Advanced Configuration

Optional capabilities, init flags, and troubleshooting for erk initialization.

Prerequisites: Complete Installation first.

Capabilities

Capabilities are optional features you can enable. View all available capabilities:

erk init capability list

Project capabilities (committed to repo, shared by team):

Capability	Description
`devrun-agent`	Safe execution agent for pytest/ty/ruff/make/gt
`devrun-reminder`	Remind agent to use devrun for CI tool commands
`dignified-python`	Python coding standards (LBYL, modern types, ABCs)
`dignified-python-reminder`	Remind agent to follow dignified-python standards
`dignified-review`	Python code review (via convention-based system)
`erk-bash-permissions`	Allow `Bash(erk:*)` commands in Claude Code
`erk-hooks`	Configure Claude Code hooks for session management
`erk-impl-workflow`	GitHub Action for automated implementation
`fake-driven-testing`	5-layer test architecture with fakes
`learn-workflow`	GitHub Action for automated documentation learning
`learned-docs`	Autolearning documentation system
`ruff-format`	Auto-format Python files with ruff after Write/Edit
`tripwires-reminder`	Remind agent to check tripwires.md
`tripwires-review`	Tripwire code review (via convention-based system)

User capabilities (local to each developer):

Capability	Description
`shell-integration`	Shell wrapper for seamless worktree switching
`statusline`	Claude Code status line configuration

Install a capability with:

erk init capability add <capability-name>

Flag	Purpose
`--no-interactive`	Skip all prompts (use defaults)
`-f, --force`	Overwrite existing repo config
`--shell`	Show shell integration setup only
`--statusline`	Configure erk-statusline in Claude Code only

Permission errors on .claude/settings.json — Check file permissions, or edit manually
Artifact sync failures — Non-fatal; run erk artifact sync to retry
Global config issues — Check ~/.erk/ directory exists and is writable