> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.telys.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.telys.ai/cli/overview.md).

# Overview

`telys` signs you in, installs and verifies the signed runtime, serves a collection over a socket, runs the MCP server, and drives a local memory store from the shell. `pipx install telys` (or `pip install telys`) installs it as the `telys` console script (`telys = telys.cli:main`).

Every subcommand runs on your machine. The CLI is a thin front end over the `telys` SDK; the vector engine is the signed native runtime, loaded lazily.

## Synopsis

```
telys                                  # prints help, exits 0
telys login    [--token] [--plan] [--no-install] [--no-browser]
telys version                          # "telys <ver> (format v<N>)"
telys runtime  {status | install | verify | update}
telys serve    --path PATH (--socket SOCKET | --host HOST --port PORT) [...]
telys mcp      [--path]                # stdio MCP server
telys mcp      {install | uninstall | status}
telys mem      {add | search | create | list | stats}
```

## Global behavior

* **Bare `telys` prints help and exits `0`.**
* **Exit codes are stable.** `0` success, `1` a defined "not ready" state (for example, the runtime is not installed), `2` usage error or not-yet-implemented command. See [Environment & exit codes](/cli/environment-and-exit-codes.md).
* **Configuration comes from the environment.** On-disk state lives under `$TELYS_HOME` (default `~/.telys`). Override the control-plane and download hosts with `$TELYS_ACCOUNTS_URL`, `$TELYS_API_URL`, and `$TELYS_PACKAGES_URL`; the full list is in [Environment & exit codes](/cli/environment-and-exit-codes.md).
* **Version.** `telys version` prints the installed distribution version and the on-disk format version.

```bash
telys            # help, exit 0
telys version    # e.g. telys 0.1.0b2 (format v1)
```

{% hint style="info" %}
Subcommands that touch a collection (`serve`, `mem`, the MCP server) need the signed runtime installed and activated. Check with `telys runtime status`, install with `telys login`, confirm the signature with `telys runtime verify`.
{% endhint %}

## Commands

| Command         | What it does                                                                        | Reference                        |
| --------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------- |
| `telys login`   | Device-code sign-in; caches credentials and (by default) installs the runtime.      | [telys login](/cli/login.md)     |
| `telys version` | Print the installed version and on-disk format version.                             | [telys version](/cli/version.md) |
| `telys runtime` | Check, install, verify, or (stub) update the signed native runtime.                 | [telys runtime](/cli/runtime.md) |
| `telys serve`   | Serve a collection path over a Unix socket or TCP for `RemoteTelys`.                | [telys serve](/cli/serve.md)     |
| `telys mcp`     | Run the stdio MCP server, or install/uninstall/inspect its client config.           | [telys mcp](/cli/mcp.md)         |
| `telys mem`     | Advanced: add, search, create, list, and inspect a local collection from the shell. | [telys mem](/cli/mem.md)         |

### telys login

Browser device-code sign-in (RFC 8628). Caches credentials under `$TELYS_HOME` and, unless told otherwise, installs the signed runtime. Use `--token` for headless CI. See [telys login](/cli/login.md).

### telys version

Prints `telys <ver> (format v<N>)` — the installed distribution version (`0.0.0+source` in a source checkout) and the on-disk `FORMAT_VERSION`. See [telys version](/cli/version.md).

### telys runtime

Manages the signed native runtime: `status` (`0` ready / `1` not), `install` (offline `--file` or hosted download), and `verify` (offline signature check). `telys runtime update` is a stub that exits `2`. See [telys runtime](/cli/runtime.md).

### telys serve

Serves a collection directory over a trusted Unix socket or authenticated TCP for [RemoteTelys](/reference/remote-api.md). Pass `--socket` or both `--host` and `--port`; TCP requires an access token. See [telys serve](/cli/serve.md).

### telys mcp

Bare `telys mcp` runs the stdio MCP server. `install` writes launcher config for Claude, Cursor, Codex, or Claude Desktop; `uninstall` and `status` manage it. See [telys mcp](/cli/mcp.md).

### telys mem

Advanced, scriptable wrapper over one local collection: `create`, `add`, `search`, `list`, and `stats`. For smoke tests and shell pipelines. See [telys mem](/cli/mem.md).

## See also

* [Environment & exit codes](/cli/environment-and-exit-codes.md) — every variable the CLI honors and what each exit code means.
* [Install Telys](/start-here/install.md) — get the `telys` command on your machine.
* [Sign in & activate a license](/start-here/sign-in.md) — the first command most people run after install.


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