> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dabs.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# CLI reference

> Every dabs command, flag, and alias

```text theme={null}
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.

## build

```text theme={null}
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.

## recipe

```text theme={null}
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.

## exec

```text theme={null}
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.

## ls

```text theme={null}
dabs ls [--inactive]
```

List the active subtrees as a tree; `--inactive` lists only the hidden empty
markers instead.

## rm

```text theme={null}
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](/guides/cleanup) 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.

## worktrees

```text theme={null}
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`.

## recipes

```text theme={null}
dabs recipes [--print]
```

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

## prune

```text theme={null}
dabs prune [--dry] [--force]
```

Reclaim built box images. `--dry` lists sizes; `--force` removes even images a
live box uses.

## servers

```text theme={null}
dabs servers [ls | add <name> [host] | rm <name>]
```

Manage registered remote servers (reached over ssh; a recipe routes to one
with `target:`).

```text theme={null}
NAME         VIA    DESTINATION
local        bwrap  this machine
demo-server  ssh    demo@example.com
```

## 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`.