Command Reference

Default Command

Run an agent with optional configuration.

rowboatx [options]

Options

--agent

string

default:"copilot"

The agent to run. Agents are defined in ~/.rowboat/agents/.Example:

rowboatx --agent copilot
rowboatx --agent data-processor

--run_id

string

Continue an existing run. Run IDs are stored in ~/.rowboat/runs/.Example:

rowboatx --run_id a1b2c3d4-5678-90ef-ghij-klmnopqrstuv

--input

string

Initial input message to send to the agent. Useful for non-interactive execution.Example:

rowboatx --input "Analyze the sales data in data.csv"

--no-interactive

boolean

default:"false"

Run in non-interactive mode. The agent will not prompt for user input and will exit after processing.Example:

rowboatx --agent analyzer --input "Process data" --no-interactive

Examples

# Start default copilot agent
rowboatx

# Run specific agent interactively
rowboatx --agent my-assistant

ui

Launch the interactive terminal-based dashboard for managing runs and agents.

rowboatx ui [options]

Options

--server-url

string

Rowboat server base URL. Connects the UI to a remote or local server instance.Example:

rowboatx ui --server-url http://localhost:3000
rowboatx ui --server-url https://my-rowboat-server.com

Features

The TUI (Terminal User Interface) provides:

Visual run management and monitoring
Agent execution controls
Real-time event streaming
Interactive permission approvals
Run history and logs

Example

# Launch local UI
rowboatx ui

# Connect to remote server
rowboatx ui --server-url https://api.rowboat.example.com

import

Import example workflows or custom workflow definitions.

rowboatx import --example <name>
rowboatx import --file <path>

Options

--example

string

Name of a built-in example workflow to import.Example:

rowboatx import --example data-analysis
rowboatx import --example github-integration

--file

string

Path to a custom workflow JSON file to import.Example:

rowboatx import --file ./my-workflow.json
rowboatx import --file ~/Downloads/shared-workflow.json

Workflow Structure

Workflow JSON format:

{
  "id": "my-workflow",
  "entryAgent": "main-agent",
  "agents": [
    {
      "name": "main-agent",
      "instructions": "You are a helpful assistant.",
      "tools": {}
    }
  ],
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/workspace"]
    }
  },
  "instructions": "Optional post-install instructions for the user"
}

Import Behavior

Agent Import

Agents are written to ~/.rowboat/agents/<agent-name>.json

MCP Server Merge

MCP servers are merged into ~/.rowboat/config/mcp.json. Existing servers with the same name are skipped.

Post-Install Instructions

If the workflow includes instructions, they are displayed after import.

Examples

rowboatx import --example data-processor
# Output:
# ✓ Imported workflow 'data-processor'
#   Agents: processor, validator
#   Primary: processor
#   MCP servers added: filesystem
#
# Run: rowboatx --agent processor

list-examples

List all available built-in example workflows.

rowboatx list-examples

Output

data-analysis
github-integration
code-reviewer
content-generator

Example

# List examples, then import one
rowboatx list-examples
rowboatx import --example code-reviewer

export

Export a workflow with all dependencies to stdout. Useful for sharing or backing up workflows.

rowboatx export --agent <name>

Options

--agent

string

required

Entry agent name to export. The export includes the agent and all its dependencies (sub-agents, MCP servers).Example:

rowboatx export --agent my-agent
rowboatx export --agent copilot > copilot-backup.json

Export Behavior

Dependency Discovery

Recursively discovers all agents referenced by the entry agent through tool dependencies.

MCP Server Collection

Collects all MCP servers used by the agent and its dependencies.

JSON Output

Outputs a complete workflow definition to stdout in JSON format.

Examples

rowboatx export --agent my-workflow > workflow-backup.json

model-config

Configure LLM provider and model settings interactively.

rowboatx model-config

Interactive Wizard

View Current Configuration

Displays current provider and model if configured.

Currently using:
- provider: my-openai (openai)
- model: gpt-5.1

Select Provider Flavor

Choose from available provider types:

Select a provider type:
rowboat [free]
openai
aigateway
anthropic
google
ollama
openai-compatible
openrouter
Enter number or name:

Configure Provider

For existing providers, you can reuse or add new:

Found existing providers for openai:
  1. use existing: my-openai
  2. add new
Enter number or name/alias [2]:

Enter Details

Provide provider-specific configuration:

Enter a name/alias for this provider [openai]: production-openai
Enter baseURL for openai [https://api.openai.com/v1]:
Enter API key for openai (leave blank to pick from environment variable OPENAI_API_KEY):
Specify model for openai [gpt-5.1]: gpt-5.1

Confirmation

Configuration is saved and confirmed:

Currently using:
- provider: production-openai (openai)
- model: gpt-5.1

Configuration written to ~/.rowboat/config/models.json. You can also edit this file manually

Provider Defaults

Provider	Default Base URL	Default Model	API Key Env Var
openai	`https://api.openai.com/v1`	`gpt-5.1`	`OPENAI_API_KEY`
anthropic	`https://api.anthropic.com/v1`	`claude-sonnet-4-5`	`ANTHROPIC_API_KEY`
google	`https://generativelanguage.googleapis.com/v1beta`	`gemini-2.5-pro`	`GOOGLE_GENERATIVE_AI_API_KEY`
ollama	`http://localhost:11434`	`llama3.1`	-
openai-compatible	`http://localhost:8080/v1`	`openai/gpt-5.1`	-
openrouter	`https://openrouter.ai/api/v1`	`openrouter/auto`	-
aigateway	`https://ai-gateway.vercel.sh/v1/ai`	`gpt-5.1`	`AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY`
rowboat [free]	-	`google/gemini-3-pro-preview`	-

Examples

rowboatx model-config
# Select: 2 (openai)
# Name: my-openai
# Base URL: [Enter] (use default)
# API Key: sk-...
# Model: gpt-5.1

API Server

Rowboat CLI includes a built-in HTTP API server for programmatic access.

