> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://container-use.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # CLI Reference > Complete reference for all Container Use CLI commands and options. Container Use provides a comprehensive CLI for managing isolated development environments. All commands follow the pattern: ```bash theme={null} container-use {command} [options] [arguments] ``` **Shorthand:** The `cu` command is an alias for `container-use` and can be used interchangeably. ## Global Options These options can be used with any command: * `--help`, `-h` - Show help for a command * `--version` - Show version information * `--debug` - Enable debug output ## Commands ### `container-use list` List all environments and their status. ```bash theme={null} container-use list ``` **Options:** * `--no-trunc` - Don't truncate output * `--quiet`, `-q` - Only show environment IDs **Output example:** ``` ID TITLE CREATED UPDATED frontend-work React UI Components 5 mins ago 1 min ago backend-api FastAPI User Service 3 mins ago 2 mins ago ``` ### `container-use log` View the commit history and commands executed in an environment. ```bash theme={null} container-use log {environment-id} ``` **Options:** * `--patch`, `-p` - Show patch output with diffs **Example:** ```bash theme={null} container-use log fancy-mallard # Shows full history with commands and file changes container-use log fancy-mallard --patch # Shows history with patch diffs ``` ### `container-use diff` Show the code changes made in an environment compared to its base branch. ```bash theme={null} container-use diff {environment-id} ``` **Example:** ```bash theme={null} container-use diff fancy-mallard # Shows full diff output ``` ### `container-use checkout` Check out an environment's branch locally to explore in your IDE. ```bash theme={null} container-use checkout {environment-id} ``` **Options:** * `--branch`, `-b` - Specify branch name to checkout **Example:** ```bash theme={null} container-use checkout fancy-mallard # Switches to branch 'cu-fancy-mallard' ``` ### `container-use terminal` Open an interactive terminal session inside the environment's container. ```bash theme={null} container-use terminal {environment-id} ``` **Example:** ```bash theme={null} container-use terminal fancy-mallard # Opens interactive shell in container ``` ### `container-use merge` Merge an environment's work into your current branch, preserving commit history. ```bash theme={null} container-use merge {environment-id} ``` **Options:** * `--delete`, `-d` - Delete environment after successful merge **Example:** ```bash theme={null} git checkout main container-use merge fancy-mallard # Merges environment changes into current branch ``` ### `container-use apply` Apply an environment's changes as staged modifications without commits. ```bash theme={null} container-use apply {environment-id} ``` **Options:** * `--delete`, `-d` - Delete environment after successful apply **Example:** ```bash theme={null} git checkout main container-use apply fancy-mallard # Stages all changes for you to commit ``` ### `container-use delete` Delete an environment and clean up its resources. ```bash theme={null} container-use delete {environment-id} ``` **Options:** * `--all` - Delete all environments **Example:** ```bash theme={null} container-use delete fancy-mallard # Deletes the specified environment container-use delete --all # Deletes all environments ``` ### `container-use watch` Monitor environment activity in real-time as agents work. ```bash theme={null} container-use watch ``` **Example:** ```bash theme={null} container-use watch # Shows live updates from all active environments ``` ### `container-use config` Manage default environment configurations. ```bash theme={null} container-use config {subcommand} ``` **Configuration Management:** * `show [environment-id]` - Display current configuration * `import {environment-id}` - Import configuration from an environment **Base Image:** * `base-image set {image}` - Set default base image * `base-image get` - Show current base image * `base-image reset` - Reset to default base image **Setup Commands:** * `setup-command add {command}` - Add setup command * `setup-command remove {command}` - Remove setup command * `setup-command list` - List setup commands * `setup-command clear` - Clear all setup commands **Install Commands:** * `install-command add {command}` - Add install command * `install-command remove {command}` - Remove install command * `install-command list` - List install commands * `install-command clear` - Clear all install commands **Environment Variables:** * `env set {key} {value}` - Set environment variable * `env unset {key}` - Unset environment variable * `env list` - List environment variables * `env clear` - Clear all environment variables **Secrets:** * `secret set {key} {value}` - Set secret * `secret unset {key}` - Unset secret * `secret list` - List secrets * `secret clear` - Clear all secrets **Agent Integration:** * `agent [agent]` - Configure MCP server for specific agent (claude, goose, cursor, etc.) **Example:** ```bash theme={null} container-use config show # Shows current configuration container-use config base-image set python:3.11 # Sets Python 3.11 as default base image container-use config setup-command add "pip install -r requirements.txt" # Adds pip install as setup command ``` ### `container-use version` Display Container Use version information. ```bash theme={null} container-use version ``` ### `container-use stdio` Start Container Use as an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server for agent integration. ```bash theme={null} container-use stdio ``` **Note:** This command is typically used in agent configuration files, not run directly by users. ### `container-use completion` Generate shell completion scripts. ```bash theme={null} container-use completion {shell} ``` **Supported shells:** bash, zsh, fish, powershell **Example:** ```bash theme={null} container-use completion bash > /etc/bash_completion.d/container-use # Installs bash completion ``` ## Environment IDs Environment IDs are randomly generated two-word identifiers like `fancy-mallard` or `clever-dolphin`. You can use: * Full ID: `fancy-mallard` * Partial ID: `fancy` (if unique) * Branch name: `cu-fancy-mallard` ## Exit Codes * `0` - Success * `1` - General error * `2` - Command syntax error * `3` - Environment not found * `4` - Operation cancelled ## Examples ### Basic Workflow ```bash theme={null} # 1. List environments container-use list # 2. Review changes container-use diff clever-dolphin # 3. Check out locally container-use checkout clever-dolphin # 4. Accept work container-use merge clever-dolphin ``` ### Debugging Workflow ```bash theme={null} # 1. See what agent did container-use log problematic-env # 2. Enter container to debug container-use terminal problematic-env # 3. Fix issues... # 4. Apply changes container-use apply problematic-env ``` ### Monitoring Workflow ```bash theme={null} # 1. Start watching container-use watch # 2. Agent works in background... # 3. See specific environment container-use log active-env ```