CLI reference

All commands accept --json for scriptable output and --no-color to disable styled output (the NO_COLOR env var works too).

skael setup <url> <api-key>

One-command onboarding: validates the key, writes ~/.skael/config.json, detects installed agents, and installs activation-tracking and auto-sync hooks.

Flag	Default	Description
--scope project|user	project	Default skill placement scope saved to config
--skip-sync	false	Skip the initial sync
--skip-hooks	false	Skip hook installation
--no-auto-sync	false	Skip auto-sync hook installation

skael add <name>

Installs a skill from the registry. Downloads the latest version, verifies the checksum, extracts to all detected agent directories, and adds the skill to ~/.skael/config.json.

Flag	Default	Description
--scope project|user	config default	Override skill placement scope

skael remove <name>

Uninstalls a skill. Removes files from agent directories and removes the skill from ~/.skael/config.json.

skael sync

Updates installed skills to the latest versions from the platform. Only skills listed in ~/.skael/config.json are synced — not the full registry. Only changed skills are downloaded. Supports --dry-run.

Flag	Default	Description
--scope project|user	config or project	Override skill placement scope for this run
--agent <name>	all detected	Sync only for the named agent
--dry-run	false	Show what would happen without making changes
--quiet	false	Suppress non-error output

skael publish <dir>

Validates, security-scans, packs, and uploads a skill directory. Blocked on critical/high findings.

Flag	Default	Description
--force	false	Publish even with critical findings — bypasses the security gate; use with caution

skael scan <dir>

Runs the security scan locally without publishing.

Exit codes:

Code	Meaning
0	No findings
1	Findings detected (warn or critical)
2	Scan could not run (missing SKILL.md, I/O error)

skael search <query>

Full-text search across the registry (with fuzzy matching on names).

skael list

Lists all skills on the platform. Use --installed to show only locally installed skills with their scope and version.

skael doctor

Diagnostic health check: config, connectivity, agent detection, hook status.

skael hook install | uninstall | status

Standalone management of activation-tracking and auto-sync hooks.

• install — write hook scripts for all detected agents (activation tracking + auto-sync)
• uninstall — remove hook scripts from all detected agents
• status — show which agents have hooks installed

skael import <source>

Imports skills from an external source (e.g. a GitHub repository) into your registry, scanning on the way in.