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usage: dabs <command> [args]
Aliases: ps/list → ls · remove/delete → rm · worktree → worktrees. dabs --help-full-for-agents prints the full agent-facing guide — the entry point an agent should read before driving dabs.

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build

dabs build [recipe|path]
Build a recipe’s box image (once per Dockerfile change). No name → the registry default:; a name → that recipe; a path → a dabs.yaml to load. A boot rebuilds automatically when the Dockerfile or a bundled image’s files change — but not when only COPY . context files changed; run dabs prune then build to pick those up.

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recipe

dabs recipe [name] [cmd… | --no-command] [--worktree <wt>]
Boot a box from a recipe and run its command, then tear the box down (unless the recipe says keep: true). Trailing tokens are appended to the recipe’s command; appending always confirms first, showing the exact final command.
  • --no-command — boot a NEW box, run nothing, leave it up. --detach is an unstable alias (it may later mean a true background detach).
  • --worktree <wt> — bind an existing worktree to the recipe’s . source and mount its parent .git, so git works in-box.
  • dabs recipe -- <cmd…> — the default recipe with your command appended.

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exec

dabs exec <node> [--] <cmd…>
Run a command inside a box: with --, an exact argv (no shell); without, a sh -c line (pipes/globs/&& work). Accepts node ids, instance names, and unambiguous prefixes.

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ls

dabs ls [--inactive]
List the active subtrees as a tree; --inactive lists only the hidden empty markers instead.

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rm

dabs rm <node> [-y] [--keep] [--volume] [--multiple] [--dry] [--force]
dabs rm --clean-worktrees [--force] [--dry]
dabs rm --inactive [--dry]
The single reaper — see Listing and cleaning up for the four consent flags. --keep stops the box but keeps its node record; --clean-worktrees sweeps every worktree with no unreviewed work; --inactive sweeps every inactive subtree.

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worktrees

dabs worktrees [ls | diff <name>]
Inspect worktree nodes: state (no-diff / has work / unmerged), branch, recipe, box-liveness; diff shows a review diff that surfaces untracked files. Reaping is dabs rm.

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recipes

dabs recipes [--print]
List the known recipes one line each; --print dumps the bundled registry YAML in full.

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prune

dabs prune [--dry] [--force]
Reclaim built box images. --dry lists sizes; --force removes even images a live box uses.

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servers

dabs servers [ls | add <name> [host] | rm <name>]
Manage registered remote servers (reached over ssh; a recipe routes to one with target:). 
NAME         VIA    DESTINATION
local        bwrap  this machine
demo-server  ssh    demo@example.com

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Environment

  • DABS_NAME — set inside every box to the box’s instance name.
  • dabs state lives under ~/.dabs/ (nodes, images, config, shared dirs). dabs recipe/build refuse to run from inside ~/.dabs.