CAI CLI Commands Reference
This comprehensive guide documents all commands available in the CAI Command Line Interface, organized by category for easy navigation.
Command Categories
- Agent Management
- Model Management
- Memory & History
- Environment & Configuration
- Tools & Integration
- System Management
- Parallel Execution
- Utilities
Agent Management
/agent or /a
Manage and switch between different AI agents.
Syntax:
/agent [subcommand] [arguments]
/a [subcommand] [arguments]
Subcommands:
list
List all available agents with their descriptions.
/agent list
Output: Table showing agent names, descriptions, and primary use cases.
<agent_name>
Switch to a specific agent.
/agent redteam_agent
/agent bug_bounter_agent
/a blueteam_agent
info or info <agent_name>
Display detailed information about the current or specified agent.
# Current agent info
/agent info
# Specific agent info
/agent info redteam_agent
Examples:
# List all agents
CAI> /agent list
# Switch to red team agent
CAI> /agent redteam_agent
# Switch to bug bounty agent (using alias)
CAI> /a bug_bounter_agent
# Get info about DFIR agent
CAI> /agent info dfir_agent
Available Agents:
| Agent | Use Case |
|---|---|
redteam_agent |
Offensive security testing |
blueteam_agent |
Defensive security analysis |
bug_bounter_agent |
Bug bounty hunting |
one_tool_agent |
Single-tool execution |
dfir_agent |
Digital forensics |
reverse_engineering_agent |
Binary analysis |
network_security_analyzer_agent |
Network security |
wifi_security_agent |
WiFi security testing |
android_sast_agent |
Android security analysis |
selection_agent |
Agent recommendation |
Notes: - Agent changes are immediate - Conversation history is preserved when switching - Each agent has specialized tools and instructions
Model Management
/model or /mod
View or change the current LLM model.
Syntax:
/model [model_name]
/mod [model_name]
Examples:
# View current model
CAI> /model
# Change to alias1
CAI> /model alias1
# Change to GPT-4o
CAI> /model gpt-4o
# Change to Claude
CAI> /model claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022
/model-show
Display all available models from the LiteLLM repository.
Syntax:
/model-show
Output: Comprehensive list of models by provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, Ollama, etc.)
Examples:
# Show all available models
CAI> /model-show
# Then select one
CAI> /model gpt-4o
Commonly Used Models:
| Model | Provider | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
alias1 |
Alias Robotics | Medium | Balanced performance ⭐ |
gpt-4o |
OpenAI | High | Complex reasoning |
claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022 |
Anthropic | High | Fast & accurate |
o1-mini |
OpenAI | Medium | Reasoning tasks |
Memory & History
/history or /his
Display conversation history.
Syntax:
/history [number] [agent_name]
/his [number]
Parameters:
- number: Number of recent messages to show (default: 10)
- agent_name: Filter by specific agent
Examples:
# Show last 10 messages
CAI> /history
# Show last 20 messages
CAI> /history 20
# Show last 5 messages
CAI> /his 5
# Show history for specific agent
CAI> /history 10 redteam_agent
Output: Formatted conversation with timestamps, roles (user/agent), and message content.
/memory or /mem
Manage persistent memory storage across sessions.
Syntax:
/memory <subcommand> [arguments]
/mem <subcommand> [arguments]
Subcommands:
list
Show all saved memories.
/memory list
save [name]
Save current conversation as a memory.
/memory save "web app pentest findings"
/mem save ctf_techniques
apply <memory_id>
Apply a saved memory to the current session.
/memory apply mem_12345
show <memory_id>
Display the content of a specific memory.
/memory show mem_12345
delete <memory_id>
Remove a memory permanently.
/memory delete mem_12345
merge <id1> <id2> [name]
Combine two memories into one.
/memory merge mem_12345 mem_67890 "combined_findings"
compact
AI-powered memory summarization.
/memory compact
status
Show memory system status and statistics.
/memory status
Examples:
# Save current session insights
CAI> /memory save "SQLi vulnerabilities found"
# List all memories
CAI> /memory list
# Apply previous knowledge
CAI> /memory apply mem_12345
# Check memory status
CAI> /mem status
Notes:
- Memories persist across sessions
- Stored in .cai/memory/ directory
- Useful for long-term research projects
/compact or /cmp
Compact the current conversation to reduce context size.
Syntax:
/compact [model_name]
/cmp
Parameters:
- model_name: Optional model to use for compaction
Examples:
# Compact with current model
CAI> /compact
# Compact with specific model
CAI> /compact alias1
Use Cases: - Approaching token limits - Long conversations that need summarization - Maintaining conversation flow with reduced tokens
/flush or /clear
Clear conversation history.
