tracer init

Initialize a new tracer database in your project

Syntax

tracer init [OPTIONS]

Description

Initializes a new tracer database in the current directory. This creates a .trace/ directory with a SQLite database and JSONL file for issue tracking.

Options

--prefix · string · default: "bd"

ID prefix for issues. All issue IDs will start with this prefix (e.g., bd-1, bd-2).

--path · string

Custom database path. If not specified, creates .trace/<prefix>.db in the current directory.

Examples

Default initialization

tracer init

Output

✓ Initialized tracer database at .trace/bd.db
  Prefix: bd
  JSONL: .trace/issues.jsonl

Next steps:
  1. Create your first issue: tracer create "My first task"
  2. See ready work: tracer ready
  3. Add to git: git add .trace/issues.jsonl

The .trace/ directory contains both a SQLite database (for querying) and a JSONL file (for git-friendly version control). Always commit the JSONL file to track issue history.

Use a short, memorable prefix that relates to your project. Common examples: api, web, cli, core.