trigger.dev/skills/trigger-getting-started/SKILL.md

A Command-Line Interface for Trigger.dev projects

---
name: trigger-getting-started
description: >
  Bootstrap Trigger.dev into an existing project from scratch: authenticate the
  CLI, install @trigger.dev/sdk and @trigger.dev/build, write trigger.config.ts
  with the project ref and task dirs, scaffold a /trigger directory with a first
  task, wire tsconfig and .gitignore, set TRIGGER_SECRET_KEY, and run the dev
  server. Load this when a project has no trigger.config.ts yet and the user
  asks to "add Trigger.dev", "set up Trigger.dev", "initialize Trigger.dev", or
  get a first task running, including in a monorepo. Once the project is set up
  and you are writing task code, switch to the trigger-authoring-tasks skill.
type: core
library: trigger.dev
library_version: "{{TRIGGER_SDK_VERSION}}"
sources:
  - docs/quick-start.mdx
  - docs/manual-setup.mdx
  - docs/config/config-file.mdx
  - docs/triggering.mdx
---

# Getting started with Trigger.dev

Set up Trigger.dev in an existing project. The end state is: the SDK installed, a
`trigger.config.ts` pointing at a project ref, a `/trigger` directory with at least
one exported task, and `trigger dev` running so the task shows up in the dashboard.

The fastest path is the CLI's own wizard, which performs every mechanical step below
and also offers to install the MCP server and these agent skills:

```bash
npx trigger.dev@latest init
```

Prefer `init` when you can. Do the manual steps further down when `init` does not fit
(monorepos, an existing config to extend, or a non-interactive environment).

## Authentication needs the human

The CLI can start account creation, but a person must verify their email and authorize
access. In an agent session, start a resumable login instead of blocking on the CLI:

```bash
npx trigger.dev@latest login --email user@example.com --name "Alex Smith" --no-browser --no-wait
```

Give the printed URL to the user and ask them to complete sign-in and authorization.
After they confirm, resume the saved authorization:

```bash
npx trigger.dev@latest login --no-browser
```

Do not create accounts or approve CLI access on the user's behalf. Once authenticated,
`trigger init` can create the first organization and project without a dashboard handoff.
A self-hosted instance may disable organization creation; if it does, ask the user to
create the organization in its dashboard first.

## Manual setup

### 1. Authenticate (human authorization step)

For an interactive terminal:

```bash
npx trigger.dev@latest login
```

For an agent or headless terminal, use the resumable flow described above. Add
`--api-url https://your-trigger-instance.com` to both commands for self-hosting.

### 2. Install the packages

`@trigger.dev/sdk` is a runtime dependency; `@trigger.dev/build` is a dev dependency.
Pin both to the same version as the `trigger.dev` CLI you run; the CLI warns on a
mismatch during `dev`/`deploy`.

```bash
npm add @trigger.dev/sdk@latest
npm add --save-dev @trigger.dev/build@latest
```

### 3. Write `trigger.config.ts`

Create it in the project root (or `trigger.config.mjs` for JavaScript). The `project`
ref and `dirs` are the only required fields.

```ts
import { defineConfig } from "@trigger.dev/sdk";

export default defineConfig({
  project: "<project ref>", // e.g. "proj_abc123", from the dashboard
  dirs: ["./src/trigger"], // where your tasks live
  maxDuration: 3600,
  retries: {
    enabledInDev: false,
    default: { maxAttempts: 3, factor: 2, minTimeoutInMs: 1000, maxTimeoutInMs: 10000, randomize: true },
  },
});
```

Use the Bun runtime by adding `runtime: "bun"`. Build extensions (`prismaExtension`,
`puppeteer`, `additionalFiles`, etc.) come from `@trigger.dev/build` and go in
`build.extensions`.

