Kilo Code CLI Cheatsheet - Terminal Open-source Coding Agent

Kilo Code CLI shares its engine with the Kilo Code VS Code/JetBrains extensions, for developers who want the same agent outside the IDE — running one-off tasks (kilo run) while still having a TUI. Being same-engine, it fits scripted/pipeline one-shot code work. This sheet covers install, interactive/one-off tasks, model switching, and MCP.

AI CLI·16 commands·Last updated 2026-08-26

Install & Launch 5

npm install -g @kilocode/cli

Install Kilo Code CLI globally

kilo --version

Print the installed version

kilo

Start the interactive TUI in the project dir

kilo upgrade

Upgrade to the latest version

brew install Kilo-Org/tap/kilo

Install on macOS via Homebrew

Interactive & One-off Tasks 5

kilo run "add input validation to the signup form"

Run a one-off task and exit

kilo --mode architect

Start in architect mode

kilo --workspace /path/to/project

Start with a specific workspace

kilo -c

Resume the most recent conversation (--continue)

kilo --auto "Implement feature X"

Autonomous mode: no prompts (trusted envs only)

Models & Integrations 6

kilo auth

Manage AI providers and credentials

kilo models

List available models

kilo mcp

Manage MCP servers

kilo session list

List session history

kilo export <sessionID>

Export a session as JSON

kilo serve

Start a headless kilo server

Tips

The Kilo CLI shares the same engine as the IDE extensions — reuse your VS Code/JetBrains models, MCP servers, and rules in the terminal.
`kilo --auto` runs autonomously and fits CI/CD pipelines; pair it with `--timeout 300` to cap automatic tasks and avoid runaway execution.
`kilo -c` resumes the latest conversation and `kilo session list` manages history, so interrupted long tasks can pick up where they left off.

FAQ

Does the Kilo Code CLI share the engine with the IDE extensions?

Yes. The CLI uses the same underlying technology as the VS Code/JetBrains extensions, so you reuse the models, MCP servers, and rules configured in your IDE, with a consistent workflow.

What environment is kilo --auto suited for?

It suits trusted automation environments like CI/CD, where it auto-approves all tool calls and runs without interaction. For daily local work, interactive mode is safer to avoid unconfirmed file changes.

Official References

Each command links to its official documentation below, so you can verify the latest usage and read deeper.

Kilo Code CLI Docs

Maintained by LaoHand

Publicly updated on Aug 26, 2026, continuously proofread against official docs.

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