> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.duckbrain.sh/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# init

> Create a brain instance and pick your platforms

```bash theme={null}
duckbrain init [--instance <name>] [--sources slack,imessage|none]
```

Creates the instance at `~/.duckbrain/<instance>/` (default instance: `default`): the DuckLake catalog (SQLite, WAL), the `lake/` Parquet directory, the bronze envelope tables, and a per-instance `state.sql` agent surface.

Then shows an **interactive platform multi-select** (arrow keys, space to toggle). Selecting a platform installs its crawler from `openclaw/tap` via Homebrew, runs the crawler's own init, and prints next steps.

**Non-interactive:** `--sources slack,imessage` skips the picker; `--sources none` opts out. The prompt auto-skips when stdin isn't a TTY, so scripts and buttons stay non-interactive.


## Related topics

- [doctor](/commands/doctor.md)
- [Instances](/instances.md)
- [For Agents](/agents.md)
- [Sources Overview](/sources/overview.md)