Documentation

Backboard CLI

One API To Rule Your Stack

Browse all Backboard commands, including chat shortcuts, setup actions, and CLI flags for scripting and automation.

Everything you need to build production-grade agent systems on a single, coherent API. 17,000+ LLMs, best‑in‑class memory, RAG, and web search that all share the same state.

REFERENCE

Overview

Learn how to set up Backboard, configure required options, and prepare your environment before running commands.

Try launching the CLI from your terminal:

backboard

Setup

Install the Backboard CLI, paste your invitation when prompted, add your API key, and keep the tool up to date.

1. Install — copy and run in your terminal:

MacOS:

curl -fsSL https://dev.app.backboard.io/api/cli | sh

Windows:

irm https://dev.app.backboard.io/api/cli/windows | iex

2. Backboard — invitation: paste here when the installer asks for it.

3. Put your API key when prompted.

4. Update anytime — in chat or from the shell:

/update
backboard --update

Command Reference

Browse the available Backboard commands, including chat shortcuts, setup actions, and CLI flags for scripting and automation.

Chat

/new

//Start a new conversation

/plan

//Toggle read-only plan mode

/history [N]

//Show last N messages (default 10)

/retry

//Resend the last message

/threads

//List recent threads

/switch [id]

//Switch to a thread by number or ID

Start a new conversation, toggle plan mode, view history, retry messages, and manage threads.

Model

//Show current provider/model

/model <name>

//Search and switch model

/model <prov/name>

//Switch to specific provider/model

/model list {prov}

//Browse models (paginated)

/model providers

//List available products

/think [level|n]

//Reasoning: low | medium | high | max | on | off

Model selection, providers, and reasoning level controls.

Git

/diff [--stage]

//Git diff with syntax highlighting

/commit [msg]

//Stage and commit changes

/pr [title]

//Create branch and open PR

/review-pr [#/url]

//Code-review a pull request

/pr-comments [#]

//Fetch PR review commands

/undo

//Revert the last file edit

Version control, commits, pull requests, and code review.

Code

/run [cmd]

//Run a command or code snippet

//Run a command or code snippet

/batch <prompt>

//Apply prompt across multiple files

//Apply prompt across multiple files

/sandbox

//View/modify sandbox safety rules

//View/modify sandbox safety rules

/simplify

//Review and simplify recent changes

//Review and simplify recent changes

/security-review

//Security audit current branch

//Security audit current branch

/init

//Generate BACKBOARD.md project config

//Generate BACKBOARD.md project config

Execute code, batch operations, sandbox controls, and project initialization.

Skills & Tools

/skill, /skills

//Toggle / list skills · on|off|enable|disable|delete|reload · name|#|all

//Toggle / list skills · on|off|enable|disable|delete|reload · name|#|all

/skillify <name>

//Create a skill from this session

//Create a skill from this session

/skill-eval <name>

//Evaluate skill effectiveness

//Evaluate skill effectiveness

/mcp

//Toggle / list MCP · restart validates schemas · enable|disable|add|remove|restart · name|#|all

//Toggle / list MCP · restart validates schemas · enable|disable|add|remove|restart · name|#|all

/harness

//Browser-harness · status|install|reset|cdp

//Browser-harness · status|install|reset|cdp

/tools

//List all registered tools

//List all registered tools

Toggle / list skills, create or evaluate skills, manage MCP servers and harness, and list tools.

Session

/recap

//Remind me what I was in the middle of

/context

//Tokens-by-category breakdown of the context budget

/cost

//Dollar spend per model · /cost reset

/limit [amount]

//Set spending warning threshold

/rewind

//Rewind to a previous checkpoint

/rewind -v

//Toggle detailed timestamps

Recap, context, cost, limits, rewind, and detailed timestamps.

Session (continued)

/persist, /persistence

//Arm persistence mode for the next prompt

/todos

//Manage todos · add|check|uncheck|rm|clear

/workspace [path]

//View or change working directory

/memory [mode]

//Set memory: auto|off|readonly

/max-tokens [n|off]

//Cap output tokens per turn

/reset

//Reset assistant, thread, and MCP

Persistence, todos, workspace, memory caps, and reset.

Session (end)

//Free disk bloat · /cleanup dry|force

/update [-y] [-f]

//Update the CLI and restart this session

/uninstall

//Remove the Backboard CLI from this machine

/exit
/quit
/q

//End session

Cleanup, self-update, uninstall, and end session. Use /exit, /quit, or /q to leave.

Display & I/O

/theme [name]

//Switch color theme

/export [file]

//Export chat (.md|.json|.html|.txt)

/verbose

//Toggle full-wrap tool output

/bell

//Toggle terminal bell on turn done

/ping

//Check API response time

/clear

//Clear screen

Theme, export, verbosity, notifications, latency check, and clearing the screen.

Game

/play

//Play 2048 while waiting

/autoplay

//Toggle auto-2048 during long tasks

/gameview

//Toggle agent activity during 2048

/gamequeue

//Toggle queue messages while in 2048

Play 2048, optionally on autopilot, with optional UI for agent activity and queued messages.

CLI flags (run outside the chat)

backboard --update

//Upgrade the CLI to the latest version

backboard --check-code

//Show how many installs remain on your invite code

backboard --uninstall

//Remove the CLI (see also /uninstall above)

backboard --version

//Show installed version

These commands run in your shell against the Backboard CLI binary—not as slash commands inside chat.

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CLI · ALPHA

We are curating a small alpha for the Backboard CLI

Interest is high, so we are using this list to plan invites, share install and release notes, and follow up personally. Add your details in the form. It only takes a minute. We will only use this to coordinate the alpha.

Use Backboard in production today

The CLI alpha waitlist is above. In the meantime, wire the same stateful API, memory, and 17,000+ models in the hosted product.

Use Backboard in production today

The CLI alpha waitlist is above. In the meantime, wire the same stateful API, memory, and 17,000+ models in the hosted product.

Use Backboard in production today

The CLI alpha waitlist is above. In the meantime, wire the same stateful API, memory, and 17,000+ models in the hosted product.