CLI Reference

Usage

eve
eve <command>

Running eve without a subcommand starts the local runtime, product UI, local API, and HTTP MCP endpoint for the current or most recently known initialized repository.

Commands

default launcher

Start the local runtime, product UI, local API, HTTP MCP endpoint, and local app launchers.

eve
eve --addr localhost:4317
eve --no-open
eve --no-approval-app

On macOS, eve opens the installed approval app when it is available. The web approval queue remains available in the local UI.

init

Initialize eve storage in the current Git repository and install EVE's managed agent guidance in AGENTS.md and CLAUDE.md.

eve init
eve init --no-agent-instructions
eve init --instructions-only

Existing content outside the EVE markers is preserved. --instructions-only does not create or update .eve/ state.

instructions

Install, inspect, and compare the repository's managed EVE instruction blocks.

eve instructions install
eve instructions install --target agents
eve instructions install --target claude
eve instructions install --force
eve instructions status
eve instructions diff

Missing and exact older canonical blocks can be installed safely. A modified block requires --force; malformed or duplicate markers must be repaired manually. status returns a non-zero exit code unless both files are current.

doctor

Check repository storage, MCP setup, agent instructions, required Snapshot tools, and Snapshot activity.

eve doctor

Missing MCP configuration or a first Snapshot is reported as an onboarding warning. Invalid repository state or non-current instruction files return a non-zero exit code.

add

Create or update a staged snapshot draft. Use this after implementation and verification, when you know what product result the snapshot should describe.

eve add --title <title> --summary <summary> [--type feature] [--validation <command>]
eve add --title <title> --summary <summary> --plan-id <plan_id> --plan-revision <revision>

Common flags:

• --title
• --type
• --summary
• --user-visible-change
• --decision
• --risk
• --timeline
• --validation
• --artifact
• --corrects
• --supersedes
• --reverts
• --depends-on
• --related
• --json
• --allow-dirty
• --plan-id
• --plan-revision

commit

Validate the staged draft, derive Git facts, and write the canonical snapshot under .eve/snapshots/.

eve commit
eve commit --allow-dirty

dev

Start the local runtime, product UI, local API, and HTTP MCP endpoint without opening the browser or approval app.

eve dev
eve dev --addr localhost:4317

daemon

Start the long-lived local runtime used by the approval app and approval queue.

eve daemon
eve daemon --addr 127.0.0.1:4317

kill

Stop the local runtime for the configured localhost port.

eve kill
eve kill --addr localhost:4317

mcp-stdio

Start the MCP server over stdio.

eve mcp-stdio
eve mcp-stdio --cwd /path/to/repo

install-mcp

Configure supported MCP clients.

eve install-mcp
eve install-mcp --install
eve install-mcp --clients codex,claude

snapshot

Print a snapshot.

eve snapshot <snapshot-id>

changelog

Generate release notes from completed snapshots instead of Git commits.

eve changelog
eve changelog --since <snapshot-id>
eve changelog --since 2026-07-01
eve changelog --from <snapshot-id> --to <snapshot-id>
eve changelog --repo-id <repo-id>
eve changelog --cwd /path/to/repo
eve changelog --markdown

--since <snapshot-id> excludes the boundary snapshot and includes later snapshots. Date-based ranges include snapshots on or after the provided UTC date.

compare

Compare two product states using snapshot history.

eve compare <from-snapshot-id> <to-snapshot-id>
eve compare <from-snapshot-id> <to-snapshot-id> --markdown
eve compare --repo-id <repo-id> <from-snapshot-id> <to-snapshot-id>
eve compare --cwd /path/to/repo <from-snapshot-id> <to-snapshot-id>

Comparison output focuses on product changes, decisions, risks, validation, and timeline entries. It does not produce a Git diff.

checkout

Check out the Git state associated with a snapshot.

eve checkout <snapshot-id>
eve checkout --force <snapshot-id>

validate

Validate a snapshot JSON file.

eve validate .eve/snapshots/<snapshot-id>.json

canonicalize

Write canonical JSON for a snapshot.

eve canonicalize .eve/snapshots/<snapshot-id>.json

version

Print the CLI and snapshot schema versions.

eve version