---
title: Command-line interface (CLI) reference
description: Complete command and flag reference for the exist companion CLI.
---

The `exist` CLI (`cmd/exist`) provides terminal and automation access to an exist.io instance.

## Installation & Build

```bash
go build -o bin/exist ./cmd/exist
```

## Environment Variables

| Variable | Fallback | Description |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| `EXIST_ENDPOINT` | `CURSOR_ORIGIN_ENDPOINT`, `http://localhost:8080/v1/origin` | Target REST API endpoint URL |
| `EXIST_TOKEN` | `CURSOR_AUTH_TOKEN`, `CURSOR_API_KEY` | Bearer authentication token |
| `EXIST_REPO` | `ORIGIN_REPO` | Default `owner/repo` used when `-R` flag is omitted |

---

## Global Options

- `--help`, `-h`: Display command usage and available subcommands.
- `--version`, `-v`: Output version string (e.g. `exist version 2026.10.14`).

---

## Subcommands

### 1. `exist repo`

Manage repositories within namespaces.

```bash
# Create a new repository
exist repo create <namespace>/<repo-name> [--description <text>] [--private]

# List repositories in a namespace
exist repo list [namespace]

# View repository details
exist repo get <namespace>/<repo-name>

# Delete a repository
exist repo delete <namespace>/<repo-name>
```

### 2. `exist pr`

Create, inspect, and merge pull requests.

```bash
# Create a pull request
exist pr create -R <owner>/<repo> --title <title> --head <branch> --base <target> [--body <description>]

# List pull requests
exist pr list -R <owner>/<repo> [--state open|closed|all]

# View a pull request
exist pr view -R <owner>/<repo> <pr-number>

# Merge a pull request
exist pr merge -R <owner>/<repo> <pr-number> [--merge|--squash] [--commit-message <msg>]

# Close a pull request
exist pr close -R <owner>/<repo> <pr-number>
```

### 3. `exist auth`

Manage authentication status and credentials.

```bash
# Check current authentication status
exist auth status

# Login with a token
exist auth login --token <api-token>

# Logout / clear cached token
exist auth logout
```

### 4. `exist app`

Manage apps and installations.

```bash
# List registered apps
exist app list

# Get app details
exist app get <app-slug-or-id>
```

### 5. `exist api`

Execute authenticated HTTP requests against any endpoint of the exist.io REST API.

```bash
# GET request
exist api repos/acme/my-service/pulls

# POST request with JSON payload
exist api repos/acme/my-service/labels --method POST --body '{"name": "bug", "color": "d73a4a"}'
```