### 4. Add a first task

Create the directory that matches `dirs` and export a task from it. Every task must be
a named export with a project-unique `id`.

```ts
// src/trigger/example.ts
import { task } from "@trigger.dev/sdk";

export const helloWorld = task({
  id: "hello-world",
  run: async (payload: { name: string }) => {
    return { message: `Hello ${payload.name}!` };
  },
});
```

### 5. Wire tsconfig and gitignore

Add `trigger.config.ts` to the `include` array in `tsconfig.json`, and add `.trigger`
to `.gitignore` (the CLI writes local dev state there).

```jsonc
// tsconfig.json
{ "include": ["trigger.config.ts" /* ...existing */] }
```

```bash
# .gitignore
.trigger
```

### 6. Create an environment API key (human step)

For triggering from your own code, create a named API key with **Trigger only** access in
your Development environment and set it as `TRIGGER_SECRET_KEY`. Self-hosted users also
set `TRIGGER_API_URL`.

```bash
# .env (or .env.local for Next.js)
TRIGGER_SECRET_KEY=tr_dev_sk_xxxxxxxx
```

### 7. Run the dev server

```bash
npx trigger.dev@latest dev
```

Leave it running. Tasks register with the dashboard, where the user can fire a test run
from the task's test page. On first run the CLI offers to install the MCP server and
agent skills; recommend both.

## Triggering from your app

Once a task exists, trigger it from backend code with a **type-only** import so the
task code is never bundled into your app. Trigger by id, not by calling the task object.

```ts
import { tasks } from "@trigger.dev/sdk";
import type { helloWorld } from "@/trigger/example"; // type-only

const handle = await tasks.trigger<typeof helloWorld>("hello-world", { name: "Ada" });
```

`TRIGGER_SECRET_KEY` must be set wherever this runs. Framework specifics live in the
Next.js / Remix / Node.js guides.

## Monorepos

Two layouts, both supported: put tasks in a shared package (`@repo/tasks` with its own
`trigger.config.ts`, consumed via `workspace:*`), or install Trigger.dev directly in the
app that needs it. Run `trigger dev` from the directory that holds `trigger.config.ts`.
See the manual setup docs for full Turborepo examples before scaffolding either.

## Common mistakes

1. **Blocking an agent session on login.** Email verification and authorization require
   the user, but the CLI authorization itself is resumable.
   - Wrong: spawning `trigger login` and polling indefinitely in an agent session.
   - Correct: run `trigger login --email <email> --name <full-name> --no-browser --no-wait`,
     give the URL to the user, then resume with `trigger login --no-browser` after they approve.

2. **Mismatched CLI and SDK versions.** A `trigger.dev` CLI on a different major than
   `@trigger.dev/sdk` breaks dev/deploy.
   - Wrong: `npx trigger.dev@latest dev` against an old pinned SDK.
   - Correct: keep `trigger.dev`, `@trigger.dev/sdk`, and `@trigger.dev/build` on the same version.

3. **Importing from `@trigger.dev/sdk/v3` or using `client.defineJob()`.** Both are old.
   - Correct: always import from `@trigger.dev/sdk`; define work with `task()`.

4. **Tasks not exported, or outside `dirs`.** A task that is not a named export inside a
   configured directory will not be picked up.
   - Correct: `export const ... = task({ ... })` in a file under a `dirs` path.

5. **Importing the task instance into backend code.** This bundles the task.
   - Wrong: `import { helloWorld } from "@/trigger/example"` in a route handler.
   - Correct: `import type { helloWorld }` plus `tasks.trigger<typeof helloWorld>("hello-world", payload)`.

6. **Forgetting `TRIGGER_SECRET_KEY`.** Triggering from your app fails without it; the
   `dev` server itself works once the CLI is logged in.

## References

Sibling skills:

- **trigger-authoring-tasks** for writing the tasks themselves once setup is done: retries, waits,
  queues, scheduled tasks, triggering, and the full `trigger.config.ts`.
- **trigger-realtime-and-frontend** for showing live run status in a frontend.
- **trigger-authoring-chat-agent** and **trigger-chat-agent-advanced** for building AI chat agents.

Docs:

- [Quick start](https://trigger.dev/docs/quick-start)
- [Manual setup](https://trigger.dev/docs/manual-setup)
- [Configuration file](https://trigger.dev/docs/config/config-file)

## Version

Generated for @trigger.dev/sdk {{TRIGGER_SDK_VERSION}}. Re-run the trigger.dev skills installer after upgrading.