The CLI
The local o8 command line — an agent-first, JSON-by-default wrapper over o8's API, on $PATH in every worktree.
The o8 CLI is an agent-first wrapper over o8's local API. It's on $PATH inside every packet worktree, so a dispatched worker drives o8 with it instead of curling the API — and you can use it too, for terminal-native fleet control.
It's built for programs to consume: JSON to stdout by default (--human for pretty output), every payload carries a versioned schema, and the exit codes mean things — 0 ok, 2 connection refused, 3 unauthorized, 4 not found, 5 conflict — so an agent branches on the code without parsing strings. It's loopback + token gated: it works locally with no auth, and refuses over the network. It auto-resolves your packet and lane from the current directory.
The command groups
| Group | What it's for |
|---|---|
o8 status · version · doctor | Fleet snapshot, versions, and a health check (doctor --reap clears zombie lanes). |
o8 ask | Ask the Brain a question; get a cited answer, scoped to your repo. |
o8 run | Run a process in an o8-owned terminal you can watch live (--detach for servers). |
o8 packet | Your dispatched work: scope, diff, commit, review, report, capture (visual proof). |
o8 spec | Annotate the repo's o8.md — read, pending, comment, suggest, resolve (never overwrite). |
o8 task | The project work queue: list, create, claim, dispatch, report. |
o8 lane | lane touches --path <file> — which other live lanes touch a file. |
o8 cortex | cortex observe — a worker writes a fact back to the Brain. |
o8 browser | Drive a browser the operator can watch: open, read, click, type, wait. |
o8 team | Coordinate multiple agents in one repo: who, status, lease. |
A few in practice:
o8 status— the whole fleet at a glance.o8 ask "which middleware gate covers new API routes?"o8 run -- pytest -q— run tests in a watchable terminal.o8 packet diff, theno8 packet review --approve.
Who uses it
- Dispatched workers (primary). A worker in its worktree gets its scope with
o8 packet scope, commits witho8 packet commit(instead of raw git), consults the Brain witho8 ask, and surfaces progress witho8 packet report— all auto-scoped to its packet. - You (power user). Terminal-native control:
o8 statusfor the snapshot,o8 runto launch something you watch live,o8 packet review --approveto merge.
If o8 isn't found, launch the o8 app once — it installs the CLI symlink on first run.