fix: keep --ai as a supported init alias

README.md

@@ -319,12 +319,13 @@ specify init --here --force
 
 ![Specify CLI bootstrapping a new project in the terminal](./media/specify_cli.gif)
 
-In an interactive terminal, you will be prompted to select the coding agent integration you are using. In non-interactive sessions, such as CI or piped runs, `specify init` defaults to GitHub Copilot unless you pass `--integration`. You can also proactively specify the integration directly in the terminal:
+In an interactive terminal, you will be prompted to select the coding agent integration you are using. In non-interactive sessions, such as CI or piped runs, `specify init` defaults to GitHub Copilot unless you pass `--integration` or the shorter `--ai` alias. You can also proactively specify the integration directly in the terminal:
 
 ```bash
 specify init <project_name> --integration copilot
 specify init <project_name> --integration gemini
 specify init <project_name> --integration codex
+specify init <project_name> --ai codex
 
 # Or in current directory:
 specify init . --integration copilot

docs/reference/core.md

@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ specify init [<project_name>]
 
 | Option                   | Description                                                              |
 | ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
-| `--integration <key>`    | AI coding agent integration to use (e.g. `copilot`, `claude`, `gemini`). See the [Integrations reference](integrations.md) for all available keys |
+| `--integration <key>`    | AI coding agent integration to use (e.g. `copilot`, `claude`, `gemini`). Equivalent to `--ai`; do not combine them. See the [Integrations reference](integrations.md) for all available keys |
+| `--ai <key>`             | Short alias for `--integration <key>`; do not combine with `--integration` |
 | `--integration-options`  | Options for the integration (e.g. `--integration-options="--commands-dir .myagent/cmds"`) |
 | `--script sh\|ps`        | Script type: `sh` (bash/zsh) or `ps` (PowerShell)                       |
 | `--here`                 | Initialize in the current directory instead of creating a new one        |
@@ -28,13 +29,14 @@ Creates a new Spec Kit project with the necessary directory structure, templates
 
 Use `<project_name>` to create a new directory, or `--here` (or `.`) to initialize in the current directory. If the directory already has files, use `--force` to merge without confirmation.
 
-When `--integration` is omitted, interactive terminals prompt you to choose an integration. Non-interactive sessions, such as CI or piped runs, default to GitHub Copilot; pass `--integration <key>` to choose a different integration explicitly.
+When `--integration` and `--ai` are omitted, interactive terminals prompt you to choose an integration. Non-interactive sessions, such as CI or piped runs, default to GitHub Copilot; pass `--integration <key>` or the equivalent shorter `--ai <key>` alias to choose a different integration explicitly. The two options select the same integration setting and may not be combined in the same invocation.
 
 ### Examples
 
 ```bash
 # Create a new project with an integration
 specify init my-project --integration copilot
+specify init my-project --ai copilot
 
 # Initialize in the current directory
 specify init --here --integration copilot

src/specify_cli/_agent_config.py

@@ -25,8 +25,11 @@ def _build_agent_config() -> dict[str, dict[str, Any]]:
 def _build_ai_assistant_help() -> str:
     non_generic_agents = sorted(agent for agent in AGENT_CONFIG if agent != "generic")
     base_help = (
-        f"AI assistant to use: {', '.join(non_generic_agents)}, "
-        "or generic (requires --ai-commands-dir)."
+        f"Short alias for --integration. Choose: {', '.join(non_generic_agents)}, "
+        "or generic. For generic, provide a commands directory with "
+        "--ai-commands-dir; the --integration generic form can use "
+        '--integration-options="--commands-dir <dir>". Do not combine '
+        "--ai with --integration."
     )
     if not AI_ASSISTANT_ALIASES:
         return base_help

src/specify_cli/commands/init.py

@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import os
-import shlex
 import shutil
 import sys
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -28,32 +27,6 @@
 from .._console import StepTracker, console, select_with_arrows, show_banner
 from .._utils import check_tool, init_git_repo, is_git_repo
 
