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

# Creating a squid project

> Scaffold a new squid project from a template with sqd init

New squid projects are scaffolded with the `sqd init` command of [Squid CLI](/en/cloud/reference/cli/installation):

```bash theme={"system"}
sqd init NAME
```

`NAME` becomes the project folder name; it must contain only alphanumeric or dash (`-`) symbols and must not start with `-`. The command runs interactively by default. To skip the prompts, pass a template and `--no-interactive`:

```bash theme={"system"}
sqd init my-squid --template evm --no-interactive
```

## Templates

The `-t, --template` flag accepts either of:

* a GitHub repository URL containing a valid [`squid.yaml` manifest](/en/cloud/reference/manifest) in the root folder, or
* one of the pre-defined aliases:

| Alias          | Description                                                                     |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `evm`          | A minimal squid template for indexing EVM data                                  |
| `abi`          | A template to auto-generate a squid indexing events and txs from a contract ABI |
| `multichain`   | A template for indexing data from multiple chains                               |
| `gravatar`     | A sample EVM squid indexing the Gravatar smart contract on Ethereum             |
| `substrate`    | A template squid for indexing Substrate-based chains                            |
| `ink`          | A template for indexing ink! smart contracts                                    |
| `ink-abi`      | A template to auto-generate a squid from an ink! contract ABI                   |
| `frontier-evm` | A template for indexing Frontier EVM chains, like Moonbeam and Astar            |

The aliases above are for EVM and Substrate squids. Solana squids scaffold from the example repository URL, as in the [Solana quickstart](/en/sdk/squid-sdk/solana/quickstart):

```bash theme={"system"}
sqd init my-squid -t https://github.com/subsquid-labs/solana-example
```

Use `-d, --dir` to place the squid somewhere other than a new `NAME` folder.

<Warning>
  The `-r, --remove` flag deletes the existing target directory before creating the project. Use it only when that directory can be replaced.
</Warning>

See the [`sqd init` command reference](/en/cloud/reference/cli/init) for the full list of flags.

## Next steps

After scaffolding, enter the project folder and install the dependencies:

```bash theme={"system"}
cd my-squid
npm i
```

Then follow the [Quickstart](../quickstart) to run the squid locally, or see [Make an indexer](../guides/make-an-indexer) for the full development flow.