For coding agents

cardano-init can be run completely by an LLM agent.

• JSON output. Every command accepts --format json and prints one JSON object. Errors carry a stable code and a context that says how to fix them. cardano-init list --format json returns every role and tool.
• No prompts. One-shot mode (--name …) never prompts, so an agent can create a project in one call. --format json also turns prompts off: if required input is missing, the command returns an error.

Generated AGENTS.md

Every project includes an AGENTS.md, and a CLAUDE.md that imports it. It is written for the tools you selected and contains:

• the project layout;
• the interface contract and the rules it sets;
• the just commands to build, test, and clean;
• links to the official documentation of each tool;
• the cardano-dev-skills most useful for that stack.

cardano-dev-skills is a Cardano Foundation skill set for agents. It teaches how to write validators, build transactions, and debug on-chain failures. cardano-init creates the project, and the generated AGENTS.md points the agent to the skills it needs.

A typical agent flow

# 1. Discover what's available
cardano-init list --format json

# 2. Scaffold in one call
cardano-init --format json --name my-protocol --on-chain aiken --off-chain meshjs --devnet yaci

# 3. Check toolchains from inside the project
cd my-protocol && cardano-init doctor --format json

# 4. Build and test
just test

JSON envelope

A --format json response has one of two shapes:

{ "schema_version": 1, "ok": true,  "data":  { } }
{ "schema_version": 1, "ok": false, "error": { "code": "<stable>", "message": "<human>", "context": { } } }

message is for humans and can change between versions. code and the context keys are stable. The exit code gives the category: 0 success, 1 runtime error, 2 usage error (see Exit codes).

Error codes