---
type: challenge
title: "The Initiator"
xp: 50
duration: 20
difficulty: 2
---

# The Initiator

> **[INCOMING — Mission Control, Earth]**
>
> Cadet, ground zero. Take an empty directory and turn it into a
> Git project.
>
> Two commands today:
>
> - `git init` — turns the current directory into a Git repository
>   (creates a hidden `.git/` folder)
> - `git status` — shows what Git sees: branch, tracked, untracked
>
> Your script must:
>
> 1. Run `git init` (use `-b main` to set the default branch)
> 2. Capture `git status` to `status-before.txt`
> 3. Create `intro.md` containing `Hello, Git`
> 4. Capture `git status` to `status-after.txt`
>
> Notice the second status sees the new file as *untracked* — that
> distinction is the heart of how Git works.
>
> [END TRANSMISSION]

## Your Task

In `starter/starter.sh`, write the four steps above.

## Objectives

- `.git/` exists
- `intro.md` contains `Hello, Git`
- `status-before.txt` looks like git status output
- `status-after.txt` mentions `intro.md`