feat: support 'specify init .' for current directory initialization

Adds '.' as shorthand equivalent to --here flag while maintaining
full backward compatibility. Updates documentation and bumps to v0.0.18.

Author: brunoborges

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -7,6 +7,12 @@ All notable changes to the Specify CLI will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/),
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
+## [LATEST_VERSION] - RELEASE_DATE
+
+### Added
+
+- Support for using `.` as a shorthand for current directory in `specify init .` command, equivalent to `--here` flag but more intuitive for users
+
 ## [0.0.17] - 2025-09-22
 
 ### Added

README.md

@@ -150,13 +150,13 @@ The `specify` command supports the following options:
 
 | Argument/Option        | Type     | Description                                                                  |
 |------------------------|----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
-| `<project-name>`       | Argument | Name for your new project directory (optional if using `--here`)            |
+| `<project-name>`       | Argument | Name for your new project directory (optional if using `--here`, or use `.` for current directory) |
 | `--ai`                 | Option   | AI assistant to use: `claude`, `gemini`, `copilot`, `cursor`, `qwen`, `opencode`, `codex`, `windsurf`, `kilocode`, `auggie`, or `roo` |
 | `--script`             | Option   | Script variant to use: `sh` (bash/zsh) or `ps` (PowerShell)                 |
 | `--ignore-agent-tools` | Flag     | Skip checks for AI agent tools like Claude Code                             |
 | `--no-git`             | Flag     | Skip git repository initialization                                          |
 | `--here`               | Flag     | Initialize project in the current directory instead of creating a new one   |
-| `--force`              | Flag     | Force merge/overwrite when using `--here` in a non-empty directory (skip confirmation) |
+| `--force`              | Flag     | Force merge/overwrite when initializing in current directory (skip confirmation) |
 | `--skip-tls`           | Flag     | Skip SSL/TLS verification (not recommended)                                 |
 | `--debug`              | Flag     | Enable detailed debug output for troubleshooting                            |
 | `--github-token`       | Option   | GitHub token for API requests (or set GH_TOKEN/GITHUB_TOKEN env variable)  |
@@ -180,9 +180,13 @@ specify init my-project --ai windsurf
 specify init my-project --ai copilot --script ps
 
 # Initialize in current directory
+specify init . --ai copilot
+# or use the --here flag
 specify init --here --ai copilot
 
 # Force merge into current (non-empty) directory without confirmation
+specify init . --force --ai copilot
+# or 
 specify init --here --force --ai copilot
 
 # Skip git initialization
@@ -292,8 +296,12 @@ specify init <project_name>
 Or initialize in the current directory:
 
 ```bash
+specify init .
+# or use the --here flag
 specify init --here
 # Skip confirmation when the directory already has files
+specify init . --force
+# or
 specify init --here --force
 ```
 
@@ -311,9 +319,14 @@ specify init <project_name> --ai opencode
 specify init <project_name> --ai codex
 specify init <project_name> --ai windsurf
 # Or in current directory:
+specify init . --ai claude
+specify init . --ai codex
+# or use --here flag
 specify init --here --ai claude
 specify init --here --ai codex
 # Force merge into a non-empty current directory
+specify init . --force --ai claude
+# or
 specify init --here --force --ai claude
 ```
 

docs/installation.md

@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ uvx --from git+https://github.com/github/spec-kit.git specify init <PROJECT_NAME
 Or initialize in the current directory:
 
 ```bash
+uvx --from git+https://github.com/github/spec-kit.git specify init .
+# or use the --here flag
 uvx --from git+https://github.com/github/spec-kit.git specify init --here
 ```
 

src/specify_cli/__init__.py

@@ -14,11 +14,13 @@
 
 Usage:
     uvx specify-cli.py init <project-name>
+    uvx specify-cli.py init .
     uvx specify-cli.py init --here
 
 Or install globally:
     uv tool install --from specify-cli.py specify-cli
     specify init <project-name>
+    specify init .
     specify init --here
 """
 
@@ -747,7 +749,7 @@ def ensure_executable_scripts(project_path: Path, tracker: StepTracker | None =
 
 @app.command()
 def init(
-    project_name: str = typer.Argument(None, help="Name for your new project directory (optional if using --here)"),
+    project_name: str = typer.Argument(None, help="Name for your new project directory (optional if using --here, or use '.' for current directory)"),
     ai_assistant: str = typer.Option(None, "--ai", help="AI assistant to use: claude, gemini, copilot, cursor, qwen, opencode, codex, windsurf, kilocode, or auggie"),
     script_type: str = typer.Option(None, "--script", help="Script type to use: sh or ps"),
     ignore_agent_tools: bool = typer.Option(False, "--ignore-agent-tools", help="Skip checks for AI agent tools like Claude Code"),
@@ -781,21 +783,28 @@ def init(
         specify init my-project --ai windsurf
         specify init my-project --ai auggie
         specify init --ignore-agent-tools my-project
-        specify init --here --ai claude
+        specify init . --ai claude         # Initialize in current directory
+        specify init .                     # Initialize in current directory (interactive AI selection)
+        specify init --here --ai claude    # Alternative syntax for current directory
         specify init --here --ai codex
         specify init --here
         specify init --here --force  # Skip confirmation when current directory not empty
     """
     # Show banner first
     show_banner()
 
+    # Handle '.' as shorthand for current directory (equivalent to --here)
+    if project_name == ".":
+        here = True
+        project_name = None  # Clear it so validation logic works correctly
+    
     # Validate arguments
     if here and project_name:
         console.print("[red]Error:[/red] Cannot specify both project name and --here flag")
         raise typer.Exit(1)
 
     if not here and not project_name:
-        console.print("[red]Error:[/red] Must specify either a project name or use --here flag")
+        console.print("[red]Error:[/red] Must specify either a project name, use '.' for current directory, or use --here flag")
         raise typer.Exit(1)
 
     # Determine project directory