> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.photon.codes/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Photon CLI

> Bring your agents to any interface — manage projects, Spectrum, billing, and your profile from the terminal

The Photon CLI replaces the [Dashboard](https://app.photon.codes) web UI for everyday work. Manage projects, Spectrum users and lines, billing, and your developer profile — all from a terminal.

```sh theme={null}
npx @photon-ai/cli login
```

You can run it on Node.js >= 18 — no additional runtime required.

## Quick demo

After [installing](/cli/installation) the CLI:

```sh theme={null}
# Log in (opens a browser to approve the device)
photon login

# List your projects
photon projects ls

# Set a project for the current shell session
export PHOTON_PROJECT_ID=<project-id>

# Manage Spectrum resources
photon spectrum users ls
photon spectrum lines ls

# Check billing
photon billing show
```

## Command tree

```text theme={null}
photon
├── ping                                            hit /api/health
├── env current                                     print resolved API host
├── login [--api-host] [--no-browser]               device-auth login
├── logout [--api-host]                             clear stored credentials
├── whoami [--api-host]                             current user on this backend
├── auth status [--json]                            login state across all backends
├── config show [--json]                            dump active configuration
├── profile
│   ├── show                                        account & profile details
│   ├── init                                        create developer or org profile
│   └── update [flags]                              update profile fields
├── projects
│   ├── ls [--json]                                 list projects
│   ├── show [id] [--json]                          project detail
│   ├── create [--name --location --spectrum]        new project
│   ├── update [id] [flags]                         rename / toggle flags
│   ├── delete [id] [-y]                            permanent delete
│   ├── regenerate-secret [id] [-y]                 rotate Spectrum API secret
│   ├── open [id] [--no-browser]                    open dashboard in browser
│   ├── upgrade [id] [tier]                         subscribe / open Stripe portal
│   └── check-phone <number>                        phone number availability
├── spectrum
│   ├── profile show / update                       project Spectrum profile
│   ├── users ls / add / remove                     manage Spectrum users
│   ├── lines ls / add / remove                     manage phone lines
│   ├── platforms ls / enable / disable             toggle messaging platforms
│   └── avatar upload <file>                        upload Spectrum avatar
└── billing
    ├── plans                                       available plans
    ├── show [--json]                               current subscription
    ├── checkout [tier] [--plan <price-id>] [--qty <n>]  Stripe Checkout
    └── manage                                      Stripe Customer Portal
```

Run `photon <command> --help` for the full flag list of any command.

## The `pho` alias

After installing globally, a `pho` shortcut is created automatically the first time you run `photon`:

```sh theme={null}
pho projects ls     # same as: photon projects ls
pho whoami
```

The alias is only available for global installs — `npx` / `bunx` users don't get it since they're already typing the full package name.

## Global flags

| Flag              | Env var          | Effect                                                               |
| ----------------- | ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `--debug`         | `PHOTON_DEBUG=1` | Verbose HTTP request/response logs to stderr                         |
| `--version`, `-v` | —                | Print CLI version                                                    |
| `--no-color`      | `NO_COLOR=1`     | Disable colored output ([NO\_COLOR standard](https://no-color.org/)) |

All other flags (`--api-host`, `--project`, `--token`, `--json`, `--yes`, `--no-browser`) are **per-command** and must appear after the subcommand name.