# The machine-ide command

Start, follow, and script Machine Code agents from your terminal.

Canonical page: https://themachine.myapps.ai/docs/code/cli

Machine Code comes with a command, `machine-ide`, that controls the same
agents you see in the app. Use it to script agents, start them from other
tools, or check on them from a terminal.

It's a different command from the [Machine CLI](/docs/cli) (`machine`),
which works with your Machine project in the cloud.

## Install it

Open **Settings › Integrations**, find **Command line**, and click
**Install**. It adds `machine-ide` to `~/.local/bin` in your home folder.
Make sure that folder is on your `PATH`.

Machine Code needs to be running, or its background service started with
`machine-ide daemon start`.

## Common commands

| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
| `machine-ide run "<task>"` | Create and start an agent with a task. |
| `machine-ide ls` | List agents. Archived ones are left out. |
| `machine-ide attach <id>` | Follow a running agent's output. |
| `machine-ide logs <id>` | Show an agent's activity. |
| `machine-ide send <id> "<message>"` | Send a message to an existing agent. |
| `machine-ide wait <id>` | Wait until an agent is idle. |
| `machine-ide inspect <id>` | Show details about an agent. |
| `machine-ide stop <id>` | Interrupt an agent if it's running. |
| `machine-ide archive <id>` | Archive an agent. |
| `machine-ide status` | Check the background service. |
| `machine-ide daemon start` | Start the background service. |

An agent id can be shortened to its first few characters. The **Copy id**
button in the [Running view](/docs/code/working-with-agents#the-running-view)
copies one.

Run `machine-ide --help`, or `machine-ide <command> --help`, for every
command and option. There are also commands for schedules, terminals,
workspace scripts, providers, and usage.

Most commands take `--json` for output that scripts can read.