Installation
Install Continue CLI globally using npm:
npm i -g @continuedev/cli
Two Ways to Use Continue CLI
Quick Overview: Continue CLI works in two modes - TUI for interactive
conversations or headless for automated commands.
Interactive development sessionsStart a conversation with AI in your terminal:cn
> @src/app.js Generate unit tests for this component
Automation and scriptingSingle commands that return results:cn -p "Generate a commit message for current changes"
cn -p "Review the last 5 commits for issues"
Setup
cn TUI Mode
cn Headless Mode
For interactive development and exploration:Login to Continue CLI
This will open your browser to authenticate with Continue Mission Control. Test TUI Mode
Start an interactive session:Try asking a question: For automation workflows and scripting:Get API Key for Automation
For automation workflows, get an API key:
- Visit Continue Mission Control API Keys
- Click ”+ New API Key”
- Copy the API key immediately (you won’t see it again!)
- Login using your Continue account
Add Secrets for Workflows
Store secure credentials for CLI workflows:
- Visit Continue Mission Control Secrets
- Add your API keys and sensitive data
- Reference in configurations with
${{ secrets.SECRET_NAME }}
Test Headless Mode
Try headless mode for automation:cn -p "Generate a conventional commit message for the current git changes"
What’s Next?
Getting Help
If you encounter issues:
