CLI Reference
First-class reference for the coven command and the current Coven CLI command surface.
2 min read
The user-facing command is coven. OpenCoven is the ecosystem and package namespace; Coven is the local runtime and command-line product.
Run coven with no arguments when you want the guided interactive shell. Use explicit subcommands when you want a scriptable or copy-paste path.
Command map
| Command | Use it for |
|---|---|
coven | Open the interactive chat/shell when stdin/stdout are a terminal. |
coven tui | Explicitly open the slash-command TUI. |
coven doctor | Check store, project, daemon, socket, and harness readiness. |
coven daemon start | Start the local daemon process. |
coven daemon status | Inspect daemon pid, socket, and health state. |
coven daemon restart | Rebind the local socket after changes or stale state. |
coven daemon stop | Stop the local daemon. |
coven run codex "fix tests" | Launch a project-scoped Codex harness session. |
coven run claude "polish this UI" | Launch a project-scoped Claude Code harness session. |
coven sessions | Browse, rejoin, view, archive, summon, or sacrifice sessions. |
coven sessions --all | Include archived sessions. |
coven sessions --manage | Force the interactive session browser. |
coven sessions --plain | Print a plain table for scripts or copying. |
coven sessions --json | Print a JSON sessions array for clients. |
coven attach <session-id> | Replay/follow a session and forward input to live daemon sessions. |
coven summon <session-id> | Restore an archived session, then attach. |
coven archive <session-id> | Hide a completed session while preserving events. |
coven sacrifice <session-id> --yes | Permanently delete a non-running session and its event log. |
coven patch openclaw | Launch the guided OpenClaw repair flow. |
coven pc | Inspect local machine pressure and recovery options. |
What owns what
The CLI is a client and presentation layer. The daemon is the authority boundary for launches, cwd validation, session liveness, input forwarding, kill requests, and stored event state.
Use these references together:
- Install for package and source install paths.
- Doctor before opening issues or debugging a setup.
- Daemon commands for local process lifecycle.
- Run for project-scoped harness sessions.
- Sessions for attach, archive, summon, and sacrifice.
- Daemon lifecycle for the process and socket authority model.
- Session lifecycle for status and archive semantics.
Bare prompt shortcut
When you pass text without a subcommand, Coven treats it as a Cast prompt:
coven "explain this repo in 5 bullets"Use the shortcut for quick interactive work. Use coven run <harness> <prompt> when you want an explicit harness and session record.
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