Syntax:
/flush [agent_name|all]
/clear
Parameters:
- agent_name: Flush specific agent history
- all: Flush all agent histories
Examples:
# Flush current agent
CAI> /flush
# Flush specific agent
CAI> /flush redteam_agent
# Flush all agents
CAI> /flush all
Warning: This action is irreversible. Consider using /save first.
/load or /l
Load conversation history from a file.
Syntax:
/load <filename>
/l <filename>
Supported Formats:
- JSON (.json)
- JSONL (.jsonl)
- Markdown (.md)
Examples:
# Load JSON session
CAI> /load pentest_session.json
# Load JSONL data
CAI> /load conversation.jsonl
# Using alias
CAI> /l ~/sessions/previous_work.json
Notes:
- Restores conversation context
- Compatible with /save output
- Can load partial histories
/merge or /mrg
Merge agent message histories (shortcut for /parallel merge).
Syntax:
/merge [agent1] [agent2]
/mrg
Examples:
# Merge all parallel agents
CAI> /merge
# Merge specific agents
CAI> /merge redteam_agent blueteam_agent
Use Cases: - Combining parallel execution results - Integrating different agent perspectives
Environment & Configuration
/config or /cfg
Display and configure environment variables.
Syntax:
/config [VARIABLE=value]
/config set <number> <value>
/cfg
Examples:
# View all configuration
CAI> /config
# Set by variable name
CAI> /config CAI_PRICE_LIMIT=10.0
CAI> /config CAI_MAX_TURNS=50
# Set by number (from /config output)
CAI> /config set 18 "5.0"
Common Configuration Variables:
| Variable | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
CAI_MODEL |
Default model | alias1 |
CAI_AGENT_TYPE |
Default agent | redteam_agent |
CAI_DEBUG |
Debug level (0-2) | 1 |
CAI_PRICE_LIMIT |
Cost limit (USD) | 1.0 |
CAI_MAX_TURNS |
Max conversation turns | inf |
CAI_MAX_INTERACTIONS |
Max tool calls | inf |
CAI_TRACING |
Enable tracing | true |
CAI_GUARDRAILS |
Security guardrails | false |
Notes:
- Changes take effect immediately
- Use /config without arguments to see all options
- Numbers in first column can be used with set subcommand
/env or /e
Display current environment variables.
Syntax:
/env [pattern]
/e
Parameters:
- pattern: Optional filter pattern (e.g., "CAI", "CTF")
Examples:
# Show all environment variables
CAI> /env
# Filter CAI-specific variables
CAI> /env CAI
# Filter CTF variables
CAI> /env CTF
/workspace or /ws
Manage workspace directories.
Syntax:
/workspace <subcommand> [path]
/ws <subcommand>
Subcommands:
show or pwd
Display current workspace directory.
/workspace show
/ws pwd
set <path>
Change workspace directory.
/workspace set /path/to/project
/ws set ~/ctf_challenges
list or ls
List workspace contents.
/workspace list
/ws ls
Examples:
# Show current workspace
CAI> /workspace show
# Change workspace
CAI> /workspace set /home/user/pentests
# List files
CAI> /ws ls
Notes: - Affects where shell commands execute - Useful for CTF challenges and projects - Works with Docker containers
/virtualization or /virt
Manage Docker-based virtualization environments.
Syntax:
/virtualization <subcommand> [arguments]
/virt <subcommand>
Subcommands:
list
List available containers.
/virtualization list
set <container_id>
Set active container for command execution.
/virtualization set abc123def456
/virt set mycontainer
clear
Return to host environment.
/virtualization clear
info
Show current virtualization status.
/virtualization info
Examples:
# List containers
CAI> /virtualization list
# Execute commands in container
CAI> /virt set ubuntu_ctf
# Return to host
CAI> /virt clear
Notes:
- Automatically set when CTF challenges start
- Commands execute inside specified container
- Uses CAI_ACTIVE_CONTAINER environment variable
Tools & Integration
/mcp or /m
Manage Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers and their tools.
Syntax:
/mcp <subcommand> [arguments]
/m <subcommand>
Subcommands:
load <url> <name>
Load an SSE MCP server.
/mcp load http://localhost:9876/sse burp
load stdio <command> <name>
Load a STDIO MCP server.
/mcp load stdio "npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search" brave
list
List active MCP connections.
/mcp list
add <agent_name> <server_name>
Add MCP tools to an agent.
/mcp add redteam_agent burp
remove <server_name>
Remove an MCP server connection.
/mcp remove burp
tools <server_name>
List tools from an MCP server.