-def _build_integration_equivalent(
-    integration_key: str,
-    ai_commands_dir: str | None = None,
-) -> str:
-    parts = [f"--integration {integration_key}"]
-    if integration_key == "generic" and ai_commands_dir:
-        parts.append(
-            f'--integration-options="--commands-dir {shlex.quote(ai_commands_dir)}"'
-        )
-    return " ".join(parts)
-
-
-def _build_ai_deprecation_warning(
-    integration_key: str,
-    ai_commands_dir: str | None = None,
-) -> str:
-    replacement = _build_integration_equivalent(
-        integration_key,
-        ai_commands_dir=ai_commands_dir,
-    )
-    return (
-        "[bold]--ai[/bold] is deprecated and will no longer be available in version 0.10.0 or later.\n\n"
-        f"Use [bold]{replacement}[/bold] instead."
-    )
-
-
 def _stdin_is_interactive() -> bool:
     return sys.stdin.isatty()
 
@@ -111,7 +84,7 @@ def init(
         offline: bool = typer.Option(False, "--offline", help="Deprecated (no-op). All scaffolding now uses bundled assets.", hidden=True),
         preset: str = typer.Option(None, "--preset", help="Install a preset during initialization (by preset ID)"),
         branch_numbering: str = typer.Option(None, "--branch-numbering", help="Branch numbering strategy: 'sequential' (001, 002, …, 1000, … — expands past 999 automatically) or 'timestamp' (YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS)"),
-        integration: str = typer.Option(None, "--integration", help="Use the new integration system (e.g. --integration copilot). Mutually exclusive with --ai."),
+        integration: str = typer.Option(None, "--integration", help="Coding agent integration to use (e.g. --integration copilot). --ai is a short alias for this option; do not combine them."),
         integration_options: str = typer.Option(None, "--integration-options", help='Options for the integration (e.g. --integration-options="--commands-dir .myagent/cmds")'),
     ):
         """
@@ -160,7 +133,6 @@ def init(
         from ..integration_runtime import with_integration_setting as _with_integration_setting
 
         show_banner()
-        ai_deprecation_warning: str | None = None
 
         if ai_assistant and ai_assistant.startswith("--"):
             console.print(f"[red]Error:[/red] Invalid value for --ai: '{ai_assistant}'")
@@ -196,10 +168,6 @@ def init(
             if not resolved_integration:
                 console.print(f"[red]Error:[/red] Unknown agent '{ai_assistant}'. Choose from: {', '.join(sorted(INTEGRATION_REGISTRY))}")
                 raise typer.Exit(1)
-            ai_deprecation_warning = _build_ai_deprecation_warning(
-                resolved_integration.key,
-                ai_commands_dir=ai_commands_dir,
-            )
 
         if ai_assistant or integration:
             if ai_skills:
@@ -645,16 +613,6 @@ def init(
                 console.print()
                 console.print(security_notice)
 
-        if ai_deprecation_warning:
-            deprecation_notice = Panel(
-                ai_deprecation_warning,
-                title="[bold red]Deprecation Warning[/bold red]",
-                border_style="red",
-                padding=(1, 2),
-            )
-            console.print()
-            console.print(deprecation_notice)
-
         if git_default_notice:
             default_change_notice = Panel(
                 "The git extension is currently enabled by default during [bold]specify init[/bold].\n"

tests/integrations/test_cli.py

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import io
 import json
 import os
+import re
 
 import pytest
 import yaml
@@ -42,6 +43,25 @@ def test_cli_phase_label_includes_target(self):
         )
 
