def initialize(self, prefix_name='<STR_LIT:default>', *args, **kwargs):
if self.loaded:<EOL><INDENT>raise WorkdirError('<STR_LIT>' % self.path)<EOL><DEDENT>if not os.path.exists(self.path):<EOL><INDENT>LOGGER.debug('<STR_LIT>', self.path)<EOL>os.makedirs(self.path)<EOL><DEDENT>self.prefixes[prefix_name] = self.prefix_class(<EOL>self.join(prefix_name), *args, **kwargs<EOL>)<EOL>self.prefixes[prefix_name].initialize()<EOL>if self.current is None:<EOL><INDENT>self._set_current(prefix_name)<EOL><DEDENT>self.load()<EOL>return self.prefixes[prefix_name]<EOL>
Initializes a workdir by adding a new prefix to the workdir.

Args:
    prefix_name(str): Name of the new prefix to add
    *args: args to pass along to the prefix constructor
    *kwargs: kwargs to pass along to the prefix constructor

Returns:
    The newly created prefix

Raises:
    PrefixAlreadyExists: if the prefix name already exists in the
        workdir