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Overview

The Packmind CLI is your primary tool for managing standards, commands, and skills. This guide will help you install and authenticate the CLI.

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Installation

The easiest way to install and configure the Packmind CLI is using the one-click install available in the Packmind web interface. Where to find it:
  • During your first onboarding after creating an account
  • Anytime in your Account Settings page
What it does:
  1. Downloads and installs the Packmind CLI binary for your platform
  2. Authenticates you automatically with your Packmind account
  3. Sets up your PATH environment variable
Simply copy the provided command and paste it into your terminal. The script handles everything automatically.
Why this is recommended — The one-click install eliminates manual steps by combining installation and authentication in a single command.

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Alternative: npm Package

Node.js 22 or higher required.
Global Installation: 
npm install -g @packmind/cli
After installation, the packmind-cli command will be available globally. npx (no installation required): 
npx @packmind/cli install --list
This runs the CLI directly without installing it, always using the latest version.

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Alternative: Standalone Executables

Download the appropriate pre-built executable for your platform from the GitHub Releases page. Available platforms:
  • Linux x64: packmind-cli-linux-x64-{version}
  • Linux arm64: packmind-cli-linux-arm64-{version}
  • macOS arm64: packmind-cli-macos-arm64-{version} (signed and notarized)
  • Windows x64: packmind-cli-windows-x64-{version}.exe
For Linux/macOS, make the executable runnable: 
chmod +x packmind-cli-*-{version}
Optional: Move to a directory in your PATH for easy access: 
# Linux/macOS
sudo mv packmind-cli-*-{version} /usr/local/bin/packmind-cli

# Windows: Move to a directory in your PATH or run directly
Choosing an Installation Method — Use one-click install for the simplest experience with automatic authentication. Use npm global if you want packmind-cli always available system-wide. Use npx for project-specific usage or testing without installation. Use standalone executables if you don’t have Node.js installed or need a specific binary for your environment.

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Authentication

The CLI requires authentication to communicate with your Packmind instance. The easiest way to authenticate is using the login command: 
packmind-cli login
This will:
  1. Open your browser to the Packmind login page
  2. After you authenticate, automatically receive credentials
  3. Store credentials securely in ~/.packmind/credentials.json
For self-hosted instances, specify your host: 
packmind-cli login --host https://your-packmind-instance.com
Manual code entry (if browser flow doesn’t work): You can also enter a login code manually from the web interface: 
packmind-cli login --code YOUR_CODE_HERE

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Verify Authentication

Check your current authentication status: 
packmind-cli whoami
This displays:
  • Your API key (masked)
  • Connected host
  • Organization name
  • User name
  • Credential expiration status

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API Key Authentication (Alternative)

You can authenticate using the PACKMIND_API_KEY_V3 environment variable instead of the interactive login flow. This is the recommended approach for:
  • CI/CD pipelines — Automated environments where interactive login isn’t possible
  • Docker containers — Pass the API key as an environment variable
  • Scripted workflows — When you need non-interactive authentication

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Getting Your API Key

  1. Log in to your Packmind instance (Cloud or self-hosted)
  2. Navigate to Settings (click your profile icon in the top right)
  3. Scroll to the CLI Authentication section
  4. Go to the Environment Variable tab
  5. Click Generate New Key to create an API key (valid for 90 days)
  6. Copy the generated key

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Setting the Environment Variable

Set the PACKMIND_API_KEY_V3 environment variable with your API key: 
export PACKMIND_API_KEY_V3="your-api-key-here"
To make this permanent, add it to your shell configuration file (~/.bashrc, ~/.zshrc, etc.).

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Next Steps

Now that you have the CLI installed and authenticated, you can create your first standards and commands:

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Quick Start: Run /packmind-onboard

The fastest way to get started is to use the /packmind-onboard command in your AI coding assistant. This will guide your AI agent to:
  1. Analyze your codebase automatically
  2. Identify coding patterns and conventions
  3. Generate standards and commands based on what it finds
  4. Create or select a package to organize them
Simply type in your AI assistant: 
/packmind-onboard
The AI agent will walk you through the entire process interactively.

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Create Individual Artifacts

You can also create standards, commands, and skills individually using these commands in your AI agent:
  • /packmind-create-standard — Create a coding standard with AI guidance
  • /packmind-create-command — Create a reusable command workflow
  • /packmind-create-skill — Create a custom skill for your AI agents
Each command provides step-by-step guidance to ensure high-quality artifacts.

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Learn More

Need help? Run packmind-cli --help to see all available commands and options.