# init

Initializes a Terraform working directory. Downloads providers, configures backend, and prepares for plan/apply.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `init`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/init

## Facts

- Tool: `init`
- Server: Github (`@paretools/github`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github.md
- Install: `npx -y @paretools/github`
- Homepage: https://github.com/Dave-London/Pare
- Risk category: Execute (High risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Rate-limited

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "init",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why init is rated High

The 'init' command executes infrastructure operations: downloading provider plugins from external sources, configuring backend state storage, and preparing the environment for subsequent Terraform operations. While it doesn't directly modify infrastructure, it executes processes, downloads external code, and configures backend connections — all side-effectful operations.

From the tool's own definition: "Initializes a Terraform working directory. Downloads providers, configures backend, and prepares for plan/apply."

## Use case

AI agents invoke init to trigger actions in Github. What it does depends on the arguments the agent supplies, and its effects often reach beyond the immediate call: builds kicked off, notifications sent, workflows started.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Rate-limited**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Github:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "init": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "init_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Github (201)

- `branch` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/branch.md
- `clean` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/clean.md
- `remove` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/remove.md
- `reset` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/reset.md
- `secret-delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/secret-delete.md
- `stash` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/stash.md
- `tag` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/tag.md
- `variable-delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/variable-delete.md
- `workspace` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/workspace.md
- `worktree` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/worktree.md
- `add` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/add.md
- `add-package` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/add-package.md
- `ansible-galaxy` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/ansible-galaxy.md
- `ansible-playbook` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/ansible-playbook.md
- `api` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/api.md
- `apply` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/apply.md
- `audit` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/audit.md
- `bazel` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/bazel.md
- `biome-check` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/biome-check.md
- `bisect` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/bisect.md
- `black` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/black.md
- `build` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/build.md
- `bundle-exec` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/bundle-exec.md
- `bundle-install` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/bundle-install.md
- `check` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/check.md
- `cherry-pick` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/cherry-pick.md
- `clippy` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/clippy.md
- `cmake` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/cmake.md
- `compose-build` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/compose-build.md
- `compose-down` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github/compose-down.md
- …and 171 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-github.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=io-github-dave-london-github · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/io-github-dave-london-github