mcp2cli

Cli Reference

Complete reference for every mcp2cli command, flag, and option.

Invocation Modes

mcp2cli [--json] [--output <FORMAT>] [--timeout <SECS>] <command>
mcp2cli [--json] [--output <FORMAT>] [--timeout <SECS>] <config-name> <command>
mcp2cli --url <URL> [--json] [--timeout <SECS>] <command>
mcp2cli --stdio <COMMAND> [--env KEY=VAL]... [--json] [--timeout <SECS>] <command>
<alias> [--json] [--output <FORMAT>] [--timeout <SECS>] <command>

Global Flags

FlagShortDescription
--jsonOutput JSON instead of human-readable text
--output <FORMAT>-oOutput format: human, json, ndjson
--timeout <SECS>Request timeout in seconds (0 = no timeout)
--url <URL>Ad-hoc HTTP MCP server URL (no config needed)
--stdio <COMMAND>Ad-hoc stdio MCP server command (no config needed)
--env <KEY=VALUE>Environment variable for --stdio server (repeatable)

Host Commands

These manage configs and aliases — no server connection required.

config init

Create a new named config.

Terminal window
mcp2cli config init --name <NAME> --app bridge \
  --transport <stdio|streamable_http> \
  [--endpoint <URL>] \
  [--stdio-command <CMD>] \
  [--stdio-args <ARG>...]
FlagRequiredDescription
--name <NAME>✅Config name (alphanumeric, hyphens)
--app <PROFILE>✅Application profile (bridge)
--transport <TYPE>✅stdio or streamable_http
--endpoint <URL>for HTTPServer endpoint URL
--stdio-command <CMD>for stdioSubprocess command
--stdio-args <ARG>...Subprocess arguments

config list

List all named configs.

Terminal window
mcp2cli config list

config show

Display a named config.

Terminal window
mcp2cli config show --name <NAME>

use

Manage the active config.

Terminal window
mcp2cli use <NAME>         # Set active config
mcp2cli use --show         # Show current active config
mcp2cli use --clear        # Clear active config

Create a symlink alias to mcp2cli.

Terminal window
mcp2cli link create --name <NAME> [--dir <PATH>]
FlagRequiredDescription
--name <NAME>✅Alias name (also the symlink filename)
--dir <PATH>Directory for the symlink (default: next to binary)

Reserved names: mcp2cli, config, link, use, daemon.

daemon

Manage background daemon processes.

Terminal window
mcp2cli daemon start <CONFIG_NAME>    # Start daemon for config
mcp2cli daemon stop <CONFIG_NAME>     # Stop running daemon
mcp2cli daemon status [CONFIG_NAME]   # Check daemon status

Discovery Commands

ls

List server capabilities.

Terminal window
<alias> ls [--tools] [--resources] [--prompts] [--filter <PATTERN>]
FlagDescription
--toolsShow only tools
--resourcesShow only resources
--promptsShow only prompts
--filter <PATTERN>Filter results by name substring

inspect

Dump full server capabilities, metadata, and negotiated protocol info.

Terminal window
<alias> inspect

doctor

Run runtime health diagnostics.

Terminal window
<alias> doctor

Checks: transport connection, server info, auth state, cached capabilities.

ping

Server liveness check with latency measurement.

Terminal window
<alias> ping

Tool Commands

Dynamic (auto-generated)

Server tools become commands with flags from JSON Schema:

Terminal window
<alias> <tool-name> [--flag <value>]...

Examples:

Terminal window
work echo --message hello              # String flag
work add --a 5 --b 3                   # Integer flags
work deploy --tags '["a","b"]'         # Array flag (JSON)
work process --include-metadata        # Boolean flag
work build --config '{"opt": true}'    # JSON flag

Static Bridge Fallback

Terminal window
<alias> tool list
<alias> tool call --name <TOOL_NAME> [--arg <KEY=VALUE>]... [--args-file <PATH>] [--args-json <JSON>] [--background]

Resource Commands

Read a Resource

Terminal window
<alias> get <URI>
<alias> <resource-verb> <URI>        # If profile.resource_verb is set

Resource Templates (auto-generated)

Terminal window
<alias> <template-name> [--param <value>]...
<alias> <template-name> <positional>          # Single-param templates

Static Bridge Fallback

Terminal window
<alias> resource list
<alias> resource read --uri <URI>

Subscriptions

Terminal window
<alias> subscribe <URI>
<alias> unsubscribe <URI>

Prompt Commands

Dynamic (auto-generated)

Terminal window
<alias> <prompt-name> [--arg <value>]...

Static Bridge Fallback

Terminal window
<alias> prompt list
<alias> prompt run --name <PROMPT_NAME> [--arg <KEY=VALUE>]...

Auth Commands

Terminal window
<alias> auth login         # Interactive token prompt
<alias> auth logout        # Clear stored credentials
<alias> auth status        # Show current auth state

Job Commands

Terminal window
<alias> jobs list                          # List all background jobs
<alias> jobs show <JOB_ID>                 # Show job details
<alias> jobs show --latest                 # Show most recent job
<alias> jobs wait <JOB_ID>                 # Block until job completes
<alias> jobs wait --latest                 # Wait for most recent job
<alias> jobs cancel <JOB_ID>              # Cancel a running job
<alias> jobs cancel --latest               # Cancel most recent job
<alias> jobs watch <JOB_ID>               # Stream job progress events
<alias> jobs watch --latest                # Watch most recent job

Logging Command

Terminal window
<alias> log <LEVEL>
LevelDescription
traceMost verbose
debugDebug messages
infoInformational
warnWarnings
errorErrors only

Completion Command

Terminal window
<alias> complete <REF_TYPE> <REF_NAME> <ARG_NAME> [CURRENT_VALUE]

Requests tab-completion values from the server.

ArgumentDescription
<REF_TYPE>Reference type: ref/prompt, ref/resource
<REF_NAME>Name of the prompt or resource
<ARG_NAME>Argument name to complete
[CURRENT_VALUE]Current partial input for filtering

Argument Input Methods

Multiple sources for tool arguments, merged in order (later wins):

Terminal window
# From file
<alias> tool-name --args-file ./payload.json


# From JSON string
<alias> tool-name --args-json '{"key": "value"}'


# From flags
<alias> tool-name --key value


# Combined (merged, flags override)
<alias> tool-name --args-file base.json --args-json '{"override": true}' --key final-value

Environment Variables

VariableDescription
MCP2CLI_CONFIG_DIROverride config directory
MCP2CLI_DATA_DIROverride data directory
MCP2CLI_LOGGING__LEVELOverride log level
MCP2CLI_LOGGING__FORMATOverride log format
MCP2CLI_SERVER__ENDPOINTOverride server endpoint
MCP2CLI_SERVER__TRANSPORTOverride transport type
MCP2CLI_DEFAULTS__OUTPUTOverride default output format
MCP2CLI_DEFAULTS__TIMEOUT_SECONDSOverride default timeout

Pattern: MCP2CLI_ prefix + config path with __ as separator.

See Also

← Previous Transports
Next → Config Reference
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