ArcFlow CLI overview
The arcflow binary (cli/arcflow-cli/) is a Rust command-line tool with no Python or Node runtime dependency. Startup time targets under 200ms for operator scripts and local developer workflows.
Installation
From repository root after Rust toolchain install:
Run without install:
Command index
| Command | Audience | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
arcflow init | developer | Scaffold workflow project |
arcflow run | developer | Execute workflow file locally |
arcflow trace | developer, operator | Inspect execution trace |
arcflow validate | developer | Stub (CLI validate command) readability check only |
arcflow schedule validate | developer | Validate cron schedule manifest |
arcflow migrate up | operator, platform | Apply Postgres migrations |
Global flag: --no-color disables ANSI colors (CI friendly).
Primary use cases
Developers scaffold projects, run workflows against embedded core (via Python SDK invocation path for run), and inspect traces after local or server runs.
Operators run migrate up in deploy pipelines before rolling arcflow-server, then verify /ready.
Environment variables
| Variable | Commands |
|---|---|
ARCFLOW_POSTGRESQL_URL | migrate up |
ARCFLOW_SERVER_API_KEY | trace --server URL |
Full env reference: Environment variables reference.
Exit codes (summary)
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0 | Success |
| 1 | User error (file not found, validation) |
| 2 | Execution / infrastructure failure |
| 3 | CLI parse or infrastructure setup failure |
Per-command detail in linked pages.
Known limitations
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
arcflow validate full JSON Schema | Stub CLI validate command |
arcflow run native execution | Delegates to Python SDK message today |
| Graph/RAG via CLI run | Use SDK or server API |
Related pages
| Page | Topic |
|---|---|
| init.md | Project scaffold |
| run.md | Local execution |
| trace.md | Trace inspection |
| migrate.md | Database migrations |
| validate.md | Stub validate + CI workaround |