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

# CLI Overview

> Install and authenticate the ContentHero CLI: shell-native, scriptable, browser-assisted login.

The `contenthero` CLI drives everything from a shell. It is the right transport when you do not have MCP wired up but you have a terminal, and it is ideal for CI and scripts. It rides the same `/api/v1` API as the SDK.

## Install

```bash theme={null}
npm install -g @contenthero/cli   # Node 20+, binary is `contenthero`
contenthero --version
```

## Authenticate

```bash theme={null}
contenthero login        # browser-assisted, provisions and stores a key
contenthero auth status  # exits 0 when authenticated
```

`login` opens a browser, provisions a key for this machine, and stores it at `~/.contenthero/credentials` (mode 0600).

The auth ladder is `--api-key` flag, then the `CONTENTHERO_API_KEY` environment variable, then the stored credential. The environment variable always wins over the stored file, so CI can override a local login:

```bash theme={null}
export CONTENTHERO_API_KEY=ch_live_...
```

<Warning>
  Never paste your key into an agent chat. Use `contenthero login` or the environment variable. See [API Keys](/authentication/api-keys).
</Warning>

## Shape

The pattern is `contenthero <noun> <verb>`, with JSON on stdout by default.

```bash theme={null}
contenthero generate image --prompt "..." --model nano-banana-2
contenthero model list
contenthero account balance
contenthero brand-kit list
contenthero post list
```

## Next

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Commands" icon="list" href="/cli/commands">
    The full command tree by resource.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Output & async" icon="arrows-rotate" href="/cli/output-and-async">
    JSON output, exit codes, cost preflight, and polling.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Examples" icon="code" href="/cli/examples">
    Practical recipes and scripting patterns.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Cookbook" icon="book-open" href="/cookbook/overview">
    End-to-end workflows.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>