CLI Reference Command reference Reference for BoldCreate CLI commands, options, incompatible combinations, and exit codes.
What you’ll learn
Every command you can type at the terminal prompt
Command options, values, and aliases
Which options can’t be used together
What each exit code means
For commands typed inside a chat, see Slash commands and keyboard shortcuts .
How to read syntax
Square brackets ([ ]) mean optional, | means “one of”, and ... means “you can repeat this”. Don’t type the brackets.
Commands
Command What it does Details boldcreate [PROMPT...] [@file...]Opens a chat in the current folder. A prompt is sent first. Interactive chat boldcreate -p [PROMPT|-]Runs once, prints the answer, and exits. - reads from a pipe. Print mode and automation boldcreate -cContinues the most recent session in this folder. Sessions and history boldcreate -rOpens a list to pick a session to resume. Sessions and history boldcreate --session IDResumes a specific session. Sessions and history boldcreate --list-models [search]Lists available models; following words filter the list. Models and agents boldcreate login [--api-key]Signs in with a browser or API key. Signing in boldcreate logout [--api-key]Signs out or removes the saved API key. Signing in boldcreate status [--check]Shows account and settings; --check tests the connection. Signing in boldcreate sessions [--all] [--json]Lists saved sessions. Sessions and history boldcreate mcp list|get|add|remove|trust|login|logoutManages external tools. Manage MCP servers boldcreate plugins [--details] [--json] [--offline]Lists your installed plugins: skills, agents, rules, and tool servers. Plugins, skills, agents and rules boldcreate update [--check] [--version X.Y.Z] [--force]Updates BoldCreate. — boldcreate -v, boldcreate --versionPrints the version. — boldcreate -h, boldcreate --helpShows help. —
Options for chat and print mode
Model and agent
Option Values What it does --model ID[:LEVEL]Model ID, optionally followed by : and a reasoning level. Selects the model. A suffix such as :high also sets reasoning effort. --models A,BComma-separated model IDs. Models Ctrl+P cycles through. --thinking LEVELnone, minimal, low, medium, high, xhigh.Sets reasoning effort. --effort LEVELSame as --thinking. Alias of --thinking. --agent NAMEagent, ask, plan.Agent to start with. --agent-file PATHPath to a file in the workspace. Uses an agent defined in a file. --append-system-prompt TEXTText. Adds instructions for this run.
Output and sessions
Option Values What it does -p, --print— Uses print mode. --mode MODEtext, json.Print-mode output format. --json— Same as --mode json. -c, --continue— Continues the latest session in this folder. -r, --resume— Picks a session (chat only). --session IDSession ID. Resumes that session. --no-session— Doesn’t save anything. -n, --name NAMEText. Names a new session. --tui-mode MODEfullscreen, regular.Sets the chat screen mode. --theme THEMEdark, light, system.Sets the chat theme.
Approvals
Option Values What it does -y, --yes— Auto mode: every action runs without asking. Overrides "approvalMode": "manual". --approve-tools LISTComma-separated tool names or patterns. Allows selected tools without asking.
Other options
Option Values What it does --cwd DIRFolder. Workspace folder. Default is the current folder. --verbose— Prints additional debugging output to the error stream.
Options that can’t be combined
Combination Message Two of -c, -r, --session use only one of --continue, --resume and --session--no-session with -c, -r, or --session--no-session cannot be combined with --continue, --resume or --session--thinking and --effortuse either --thinking or --effort, not both--json and --mode text--json conflicts with --mode text--api-key with a command other than login or logout--api-key is only valid with 'login' or 'logout'--check with a command other than status--check is only valid with 'status'--all with a command other than sessions--all is only valid with 'sessions'Extra words after login, logout, status, or sessions BoldCreate reports that the command takes no arguments.
If an option value is invalid, BoldCreate lists the accepted values. Unknown options also show usage and exit with code 2.
--list-modelsboldcreate --list-models [search words] [--json] Examples:
boldcreate --list-models boldcreate --list-models sonnet boldcreate --list-models --json Each line shows the model ID, name, and context size. At the end, * marks the gateway default model and > marks your default. If no model matches, it prints No match.
You must be signed in with your browser to list models. With an API key, the model list isn’t available.
Exit codes
Code Meaning 0Success. 1Failed. 2Wrong command or options, or not signed in. 3Stopped waiting for approval in print mode. 130Cancelled.
Custom agent files Next Slash commands and keyboard shortcuts 