# init (10-init.com)

Init is short for initialize or initialization. People say it when they mean to start something up, get it going, or set it in motion for the first time.

## What a model may hear
- systemd or SysV init (Linux operating systems): Assume the user wants to manage system services, run levels, or boot processes and may generate shell commands or service files
- git init (version control with Git): Create a new repository, generate .git directory, and set up version tracking in the current folder
- npm/yarn/pnpm init (JavaScript package management): Generate a package.json file with metadata and default configuration for a new project
- class constructor or __init__ (Python and object-oriented programming): Write an initializer method that runs when an object is instantiated, setting up attributes and state
- database initialization (ORMs and database tools): Run migrations, seed data, or create schema tables to prepare a fresh database for use

## Where people and models part ways
- Says: "Init the project for me"
  Means: Start a new project, set up the basics
  May be taken as: Runs git init, npm init, and python -m venv all at once, or picks the wrong tool
  Say instead: "Create a new Python project with a virtual environment and a git repository"
- Says: "Init the server"
  Means: Start the server application
  May be taken as: Runs systemctl commands, modifies systemd services, or reboots the machine
  Say instead: "Start the web server application, not the system service"
- Says: "Init my settings"
  Means: Reset preferences to defaults
  May be taken as: Deletes configuration files, runs destructive database resets, or reinitializes entire environments
  Say instead: "Reset my user preferences to default values without deleting data"
- Says: "Init the database"
  Means: Set up a fresh database for first use
  May be taken as: Runs drop and recreate commands that destroy existing data, or runs all migrations including risky ones
  Say instead: "Create a new empty database with the schema, no data yet"

## Tips
- Say which tool you mean: git init, npm init, python -m venv, or something else
- Specify if you want a fresh start or to resume existing work
- Mention your operating system when talking about system services
- Say 'create' or 'set up' instead of 'init' when you do not want code or commands
- Add 'from scratch' or 'existing repo' to clarify the starting point

## Often confused with
- run: executes existing code rather than setting up structure first
- start: begins operation of something already initialized
- create: makes something new without implying technical bootstrapping steps
- setup: broader configuration, often manual, not specifically first-time code generation
- bootstrap: similar technical meaning but more specific to loading initial resources
- reset: returns to initial state, often destroying data, rather than first-time creation