- R-CLI
- Command Reference
R-CLI
Command Reference
Every R-CLI slash command, startup flag, keyboard shortcut, and configuration file.
Slash commands
Type /help inside R-CLI to see this list with aliases.
| Command | Aliases | What it does |
|---|---|---|
/model | — | Pick a model and thinking mode from Backboard |
/settings | /config | Adjust session preferences |
/memory | — | Set persistent memory mode |
/cua | — | Enable local computer use for this session |
/browser | — | Enable the Browser tool for this session |
/lsp | — | Toggle language-server diagnostics for this session |
/mcp | — | Manage MCP servers |
/discover | — | Toggle the skill and MCP discovery tools for this session |
/hooks | — | Manage hooks |
/new | /clear, /reset | Start a new thread |
/sessions | /resume, /continue | Resume a session |
/login | — | Sign in with Backboard |
/logout | — | Sign out and end this session |
/help | — | Show the command list |
/quit | /exit | Quit R-CLI, or press Ctrl+C twice |
/skills | — | Open the skill picker |
/notify | — | Toggle a ring when a prompt finishes |
/verbose | — | Toggle detailed tool-call output |
/update | — | Check for a newer CLI version |
/undo | — | Revert files changed by the last turn |
/redo | — | Reapply the last undone file changes |
/rewind | /checkpoints | Restore files to an earlier checkpoint |
Loaded skills are invoked with $skill-name, not as slash commands. See Skills.
As you type, R-CLI suggests the closest matching commands. Submitting a command that does not exist reports Unknown command. Input that looks like a file path, such as /usr/local/bin, is treated as a message rather than a command.
Update notifications
R-CLI checks for updates in the background when it starts. When a newer version is published, the startup session card shows a /update row with the new version number:
/help View commands
/update New version v3.1.0 available (on v3.0.1)
Run /update to get the upgrade command. The check is silent — and the row is hidden — when you are already up to date or offline. Set BACKBOARD_NO_UPDATE_CHECK=1 to disable it; /update always checks on demand.
Startup flags
| Flag | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|
--model | backboard --model openai/gpt-5.5 | Model to use, as provider/model |
--thinking | backboard --thinking high | Thinking mode |
--memory | backboard --memory on | Memory mode: off, on, auto, readonly |
--memory-profile | backboard --memory-profile coding | Memory profile |
--permission-mode | backboard --permission-mode acceptEdits | manual, acceptEdits, auto, or bypass |
--cwd | backboard --cwd /path/to/project | Project folder to open |
--profile | backboard --profile coding | Prompt profile |
--excluded-tools | backboard --excluded-tools Execute,WebSearch | Disable tools; repeatable |
--format | backboard --format json --print "summarize" | Output format for one-shot mode |
--print | backboard --print "summarize this repo" | Run one prompt and exit |
--lsp / --no-lsp | backboard --no-lsp | Enable or disable language-server diagnostics |
--fresh / --no-fresh | backboard --fresh | Start without resuming previous state |
--final-verification / --no-final-verification | backboard --no-final-verification | Toggle the end-of-turn verification pass |
--login / --logout | backboard --login | Sign in or out, same as the subcommands below |
--version | backboard --version | Print the version |
--help | backboard --help | Print usage |
--format accepts default or json, and json requires --print or piped stdin.
Boolean flags accept --lsp, --lsp=true, --lsp=false, or --no-lsp.
Auth subcommands:
backboard login
backboard logout
--print runs non-interactively and cannot show permission prompts, so any tool call that would ask is denied. See Headless and automation.
Keyboard shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
Shift+Tab | Cycle permission mode |
Enter | Submit, or steer the current turn while it is running |
Tab | Queue a message for the next turn |
Esc | Interrupt the current turn |
Ctrl+V | Attach an image from the clipboard |
Ctrl+C twice | Quit |
Some terminals capture Ctrl+V for their own paste behavior, so it may not reach R-CLI.
Configuration files
| Path | Holds |
|---|---|
~/.backboard/config.json | Your API key, plus model, thinking, memory, verbose, and notify preferences |
<repo-root>/.backboard/settings.json | Permission mode and rules |
<repo-root>/.backboard/mcp.json | MCP servers |
<repo-root>/.backboard/hooks.json | Hooks |
~/.backboard/mcp.json | Personal MCP servers and secrets |
~/.backboard/hooks.json | Personal hooks |
<cwd>/.agents/skills/<name>/SKILL.md | Project skills |
~/.agents/skills/<name>/SKILL.md | Personal skills |
<cwd>/.backboard/sessions/ | Session state and checkpoints |
The repository root is found by walking up from your working directory looking for .git.
Sessions are the one exception: they are stored under the directory R-CLI was started in, not the repository root. Starting R-CLI from a subdirectory gives you a different session store, so earlier sessions will not appear in /sessions. Start from the same directory each time, or pass --cwd.
Related
- Overview — install and first session
- Permissions — modes, rules, and automation
- Checkpoints — undo, redo, and rewind