Starting the Server

npm run server
# or from source:
cd apps/cli && npm run server

Default port: 3000 (configure via PORT environment variable)

PORT=8080 npm run server

API Endpoints

POST /runs/:runId/messages/new

Create a new message in a run. Request:

{
  "message": "What is the status of task #123?"
}

Response:

{
  "messageId": "msg_abc123"
}

POST /runs/:runId/permissions/authorize

Authorize a tool permission request. Request:

{
  "toolCallId": "call_xyz789",
  "response": "approve"
}

Response:

{
  "success": true
}

POST /runs/:runId/human-input-requests/:requestId/reply

Reply to a human input request. Request:

{
  "requestId": "req_def456",
  "response": "Proceed with deployment"
}

Response:

{
  "success": true
}

POST /runs/:runId/stop

Stop a running agent. Response:

{
  "success": true
}

GET /stream

Subscribe to run events via Server-Sent Events (SSE). Response: Stream of events

data: {"type":"message","runId":"run_123",...}
event: message
id: 0

data: {"type":"tool-call","runId":"run_123",...}
event: message
id: 1

GET /openapi.json

Retrieve OpenAPI specification for the API. Response: OpenAPI 3.0 JSON schema

API Examples

curl -X POST http://localhost:3000/runs/run_abc123/messages/new \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"message": "Continue processing"}'

Environment Variables

PORT

number

default:"3000"

Server port for the API server.

PORT=8080 npm run server

OPENAI_API_KEY

string

OpenAI API key. Used when not explicitly configured in models.json.

export OPENAI_API_KEY="sk-..."

ANTHROPIC_API_KEY

string

Anthropic API key.

export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="sk-ant-..."

GOOGLE_GENERATIVE_AI_API_KEY

string

Google AI API key.

export GOOGLE_GENERATIVE_AI_API_KEY="AIza..."

AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY

string

Vercel AI Gateway API key.

export AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY="key_..."

Configuration Files

models.json

Location: ~/.rowboat/config/models.json

{
  "providers": {
    "my-openai": {
      "flavor": "openai",
      "apiKey": "sk-...",
      "baseURL": "https://api.openai.com/v1",
      "headers": {}
    },
    "local-ollama": {
      "flavor": "ollama",
      "baseURL": "http://localhost:11434",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer optional-key"
      }
    }
  },
  "defaults": {
    "provider": "my-openai",
    "model": "gpt-5.1"
  }
}

mcp.json

Location: ~/.rowboat/config/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/workspace"],
      "env": {}
    },
    "github": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-github"],
      "env": {
        "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "ghp_..."
      }
    },
    "brave-search": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search"],
      "env": {
        "BRAVE_API_KEY": "BSA..."
      }
    }
  }
}

Agent Definition

Location: ~/.rowboat/agents/<name>.json

{
  "name": "my-agent",
  "instructions": "You are a helpful coding assistant.",
  "tools": {
    "filesystem": {
      "type": "mcp",
      "mcpServerName": "filesystem",
      "toolNames": ["read_file", "write_file", "list_directory"]
    },
    "sub-agent": {
      "type": "agent",
      "name": "code-reviewer"
    }
  }
}

Tips & Best Practices

Use --no-interactive for automation

When running agents in CI/CD pipelines or scripts, always use --no-interactive to prevent hanging on prompts:

rowboatx --agent test-runner --input "Run tests" --no-interactive

Export workflows before sharing

Organize agents by purpose

Create separate agents for different tasks:

copilot - General assistance
code-reviewer - Code review tasks
data-processor - Data ETL workflows

Version control your configurations

Keep ~/.rowboat/agents/ and ~/.rowboat/config/ in version control (excluding API keys):

cd ~/.rowboat
git init
echo "config/models.json" >> .gitignore
git add agents/ config/mcp.json
git commit -m "Add agent configurations"

Use environment variables for API keys

Avoid hardcoding API keys. Use environment variables:

# .env file
OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-...
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...

# Load and run
source .env
rowboatx

Overview

CLI Tool

Python SDK

Web Platform

Agent System

​Default Command

​Options

​Examples

​ui

​Options

​Features

​Example

​import

​Options

​Workflow Structure

​Import Behavior

​Examples

​list-examples

​Output

​Example

​export

​Options

​Export Behavior

​Examples

​model-config

​Interactive Wizard

​Provider Defaults

​Examples

​API Server

​Starting the Server

​API Endpoints

​POST /runs/:runId/messages/new

​POST /runs/:runId/permissions/authorize

​POST /runs/:runId/human-input-requests/:requestId/reply

​POST /runs/:runId/stop

​GET /stream

​GET /openapi.json

​API Examples

​Environment Variables

​Configuration Files

​models.json

​mcp.json

​Agent Definition

​Tips & Best Practices

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Default Command

Options

Examples

ui

Options

Features

Example

import

Options

Workflow Structure

Import Behavior

Examples

list-examples

Output

Example

export

Options

Export Behavior

Examples

model-config

Interactive Wizard

Provider Defaults

Examples

API Server

Starting the Server

API Endpoints

POST /runs/:runId/messages/new

POST /runs/:runId/permissions/authorize

POST /runs/:runId/human-input-requests/:requestId/reply

POST /runs/:runId/stop

GET /stream

GET /openapi.json

API Examples

Environment Variables

Configuration Files

models.json

mcp.json

Agent Definition

Tips & Best Practices