---
title: "Initialize the project"
url: https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/tutorials/dialer-app/nodejs/initialize-project/
description: "Build a dialer application using Catalyst Advanced I/O Functions,DataStore and integration with Twilio’s Voice API that establishes an outbound call connection between your sales team and customers."
last_updated: 2026-08-17T12:16:04Z
service: All Services
type: tutorial
related_links:
  - name: "Project Directory Structure"
    url: /en/cli/v1/project-directory-structure/introduction
  - name: "Initialize Resources"
    url: /en/cli/v1/initialize-resources/introduction
---

# Initialize the Project from the CLI

You can now begin working on your Catalyst project from the CLI. The first step is to initialize the project in an empty directory. This will be the home directory of your project and all of the project files will be saved in it.

You can learn more about this from the [Project Directory Structure help page](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cli/v1/project-directory-structure/introduction). You can learn about initializing a project in detail from the [CLI help documentation](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cli/v1/initialize-resources/introduction/).

For the Dialer application, we will initialize the client and the Advanced I/O function components.

   1. Create a folder for the project on your local machine and navigate to it from the terminal.

   2. Initialize a project by executing the following command from that directory:

```sh
 catalyst init
```

   3. The CLI will now ask you to associate a Catalyst project with the directory. Associate it with the project that we created earlier from the console. Select **CatalystDialerApp** from the list and press **Enter**.
   ![select-project](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/dialer-app/select-project.webp) 

   4. Select **Functions** and **Client** using the space bar. Press the **Enter** key to initialize.
   ![initialize-catalyst2](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/dialer-app/dialer-app-functions-client-selection.webp) 

   5. The CLI will initiate the function setup. Select **AdvancedIO** as the function type.![select-function](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/dialer-app/select-function.webp) 

   6. Select the latest runtime version of **NodeJS** platform listed.
   ![select-node-version](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/dialer-app/select-node-version.webp) 

   7. Enter `dialer` as the package name, `index.js` as the entry point, and your email address as the author and press **Enter**. You can alternatively press **Enter** without entering inputs to fill in the default values. The CLI will prompt the initialization of the Node dependencies. Press **Y** to confirm the installation, and press **Enter** to confirm your choice. The Node modules will be installed.![functions-setup-updated](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/dialer-app/functions-setup-updated.webp) 

The CLI will prompt the initialization of the Node dependencies. Press **Y** to confirm the installation, and press **Enter** to confirm your choice. The Node modules will be installed.

> **Note**: Ensure that you enter the function's package name or class name exactly as instructed, because the application's code contains the same name.

   8. The CLI will now initiate the client set up next. Enter **CatalystDialerApp** as the name for the client package and press **Enter**. You can enter any name you need.
 ![client-setup](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/dialer-app/client-setup.webp)

Catalyst initialization is now complete.

Your [project directory](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cli/v1/project-directory-structure/introduction) (CATALYST_PROJECT_HOME), [client directory](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cli/v1/project-directory-structure/client-directory) (CATALYST_CLIENT_HOME), [functions directory](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cli/v1/project-directory-structure/functions-directory) (CATALYST\_FUNCTIONS\_HOME) along with the configuration files and dependencies, [catalyst.json](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/cli/v1/project-directory-structure/catalyst-json) and a hidden `.catalystrc` file will be created in a standard structure.

This is the structure of the CatalystDialerApp project's directory with both the function and client directories configured.
![project-directory-structure](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/dialer-app/project-directory-structure.webp)