CLI commands, options and environment variables

Use CLI settings to make the connection’s target, inference and workspace explicit. Client configuration stores a command and an argument list separately.

Commands

Command	Use
No subcommand	Start the stdio MCP server.
login	Start browser authorization and save local access.
logout	Remove locally stored access.
status	Inspect local connection and access status.
url	Display the relevant connection URL.

Server options

Option	Values or purpose
--api-url	OwlMeans API base; ordinarily leave the production default.
--target	local or cloud; default local.
--llm	cloud or local; local means delegated inference.
--harness	claude-code, codex, copilot or opencode.
--project-dir	Absolute workspace directory to use explicitly.
--http	Development HTTP mode; not required for the hosted production endpoint.

Environment

Variable	Purpose
VIABLE_API_URL	API base override.
VIABLE_API_TOKEN	Explicit access credential; supply through a secret environment.
VIABLE_TARGET	Project location.
VIABLE_LLM	Inference mode.
VIABLE_HARNESS	Agent harness selector.
VIABLE_PROJECT_DIR	Explicit workspace path.
VIABLE_MCP_URL	MCP endpoint override where supported.
OWLMEANS_CREDENTIALS	Private local credential file; the default is ~/.owlmeans.

Workspace selection

1. Prefer the workspace your client advertises through MCP roots.
2. Use --project-dir for an intentional explicit override.
3. Where no roots are available, the supported Claude project directory or working directory provides the fallback.
4. If a client advertises roots but no usable root, correct that configuration rather than relying on an unrelated directory.
5. Verify the result with session_status before file-changing work.

Explicit flags take precedence over corresponding environment defaults. Restart the client after changes. Do not store secrets in the command’s arguments. For available commands in your installed version, run the CLI’s help rather than copying flags from an older configuration.

Names and marks

OpenAI, ChatGPT and related OpenAI marks belong to OpenAI; Codex is an OpenAI product. Usage policy.

Claude and Claude Code are Anthropic products; their names and marks remain with their respective owner. Usage policy.

Node.js, npx names and any associated marks remain with their respective owners or project maintainers. References identify products, standards or source examples. OwlMeans documentation does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by those owners.