What is Trellis?
AI’s capabilities grow like vines — full of vitality but spreading everywhere. Trellis is scaffolding for AI, guiding it along the path of your conventions.One-Line Summary
Trellis is scaffolding for AI coding assistants — it automatically injects your project specs into every AI session, so the AI writes code following your standards instead of improvising.AI’s capabilities grow like vines — full of vitality but spreading everywhere. Trellis is scaffolding for AI, guiding it along the path of your conventions.
Comparison with Traditional Approaches
| Dimension | .cursorrules | CLAUDE.md | Skills | Trellis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spec injection method | Manually loaded each conversation | Auto-loaded but easily truncated | User-initiated | Hook auto-injection, precisely loaded per task |
| Spec granularity | One large file | One large file | One per Skill | Modular files, composed per task |
| Cross-session memory | None | None | None | Workspace journal persistence |
| Parallel development | Not supported | Not supported | Not supported | Multi-Agent worktree parallelism |
| Quality control | None | None | None | Ralph Loop automatic verification |
| Team sharing | Single user | Single user | Shareable but no standard | Git-versioned Spec library |
| Platform support | Cursor only | Claude Code only | Per platform | 14 platforms (Claude Code, Cursor, OpenCode, Codex, iFlow, Gemini CLI, Kilo, Kiro, Qoder, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf, CodeBuddy, Antigravity, Factory Droid) |
Core Concepts at a Glance
| Concept | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Spec | Your coding standards, written in Markdown. AI reads specs before writing code | .trellis/spec/ |
| Workspace | Each developer’s session logs, letting AI remember what was done last time | .trellis/workspace/ |
| Task | A work unit containing requirements docs and context configuration | .trellis/tasks/ |
| Hook | Auto-triggered scripts that inject context at session start, Agent invocations, etc. [Claude Code exclusive] | .claude/hooks/ |
| Agent | Specialized AI sub-processes such as Implement, Check, Debug, etc. [Claude Code exclusive] | .claude/agents/ |
| Skill | Reusable AI capability modules, shareable across projects | .claude/skills/ |
| Journal | Session log files recording what was done in each development session | .trellis/workspace/{name}/journal-N.md |
Hook and Agent systems are Claude Code exclusive features. Cursor, Codex, and other platforms load specs manually via Slash commands,
achieving the same effect. Spec, Workspace, Task, Journal, and other core concepts are universal across all platforms.
Why Trellis?
| Feature | Problem Solved |
|---|---|
| Auto-Injection | Required specs and workflows auto-inject into every conversation. Write once, apply forever |
| Auto-updated Spec Library | Best practices live in auto-updated spec files. The more you use it, the better it gets |
| Parallel Sessions | Run multiple agents in tandem - each in its own worktree |
| Team Sync | Share specs across your team. One person’s best practice benefits everyone |
| Session Persistence | Work traces persist in your repo. AI remembers project context across sessions |
Quick Start
Install Trellis and set up your first project in 5 minutes.
Architecture
Understand specs, tasks, hooks, and workspaces.
Commands
Complete reference for all 13 slash commands.
Real-World Scenarios
From bug fixes to full-stack development.