diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index be39fcdc..ada42272 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -13,6 +13,18 @@ PyPI version — not the changelog header.
 
 ### Added
 
+- **`aipass init` is now a template selector (TDPLAN-0010)** — `init` presents a
+  chooser with **`empty project`** at the top, pre-selected as the default
+  (creates just the project folder, no scaffold), and **`aipass_framework`**
+  below it (the full AIPass agent framework — the old always-on behavior, now
+  opt-in). Flag and positional forms both work: `aipass init --list` (branches
+  before the `--` catch-all) and `aipass init <template>`. The AIPass-specific
+  stages (8 spawn-first-agent / 9 ping-registry / 11 handoff / 12 init_report,
+  `AIPASS_SPECIFIC_STAGES`) and the `bootstrap.init_project()` scaffold are now
+  gated on the chosen template, so an empty project stays empty. In-product pip
+  hints in `init_flow.py` + `doctor.py` retuned to clone/`setup.sh`. 8 new
+  selector tests; 499 tests pass. (built by @aipass, FPLAN-0295, TDPLAN-0010)
+
 - **Unified Telegram ↔ Claude Code bridge — CC-native session discovery
   (DPLAN-0226)** — a Telegram message to a branch's bot now lands directly in
   that branch's live Claude Code session, and the reply tails back out to
diff --git a/src/aipass/aipass/apps/modules/doctor.py b/src/aipass/aipass/apps/modules/doctor.py
index 0ec8217e..a275bff5 100644
--- a/src/aipass/aipass/apps/modules/doctor.py
+++ b/src/aipass/aipass/apps/modules/doctor.py
@@ -399,11 +399,23 @@ def _check_services(verbose: bool = False) -> List[CheckResult]:
             results.append(CheckResult("drone", GLYPH_PASS, detail, ""))
         else:
             results.append(
-                CheckResult("drone", GLYPH_FAIL, "exit non-zero", "Ensure aipass is installed: pip install -e .")
+                CheckResult(
+                    "drone",
+                    GLYPH_FAIL,
+                    "exit non-zero",
+                    "Ensure aipass is installed: clone the repo and run setup.sh",
+                )
             )
     except FileNotFoundError as exc:
         logger.warning("[doctor] drone not found: %s", exc)
-        results.append(CheckResult("drone", GLYPH_FAIL, "not found", "Ensure aipass is installed: pip install -e ."))
+        results.append(
+            CheckResult(
+                "drone",
+                GLYPH_FAIL,
+                "not found",
+                "Ensure aipass is installed: clone the repo and run setup.sh",
+            )
+        )
     except subprocess.TimeoutExpired as exc:
         logger.warning("[doctor] drone systems timed out: %s", exc)
         results.append(CheckResult("drone", GLYPH_WARN, "timed out", ""))
diff --git a/src/aipass/aipass/apps/modules/init_flow.py b/src/aipass/aipass/apps/modules/init_flow.py
index 7e68e830..cbf2bdca 100644
--- a/src/aipass/aipass/apps/modules/init_flow.py
+++ b/src/aipass/aipass/apps/modules/init_flow.py
@@ -92,6 +92,11 @@ CLI_CHOICES = ["claude", "codex", "other"]
 FLAG_CHOICES = ["default", "skip-permissions"]
 STYLE_CHOICES = ["building-my-own-project", "improving-aipass", "just-exploring"]
 
+TEMPLATE_EMPTY = "empty project"
+TEMPLATE_AIPASS = "aipass_framework"
+TEMPLATE_CHOICES = [TEMPLATE_EMPTY, TEMPLATE_AIPASS]
+AIPASS_SPECIFIC_STAGES = {8, 9, 11, 12}
+
 
 # --- LOCAL JSON HELPERS ---
 def _read_local_json() -> dict:
@@ -597,12 +602,12 @@ def stage_10_smoke_test(non_interactive: bool = False, dry_run: bool = False) ->
     if drone_bin:
         console.print(f"[green]✓[/green] drone: {drone_bin}")
     else:
-        warning("drone not on PATH — run: pip install -e .")
+        warning("drone not on PATH — clone the repo and run setup.sh")
 
     if aipass_bin:
         console.print(f"[green]✓[/green] aipass: {aipass_bin}")
     else:
-        warning("aipass not on PATH — run: pip install -e .")
+        warning("aipass not on PATH — clone the repo and run setup.sh")
 
