---
title: "CLI (dexcli)"
description: "dexcli is the Dex command-line tool. Its output is JSON first, so shell"
canonical_url: "https://docs.superdurable.io/primitives/components/cli/"
source: "docs/content/primitives/components/cli.mdx"
locale: "en"
---

# CLI (dexcli)

**dexcli** is the Dex command-line tool. Its output is JSON first, so shell
scripts and AI agents can use it as well as people.

## What it does

- **dexcli dev** starts a local Dex: server-zd and Dex Web on your machine. The
  release package includes **dex-server-zd** next to **dexcli**.
- **dexcli flow** inspects, searches, watches, and operates Flows.
- **dexcli api** calls any public API method.
- **dexcli web** serves Dex Web against an existing server.
- **dexcli visualize** draws a Flow Definition Graph from Flow source.
- **dexcli version check** checks protocol compatibility with a server.
- **dexcli admin** describes or steps down the active server process.

## How it fits with the other components

**dexcli** talks to the [server](https://docs.superdurable.io/primitives/components/server.md) API, the same
API that [Workers and Clients](https://docs.superdurable.io/primitives/components/application.md) use. It
connects to **127.0.0.1:8801** by default, which is where **dexcli dev** listens.

```bash
dexcli dev
dexcli flow inspect order-123
```

## Reference

The [CLI reference](https://docs.superdurable.io/reference/cli.md) lists the flags, connection and
authentication settings, and output formats.