/mcp tools burp
status
Check MCP server connection status.
/mcp status
associations
Show agent-MCP associations.
/mcp associations
Examples:
# Load Burp Suite MCP server
CAI> /mcp load http://localhost:9876/sse burp
# List MCP tools
CAI> /mcp tools burp
# Add to current agent
CAI> /mcp add redteam_agent burp
# Check status
CAI> /mcp status
Common MCP Servers: - Burp Suite: Web application testing tools - Brave Search: Web search capabilities - Filesystem: File operations - Git: Repository management - Postgres: Database operations
Notes: - Extends agent capabilities dynamically - Supports both SSE and STDIO protocols - See MCP Documentation for details
/shell or /s or /$
Execute shell commands directly from the CLI.
Syntax:
/shell <command>
/s <command>
$ <command>
Examples:
# Using /shell
CAI> /shell nmap -sV 192.168.1.1
# Using /s alias
CAI> /s whoami
# Using $ shortcut
CAI> $ ls -la
# Complex commands
CAI> $ nmap -sV -p- 192.168.1.0/24 -oN scan_results.txt
Notes:
- Commands execute in current workspace
- Respects CAI_ACTIVE_CONTAINER if set
- Output displayed in real-time
- Ctrl+C to interrupt running commands
System Management
/kill or /k
Terminate active processes or stuck sessions.
Syntax:
/kill
/k
Examples:
# Kill current process
CAI> /kill
# Alternative: Ctrl+C
Use Cases: - Stopping stuck tool executions - Canceling long-running operations - Interrupting agent loops
/exit or /quit or /q
Exit the CAI CLI.
Syntax:
/exit
/quit
/q
Examples:
# Exit CAI
CAI> /exit
# Alternative: Ctrl+D
Notes: - Performs clean shutdown - Saves session logs - Stops background processes
/quickstart
Display setup information and quick start guide.
Syntax:
/quickstart
Examples:
# Show quickstart guide
CAI> /quickstart
Notes: - Auto-displays on first launch - Useful for new users - Shows essential commands and setup
Parallel Execution
/parallel or /par or /p
Manage parallel agent configurations and execution.
Syntax:
/parallel <subcommand> [arguments]
/par <subcommand>
/p <subcommand>
Subcommands:
add <agent_name> [model]
Add an agent to parallel configuration.
/parallel add redteam_agent alias1
/par add bug_bounter_agent gpt-4o
remove <agent_id>
Remove an agent from parallel configuration.
/parallel remove P1
list
List all parallel agents.
/parallel list
clear
Clear all parallel configurations.
/parallel clear
run <prompt>
Execute a prompt across all parallel agents.
/parallel run "scan 192.168.1.1 for vulnerabilities"
merge
Merge all parallel agent histories.
/parallel merge
Examples:
# Configure parallel agents
CAI> /parallel add redteam_agent alias1
CAI> /parallel add blueteam_agent alias1
CAI> /parallel add bug_bounter_agent gpt-4o
# List configuration
CAI> /parallel list
# Execute on all agents
CAI> /parallel run "analyze target.com"
# Merge results
CAI> /parallel merge
# Clear configuration
CAI> /parallel clear
YAML Configuration:
Create agents.yaml:
agents:
- name: red1
agent_type: redteam_agent
model: alias1
- name: bug1
agent_type: bug_bounter_agent
model: alias1
Launch with YAML:
cai --yaml agents.yaml --prompt "scan target.com"
Notes: - Each agent runs independently - Results can be merged - Different models per agent supported - See Advanced Usage for more details
/run or /r
Execute queued prompts (works with parallel mode).
Syntax:
/run <prompt>
/r <prompt>
Examples:
# Queue and run prompt
CAI> /run "analyze this binary"
# Alternative
CAI> /r "test for XSS"
Notes: - Executes immediately if agents are ready - Queues if agents are busy - Works with both single and parallel modes
Queue File Format (prompts.txt):
# Comments start with #
/agent redteam_agent
Scan 192.168.1.0/24 for open ports
Test https://target.com for vulnerabilities
$ nmap -sV 192.168.1.1
Generate security report
Notes: - Prompts execute sequentially - Supports commands and regular prompts - Can load from files for automation
Utilities
/help or /h or /?
Display help information and command documentation.
Syntax:
/help [command]
/h [command]
/? [command]
Examples:
# General help
CAI> /help
# Help for specific command
CAI> /help agent
CAI> /h parallel
CAI> /? mcp
Topics:
- agent: Agent management
- parallel: Parallel execution
- memory: Memory management
- config: Configuration
- mcp: MCP integration
- commands: List all commands
/graph or /g
Visualize agent interaction graphs.