     _save_stage(10, {"drone": drone_bin, "aipass": aipass_bin}, dry_run=dry_run)
     return {"drone": drone_bin, "aipass": aipass_bin}
@@ -775,6 +780,7 @@ def run_init(
     style: str | None = None,
     no_docker: bool = False,
     dry_run: bool = False,
+    template: str | None = None,
 ) -> int:
     """Run the 12-stage init flow. Returns 0 on success."""
     # Pre-flight: refuse to run inside existing projects or agent dirs
@@ -783,9 +789,20 @@ def run_init(
         console.print(f"[red]✗[/red] {err}")
         return 1
 
-    # Ensure scaffold exists (creates registry, .aipass, etc. if missing)
+    # Template selection — before scaffold
+    if template is None:
+        if non_interactive:
+            template = TEMPLATE_EMPTY
+        else:
+            template = _choose(
+                "Choose a project template:",
+                TEMPLATE_CHOICES,
+                default=TEMPLATE_EMPTY,
+            )
+
+    # Ensure scaffold exists — only for aipass_framework
     cwd = Path.cwd()
-    if not list(cwd.glob("*_REGISTRY.json")):
+    if template == TEMPLATE_AIPASS and not list(cwd.glob("*_REGISTRY.json")):
         from aipass.aipass.apps.handlers.init.bootstrap import init_project
 
         if not dry_run:
@@ -804,7 +821,7 @@ def run_init(
     if last_done > 0:
         warning(f"Resuming from stage {last_done + 1}...")
 
-    accumulated: Dict[str, Any] = {}
+    accumulated: Dict[str, Any] = {"template": template}
 
     stage_fns = [
         (1, lambda: stage_1_welcome(dry_run=dry_run)),
@@ -834,6 +851,9 @@ def run_init(
     for stage_num, fn in stage_fns:
         if stage_num <= last_done:
             continue
+        if stage_num in AIPASS_SPECIFIC_STAGES and template != TEMPLATE_AIPASS:
+            logger.info("[init_flow] skipping stage %d (not aipass_framework)", stage_num)
+            continue
         try:
             result = fn() or {}
             accumulated.update(result)
@@ -846,6 +866,11 @@ def run_init(
             warning(f"Stage {stage_num} error: {exc} — continuing.")
             _save_stage(stage_num, {"error": str(exc)}, dry_run=dry_run)
 
+    if template != TEMPLATE_AIPASS:
+        console.print()
+        console.print("[green]✓[/green] Project initialized.")
+        console.print("[dim]Run 'aipass init agent <name>' to add an agent.[/dim]")
+
     return 0
 
 
@@ -878,8 +903,10 @@ def print_help() -> None:
     console.print("  [green]aipass init run --non-interactive[/green]    [dim]# CI/headless[/dim]")
     console.print("  [green]aipass init run --name YourName[/green]      [dim]# pre-fill name[/dim]")
     console.print("  [green]aipass init run --cli claude[/green]         [dim]# pre-fill CLI[/dim]")
+    console.print("  [green]aipass init run --template <name>[/green]    [dim]# select template[/dim]")
     console.print("  [green]aipass init run --no-docker[/green]          [dim]# skip docker offer[/dim]")
     console.print("  [green]aipass init run --dry-run[/green]            [dim]# walk all stages, no writes[/dim]")
+    console.print("  [green]aipass init --list[/green]                   [dim]# list available templates[/dim]")
     console.print()
     console.print("[yellow]STAGES:[/yellow] 12 stages, each saved — resume on ctrl-C")
     console.print()
@@ -1008,6 +1035,15 @@ def handle_command(command: str, args: list[str]) -> bool:
         sys.exit(_handle_init_update(args[1:]))
         return True
 
+    if args[0] == "--list":
+        console.print()
+        console.print("[bold cyan]Available project templates:[/bold cyan]")
+        for t in TEMPLATE_CHOICES:
+            marker = " [dim](default)[/dim]" if t == TEMPLATE_EMPTY else ""
+            console.print(f"  • {t}{marker}")
+        console.print()
+        return True
+
     if args[0] == "run" or args[0].startswith("--"):
         run_args = args[1:] if args[0] == "run" else args
         non_interactive = "--non-interactive" in run_args
@@ -1022,6 +1058,7 @@ def handle_command(command: str, args: list[str]) -> bool:
         name = _flag_value("--name")
         cli = _flag_value("--cli")
         style = _flag_value("--style")
+        template = _flag_value("--template")
         no_docker = "--no-docker" in run_args
         dry_run = "--dry-run" in run_args
 
