[init]

The [init] block is a special system block that runs once when your app first loads, before any other blocks execute.

Purpose

Use [init] to set up your app’s initial state, configure settings, and prepare data that will be used throughout your app. It’s like the backstage preparation before the show begins.

Key Characteristics

• Runs automatically when the app loads
• Executes before [start] or any other block
• Runs only once per app session
• No user interface actions allowed
• Perfect for initialization tasks

Common Uses

Setting Default Values

[init]
set $app-version = "2.1.0"
set $theme = "light"
set $language = "en"
set $items = []

Configuration

[init]
// API endpoints
set $api-base = "https://api.myapp.com"
set $image-cdn = "https://images.myapp.com"

// Feature flags
set $enable-chat = true
set $enable-notifications = false

Loading Saved Data

[init]
// Load user preferences
if $STORAGE.theme
  set $theme = $STORAGE.theme
end

// Load saved user session
if $STORAGE.user-token
  set $user-token = $STORAGE.user-token
  set $logged-in = true
end

What You Can’t Do in [init]

The [init] block is for setup only. You cannot:

• Display UI elements (.text, .button, etc.)
• Navigate to other blocks (goto, call)
• Interact with users

Best Practices

• Keep [init] focused on setup tasks
• Set all default values your app needs
• Load any saved preferences or data
• Prepare empty lists or data structures
• Don’t perform time-consuming operations

Example App Structure

[init]
// Setup runs first
set $user-list = []
set $current-page = 1
set $items-per-page = 10

[start]
// Then the app begins
.title "Welcome!"
.text "App version: $app-version"
.button "Continue" [main]