Syntax:
/graph [agent_name]
/g
Examples:
# Show graph for current conversation
CAI> /graph
# Show graph for specific agent
CAI> /graph redteam_agent
Output: - Directed graph of conversations - User and agent interactions - Tool calls highlighted - Conversation flow visualization
/context or /ctx 🚀 CAI PRO Exclusive
⚡ CAI PRO Exclusive Feature
The/contextcommand is available exclusively in CAI PRO. To access this feature and unlock advanced monitoring capabilities, visit Alias Robotics for more information.
View context usage and token statistics for the current conversation.
Syntax:
/context [agent_name]
/ctx
Examples:
# Show context for current agent
CAI> /context
# Show context for specific agent
CAI> /ctx redteam_agent
Output Includes: - Total context usage (used/max tokens) with percentage - Visual grid representation with CAI logo - Breakdown by category: - System prompt tokens - Tool definitions tokens - Memory/RAG tokens - User prompts tokens - Assistant responses tokens - Tool calls tokens - Tool results tokens - Free space available - Color-coded visualization
Notes: - Helps monitor token limits - Useful for long conversations - Different models have different context windows
/cost
Display API usage costs and token statistics.
Syntax:
/cost [agent_name]
Examples:
# Show costs for current session
CAI> /cost
# Show costs for specific agent
CAI> /cost redteam_agent
# Show all agents' costs
CAI> /cost all
Output Includes: - Total cost (USD) - Input tokens used - Output tokens used - Cost per interaction - Model pricing rates - Agent breakdown
/save
Save current conversation to a file.
Syntax:
/save <filename>
Supported Formats:
- JSON (.json)
- Markdown (.md)
Examples:
# Save as JSON
CAI> /save pentest_session.json
# Save as Markdown
CAI> /save findings_report.md
# Full path
CAI> /save ~/sessions/project_alpha.json
Notes:
- Saves all conversation history
- Includes agent names and timestamps
- Cost information preserved
- Can be loaded with /load
/temperature or /temp
Adjust the model's temperature parameter.
Syntax:
/temperature <value>
/temp <value>
Parameters:
- value: Temperature (0.0 - 2.0)
- Lower = more deterministic
- Higher = more creative
Examples:
# Set to more deterministic
CAI> /temperature 0.2
# Set to more creative
CAI> /temp 1.5
# View current temperature
CAI> /temperature
/api
Manage API keys and authentication.
Syntax:
/api <subcommand> [arguments]
Subcommands:
- show: Display configured API keys (masked)
Examples:
# Show API keys
CAI> /api show
---
## Special Features
### Command Chaining
Chain multiple commands using semicolons (`;`).
**Syntax**:
```bash
command1 ; command2 ; command3
Examples:
# Chain commands at launch
cai --prompt "/agent redteam_agent ; scan 192.168.1.1 ; /save results.json"
# Chain in CLI
CAI> /agent bug_bounter_agent ; test https://target.com ; /cost
Use Cases: - Automation workflows - Batch operations - Quick sequences
Auto-loading Queue from File
Load and execute prompts automatically on startup.
Environment Variable:
export CAI_QUEUE_FILE="/path/to/prompts.txt"
Launch:
CAI_QUEUE_FILE=~/my_prompts.txt cai
Notes: - Prompts execute automatically - Returns to interactive mode when done - Perfect for automation
Quick Reference
Most Used Commands
| Command | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
/agent <name> |
Switch agent | /agent redteam_agent |
/model <name> |
Change model | /model alias1 |
/config |
View config | /config |
/help |
Get help | /help agent |
/save <file> |
Save session | /save session.json |
/load <file> |
Load session | /load session.json |
/cost |
Show costs | /cost |
/history |
View history | /history 20 |
$ <cmd> |
Shell command | $ nmap -sV target |
/exit |
Exit CAI | /exit |
Command Aliases
| Full Command | Aliases |
|---|---|
/agent |
/a |
/model |
/mod |
/config |
/cfg |
/help |
/h, /? |
/history |
/his |
/memory |
/mem |
/workspace |
/ws |
/virtualization |
/virt |
/parallel |
/par, /p |
/shell |
/s, /$ |
/context |
/ctx |
/compact |
/cmp |
/temperature |
/temp |
/load |
/l |
/merge |
/mrg |
/run |
/r |
/kill |
/k |
/exit |
/quit, /q |
Next Steps
- 📖 Getting Started Guide - Learn the basics
- 🚀 Advanced Usage - Automation and advanced features
- 🏠 CLI Overview - Return to main CLI documentation
Last updated: November 2025 | CAI CLI v0.6+