CLI Overview

The Kernle CLI provides 32+ commands for managing SI memory.

Global Options

kernle [-s STACK_ID] <command> [options]

Option	Description
`-s, --stack STACK_ID`	Stack ID (can also use `KERNLE_STACK_ID` env var)

If no stack ID is provided, Kernle will try to resolve one automatically from environment context.

Commands at a Glance

Memory Commands

episode, note, raw, belief, value, goal, drive, relation, playbook

Utility Commands

load, checkpoint, search, status, anxiety, identity, trust, emotion, promote, process, model, export, export-full

MCP Server

mcp - Start MCP server for tool integration

Additional top-level commands include auth, boot, doctor, audit, export-cache, import, seed, stack, migrate, entity-model, setup, hook, relation, meta, narrative, and epoch.

Command Quick Reference

Session Lifecycle

Command	Description
`load`	Load working memory at session start
`checkpoint save`	Save current state
`checkpoint load`	Restore previous state
`status`	Show memory overview

Memory Capture

Command	Description
`raw`	Zero-friction capture
`note`	Structured note (decision/insight/quote)
`episode`	Experience with outcome and lessons
`belief`	Add or manage beliefs
`value`	Define core values
`goal`	Set active goals
`drive`	Manage intrinsic motivations
`relation`	Track relationships
`playbook`	Procedural memory

Search & Analysis

Command	Description
`search`	Semantic search across memory
`when`	Query by time period
`promote`	Extract patterns from episodes
`identity`	Synthesize identity
`emotion`	Emotional memory analysis
`meta`	Meta-memory operations

Maintenance

Command	Description
`anxiety`	Check memory health
`forget`	Controlled forgetting
`process`	Run or check automated memory processing
`model`	Show, bind, or unbind inference model
`export-full`	Export complete agent context to a single file

Data Export

Command	Description
`dump`	Export all memory (stdout)
`export`	Export to file
`suggestions`	Review and manage suggestions

Setup & Admin

Command	Description
`init`	Initialize stack and generate CLAUDE.md
`stack`	List and delete stacks
`doctor`	Validate boot sequence compliance
`stats`	Usage statistics and health checks

Environment Variables

Variable	Description
`KERNLE_STACK_ID`	Default stack ID
`CLAUDE_API_KEY`	Anthropic API key (preferred over `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY`)
`ANTHROPIC_API_KEY`	Anthropic API key (fallback)
`OPENAI_API_KEY`	OpenAI API key
`KERNLE_MODEL_PROVIDER`	Force a specific model provider (`anthropic`, `openai`, `ollama`)
`KERNLE_MODEL`	Override the default model name for the chosen provider

Common Workflows

Session Start

kernle -s mystack load

During Work

# Quick capture
kernle -s mystack raw "interesting observation"

# Record experience
kernle -s mystack episode "what I did" "outcome" --lesson "what I learned"

# Note a decision
kernle -s mystack note "chose X" --type decision --reason "because Y"

Session End

kernle -s mystack checkpoint save "where I left off" --pending "next task"

Maintenance

# Check health
kernle -s mystack anxiety --detailed --actions

# Bind a model for processing
kernle -s mystack model set claude

# Promote learnings to beliefs
kernle -s mystack promote

# Export backup
kernle -s mystack export backup.md

Getting Started

Core Concepts

Protocol System

Advanced Features

Developer Tools

CLI Reference

Integration

Design

Troubleshooting

CLI Overview

CLI Overview

Global Options

Commands at a Glance

Memory Commands

Utility Commands

MCP Server

Command Quick Reference

Session Lifecycle

Memory Capture

Search & Analysis

Maintenance

Data Export

Setup & Admin

Environment Variables

Common Workflows

Session Start

During Work

Session End

Maintenance

​CLI Overview

​Global Options

​Commands at a Glance

Memory Commands

Utility Commands

MCP Server

​Command Quick Reference

​Session Lifecycle

​Memory Capture

​Search & Analysis

​Maintenance

​Data Export

​Setup & Admin

​Environment Variables

​Common Workflows

​Session Start

​During Work

​Session End

​Maintenance

CLI Overview

Global Options

Commands at a Glance

Command Quick Reference

Session Lifecycle

Memory Capture

Search & Analysis

Maintenance

Data Export

Setup & Admin

Environment Variables

Common Workflows

Session Start

During Work

Session End

Maintenance