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

# Start a Bazel workspace with aspect init

> aspect init scaffolds a buildable Bazel workspace from a language preset, with toolchains, Gazelle, format, lint, and real lockfiles.

[← Shipped](https://aspect.build/shipped)

# Start a Bazel workspace with aspect init

***

![aspect init my-app --preset js produces a workspace with MODULE.bazel, BUILD.bazel, a lockfile and tools/repin](https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/aspectbuild/images/marketing/illustrations/shipped-aspect-init.svg)

Before `bazel build //...` does anything useful, a new repo needs a `MODULE.bazel`, a `.bazelrc` with sane flags, toolchains, formatting, linting, and lockfiles. That's an afternoon gone for a prototype or a bug repro.

[`aspect init`](https://aspect.build/docs/cli/tasks/init) is now a native Aspect CLI command. Pick a preset and it renders the [Aspect Workflows template](https://github.com/aspect-build/aspect-workflows-template), then runs `tools/repin` so the lockfiles are real and the workspace builds.

```shell theme={null}
aspect init my-app --preset js
cd my-app
aspect build //...
```

* **Presets** for Go, JavaScript and TypeScript, Python, Java, Kotlin, C and C++, Rust, Ruby, Scala, and shell, plus `minimal`, and `kitchen-sink` with every language in one workspace for repros that span rulesets.
* **Template updates without a CLI upgrade.** It fetches the template's latest release when it runs. Pin one with `--template-ref`, or point `--template` at a fork or a local checkout.
* **No clobbering.** It refuses a directory that already has a `MODULE.bazel` or `WORKSPACE` file.

It's free in the Aspect CLI, v2026.25.11 or later. The [`aspect init` docs](https://aspect.build/docs/cli/tasks/init) cover every flag, and [the launch post](https://aspect.build/blog/aspect-init-and-starters) covers the [aspect-starters](https://github.com/aspect-starters) template repositories.


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