@@ -1032,6 +1069,7 @@ def handle_command(command: str, args: list[str]) -> bool:
             style=style,
             no_docker=no_docker,
             dry_run=dry_run,
+            template=template,
         )
         json_handler.log_operation(
             "init_run",
@@ -1040,6 +1078,12 @@ def handle_command(command: str, args: list[str]) -> bool:
         sys.exit(result)
         return True
 
+    # Template name as positional arg
+    if args[0] in TEMPLATE_CHOICES:
+        result = run_init(template=args[0])
+        sys.exit(result)
+        return True
+
     # Positional args = target path and/or project name for scaffold
     err = _preflight_check()
     if err:
diff --git a/src/aipass/aipass/tests/test_init_flow.py b/src/aipass/aipass/tests/test_init_flow.py
index 7e8b3251..a641eb2a 100644
--- a/src/aipass/aipass/tests/test_init_flow.py
+++ b/src/aipass/aipass/tests/test_init_flow.py
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
 import pytest
 
 from aipass.aipass.apps.modules.init_flow import (
+    AIPASS_SPECIFIC_STAGES,
+    TEMPLATE_AIPASS,
+    TEMPLATE_CHOICES,
+    TEMPLATE_EMPTY,
     TOTAL_STAGES,
     _get_last_completed_stage,
     _get_setup_progress,
@@ -287,7 +291,7 @@ class TestRunInit:
         assert result == 0
 
     def test_non_interactive_runs_all_stages(self, tmp_local_json) -> None:
-        """non_interactive=True runs all 12 stages from fresh state."""
+        """non_interactive=True with aipass_framework runs all 12 stages."""
         patches = self._patch_all_stages()
         mocks = []
         ctx = __import__("contextlib").ExitStack()
@@ -296,7 +300,7 @@ class TestRunInit:
         with ctx:
             with patch("aipass.aipass.apps.modules.init_flow.json_handler"):
                 with patch("aipass.aipass.apps.modules.init_flow.console"):
-                    result = run_init(non_interactive=True)
+                    result = run_init(non_interactive=True, template=TEMPLATE_AIPASS)
         assert result == 0
 
     def test_keyboard_interrupt_pauses_gracefully(self, tmp_local_json) -> None:
@@ -304,7 +308,7 @@ class TestRunInit:
         with patch("aipass.aipass.apps.modules.init_flow.stage_1_welcome", side_effect=KeyboardInterrupt):
             with patch("aipass.aipass.apps.modules.init_flow.console"):
                 with patch("aipass.aipass.apps.modules.init_flow.warning"):
-                    result = run_init(non_interactive=False)
+                    result = run_init(non_interactive=False, template=TEMPLATE_EMPTY)
         assert result == 0
 
     def test_stage_error_continues(self, tmp_local_json) -> None:
@@ -336,7 +340,7 @@ class TestRunInit:
             warning=MagicMock(),
             console=MagicMock(),
         ):
-            result = run_init(non_interactive=True)
+            result = run_init(non_interactive=True, template=TEMPLATE_AIPASS)
         assert result == 0
 
     def test_resumes_from_last_completed(self, tmp_local_json_with_progress: Path) -> None:
@@ -361,7 +365,7 @@ class TestRunInit:
             warning=MagicMock(),
             console=MagicMock(),
         ):
-            run_init(non_interactive=True)
+            run_init(non_interactive=True, template=TEMPLATE_AIPASS)
         stage_1_mock.assert_not_called()
         stage_4_mock.assert_called_once()
 
