Install or build a kit

Synopsis

What it does: Load a kit (e.g. engineer, marketing) and emit its content via one or more target adapters. INSTALL writes runtime-native project content by default; --switch-to-plugin selects a Claude Code project plugin; --build-only writes without installing.

Who it's for: Both: power devs (scripted via flags) and non-tech users (interactive wizard on TTY).

When to use it: After ak licenses confirms access to a paid kit. Run when you want the kit's agents, skills, and commands available locally for adapters (e.g. Claude Code and Codex).

Examples: ak kit init engineer --yes --no-interactive # remote registry is the release default ak kit init engineer --local --kits-dir kits/ --yes # dev/CI explicit source ak kit init engineer --target claude-code # entitled project-native Claude Code install ak kit init engineer --remote --target claude-code --switch-to-plugin # entitled Claude Code project plugin ak kit init engineer --remote --target codex # authenticated Codex project install ak kit init engineer --remote --target codex --global # install under ~/.codex ak kit install engineer --skills ak-cook,ak-plan --yes # install selected skills ak kit install engineer --exclude-skills ak-video --yes # exclude selected skills ak kit init engineer --remote --switch-to-plugin --yes --json --no-interactive # scripted project install ak kit init engineer --local --kits-dir kits/ --global --yes --no-interactive # native install from explicit source ak kit init engineer --local --kits-dir kits/ --target claude-code --yes # project-native install from explicit source ak kit init engineer --kits-dir kits/ --build-only --out /tmp/out --json # local development build

What changes on disk: Project-native mode merges AgentKit-owned resources into ./.claude and stores lifecycle metadata under ./.agentkit. Unknown and user-modified files are preserved. --switch-to-plugin writes a project plugin; --global writes native user-runtime files; --force authorizes tracked overwrite after a snapshot.

Output modes: pretty default on TTY (colors, ASCII markers) plain auto when stdout piped or --no-interactive json --json (single-object envelope, NDJSON-safe)

Exit codes: 0 success 1 runtime error 2 invalid flags 3 user-cancel (SIGINT, prompt-cancel) 5 kit not found in --kits-dir 6 target directory exists without --force

ak kit init <kit-name> [flags]

Options

      --build-only              Build plugin to a local directory instead of installing
      --channel string          Remote registry channel (beta requires explicit opt-in) (default "stable")
      --exclude-skills string   Comma-separated skill names to skip while installing the rest of the kit
      --force                   Overwrite existing output directory
  -g, --global                  Install into the adapter user directory instead of the current project
  -h, --help                    help for init
      --json                    Emit machine-readable JSON (implies --no-interactive)
      --kits-dir string         Explicit local kits directory for --local or local build development
      --local                   Install from an explicit --kits-dir or AGENTKIT_KITS_DIR source instead of the remote registry (dev/CI)
      --no-backup               Skip the pre-install snapshot + ClaudeKit takeover on a global install (power users only — leaves CK content active)
      --no-interactive          Disable interactive prompts (CI-safe)
      --out string              Output root directory (requires --build-only)
  -q, --quiet                   Suppress non-error output on stderr
      --registry-url string     AgentKit registry base URL (default: $AGENTKIT_REGISTRY_URL, then dev/staging https://staging.agentkit.best or release https://agentkit.best)
      --remote                  Install from the authenticated remote registry (default; explicit use will be deprecated soon) (default true)
      --select-skills           Interactively choose kit skills before install
      --skills string           Comma-separated skill names to install from the kit
      --switch-to-plugin        Explicitly select Claude Code project plugin mode (and replace native mode when present)
      --target string           Emitter target ID or comma-separated IDs (e.g. claude-code,codex) (default "claude-code")
  -V, --verbose                 Extra diagnostic output on stderr (loses to --quiet)
      --version string          Remote kit version (defaults to channel latest)
  -y, --yes                     Assume yes for all prompts

SEE ALSO

• ak kit - Kit management commands