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# The `stack init` command

~~~text
stack init [DIR(S)] [--omit-packages] [--force] [--ignore-subdirs]
~~~

`stack init` initialises Stack's default project-level YAML configuration file
(`stack.yaml`) for an existing project, based on the Cabal file or
`package.yaml` file for each of its packages.

By default:

* Stack searches for Cabal and `package.yaml` files in the current directory.
  Specify one or more directories as arguments to cause Stack to search them;

* Stack also searches for Cabal and `package.yaml` files in subdirectories. Pass
  the flag `--ignore-subdirs` to ignore subdirectories;

* Stack will not overwrite an existing `stack.yaml` file. Pass the flag
  `--force` to allow overwriting; and

* Stack will not initialise if there are conflicting or incompatable user
  packages. Pass the flag `--omit-packages` to cause Stack to ignore such
  matters while initialising.

If a snapshot is specified at the command line, `stack init` will try to use it.
For further information, see the documentation for the
[`--snapshot`](global_flags.md#-snapshot-option) and
[`--resolver`](global_flags.md#-resolver-option) options.

Otherwise, `stack init` will try to use the following Stackage snapshots in
order of preference, using the first that is compatable: the most recent LTS
Haskell, the most recent Stackage Nightly, and other LTS Haskell (most recent
first).