@@ -719,3 +723,114 @@ class TestInitUpdateRegistrySync:
         ):
             rc = _handle_init_update([str(tmp_path)])
         assert rc == 0
+
+
+# =============================================================================
+# TestTemplateSelector
+# =============================================================================
+
+
+class TestTemplateSelector:
+    """Tests for the template selector in aipass init."""
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _stage_patches():
+        """Return patches for all 12 stage functions as no-ops."""
+        stage_names = [
+            "stage_1_welcome",
+            "stage_2_system_detect",
+            "stage_3_doctor",
+            "stage_4_user_profile",
+            "stage_5_style_questions",
+            "stage_6_tool_choice",
+            "stage_7_docker_offer",
+            "stage_8_first_agent",
+            "stage_9_ping_sweep",
+            "stage_10_smoke_test",
+            "stage_11_handoff",
+            "stage_12_done",
+        ]
+        return {name: MagicMock(return_value={}) for name in stage_names}
+
+    def test_empty_project_default_skips_scaffold(self, tmp_local_json) -> None:
+        """empty project (default) = no scaffold, stages 8,9,11,12 skipped."""
+        mocks = self._stage_patches()
+        with patch.multiple(_MOD, console=MagicMock(), warning=MagicMock(), **mocks):
+            result = run_init(non_interactive=True, template=TEMPLATE_EMPTY)
+        assert result == 0
+        for name in (
+            "stage_1_welcome",
+            "stage_2_system_detect",
+            "stage_3_doctor",
+            "stage_4_user_profile",
+            "stage_5_style_questions",
+            "stage_6_tool_choice",
+            "stage_7_docker_offer",
+            "stage_10_smoke_test",
+        ):
+            assert mocks[name].called, f"{name} should have been called"
+        for name in ("stage_8_first_agent", "stage_9_ping_sweep", "stage_11_handoff", "stage_12_done"):
+            assert not mocks[name].called, f"{name} should NOT have been called"
+
+    def test_aipass_framework_runs_full_scaffold(self, tmp_local_json) -> None:
+        """aipass_framework = full scaffold + all 12 stages."""
+        mocks = self._stage_patches()
+        with patch.multiple(_MOD, console=MagicMock(), warning=MagicMock(), **mocks):
+            with patch(
+                "aipass.aipass.apps.handlers.init.bootstrap.init_project",
+                return_value={},
+            ):
+                result = run_init(non_interactive=True, template=TEMPLATE_AIPASS)
+        assert result == 0
+        for name in mocks:
+            assert mocks[name].called, f"{name} should have been called"
+
+    def test_list_flag_shows_catalog(self) -> None:
+        """aipass init --list shows the catalog (not swallowed into run)."""
+        with patch(f"{_MOD}.console") as mock_console:
+            result = handle_command("init", ["--list"])
+        assert result is True
+        printed = " ".join(str(c) for c in mock_console.print.call_args_list)
+        for t in TEMPLATE_CHOICES:
+            assert t in printed
+
+    def test_template_flag_form_works(self, tmp_local_json) -> None:
+        """aipass init run --template aipass_framework passes template to run_init."""
+        with patch(f"{_MOD}.run_init", return_value=0) as mock_run:
+            with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
+                handle_command("init", ["run", "--template", TEMPLATE_AIPASS])
+        mock_run.assert_called_once()
+        _, kwargs = mock_run.call_args
+        assert kwargs["template"] == TEMPLATE_AIPASS
+
+    def test_positional_template_routes_to_run_init(self, tmp_local_json) -> None:
+        """aipass init aipass_framework routes to run_init with template."""
+        with patch(f"{_MOD}.run_init", return_value=0) as mock_run:
+            with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
+                handle_command("init", [TEMPLATE_AIPASS])
+        mock_run.assert_called_once()
+        _, kwargs = mock_run.call_args
+        assert kwargs["template"] == TEMPLATE_AIPASS
+
+    def test_positional_path_still_works(self, tmp_local_json) -> None:
+        """Non-template positional args still route to scaffold."""
+        with patch(f"{_MOD}._preflight_check", return_value=None):
+            with patch(f"{_MOD}._handle_init_scaffold", return_value=0) as mock_scaffold:
+                with pytest.raises(SystemExit):
+                    handle_command("init", ["/tmp/test-proj"])
+        mock_scaffold.assert_called_once_with(["/tmp/test-proj"])
+
+    def test_pip_hints_say_clone(self, tmp_local_json) -> None:
+        """in-product hints say clone/setup.sh, not pip."""
+        with patch(f"{_MOD}.console"):
+            with patch(f"{_MOD}.warning") as mock_warn:
+                with patch(f"{_MOD}.shutil.which", return_value=None):
+                    stage_10_smoke_test()
+        for call in mock_warn.call_args_list:
+            msg = call[0][0].lower()
+            assert "setup.sh" in msg
+            assert "pip" not in msg
+
+    def test_aipass_specific_stages_constant(self) -> None:
+        """AIPASS_SPECIFIC_STAGES contains exactly {8, 9, 11, 12}."""
+        assert AIPASS_SPECIFIC_STAGES == {8, 9, 11, 12}