 
+def _assert_no_ai_deprecation_output(output: str) -> None:
+    lower_output = output.lower()
+    assert "deprecation warning" not in lower_output
+    assert "no longer be available" not in lower_output
+    assert "commands will no longer be available" not in lower_output
+    assert "--ai is deprecated" not in lower_output
+    assert "deprecated --ai" not in lower_output
+
+    ai_related_blocks = [
+        block
+        for block in re.split(r"\n\s*\n", lower_output)
+        if "--ai" in block
+    ]
+    for block in ai_related_blocks:
+        assert "deprecated" not in block
+        assert "0.10.0" not in block
+        assert "next steps" not in block
+
+
 class TestInitIntegrationFlag:
     def test_integration_and_ai_mutually_exclusive(self, tmp_path):
         from typer.testing import CliRunner
@@ -53,6 +73,20 @@ def test_integration_and_ai_mutually_exclusive(self, tmp_path):
         assert result.exit_code != 0
         assert "mutually exclusive" in result.output
 
+    def test_init_help_explains_ai_alias_and_generic_options(self):
+        from typer.testing import CliRunner
+        from specify_cli import app
+
+        runner = CliRunner()
+        result = runner.invoke(app, ["init", "--help"])
+
+        normalized_output = _normalize_cli_output(result.output)
+        assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+        assert "Short alias for --integration" in normalized_output
+        assert "--ai-commands-dir" in normalized_output
+        assert "--integration generic" in normalized_output
+        assert "--integration-options" in normalized_output
+
     def test_unknown_integration_rejected(self, tmp_path):
         from typer.testing import CliRunner
         from specify_cli import app
@@ -141,11 +175,11 @@ def test_ai_copilot_auto_promotes(self, tmp_path):
         assert result.exit_code == 0
         assert (project / ".github" / "agents" / "speckit.plan.agent.md").exists()
 
-    def test_ai_emits_deprecation_warning_with_integration_replacement(self, tmp_path):
+    def test_ai_copilot_does_not_emit_deprecation_warning(self, tmp_path):
         from typer.testing import CliRunner
         from specify_cli import app
 
-        project = tmp_path / "warn-ai"
+        project = tmp_path / "keep-ai"
         project.mkdir()
         old_cwd = os.getcwd()
         try:
@@ -159,20 +193,14 @@ def test_ai_emits_deprecation_warning_with_integration_replacement(self, tmp_pat
 
         normalized_output = _normalize_cli_output(result.output)
         assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
-        assert "Deprecation Warning" in normalized_output
-        assert "--ai" in normalized_output
-        assert "deprecated" in normalized_output
-        assert "no longer be available" in normalized_output
-        assert "0.10.0" in normalized_output
-        assert "--integration copilot" in normalized_output
-        assert normalized_output.index("Deprecation Warning") < normalized_output.index("Next Steps")
+        _assert_no_ai_deprecation_output(normalized_output)
         assert (project / ".github" / "agents" / "speckit.plan.agent.md").exists()
 
-    def test_ai_generic_warning_suggests_integration_options_equivalent(self, tmp_path):
+    def test_ai_generic_alias_does_not_emit_deprecation_warning(self, tmp_path):
         from typer.testing import CliRunner
         from specify_cli import app
 
-        project = tmp_path / "warn-generic"
+        project = tmp_path / "generic-ai"
         project.mkdir()
         old_cwd = os.getcwd()
         try:
@@ -187,11 +215,8 @@ def test_ai_generic_warning_suggests_integration_options_equivalent(self, tmp_pa
 
         normalized_output = _normalize_cli_output(result.output)
         assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
-        assert "Deprecation Warning" in normalized_output
-        assert "--integration generic" in normalized_output
-        assert "--integration-options" in normalized_output
+        _assert_no_ai_deprecation_output(normalized_output)
         assert ".myagent/commands" in normalized_output
-        assert normalized_output.index("Deprecation Warning") < normalized_output.index("Next Steps")
         assert (project / ".myagent" / "commands" / "speckit.plan.md").exists()
 
     def test_init_optional_preset_failure_reports_target_and_continues(