animaworks-guide
Full animaworks CLI reference: server, Anima lifecycle, models, tasks, config, RAG, assets, external tools. Use when: looking up subcommands, starting or stopping the server, or managing Anima, models, tasks, logs, config, indexes.
Best use case
animaworks-guide is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Full animaworks CLI reference: server, Anima lifecycle, models, tasks, config, RAG, assets, external tools. Use when: looking up subcommands, starting or stopping the server, or managing Anima, models, tasks, logs, config, indexes.
Teams using animaworks-guide should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/animaworks-guide/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How animaworks-guide Compares
| Feature / Agent | animaworks-guide | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Full animaworks CLI reference: server, Anima lifecycle, models, tasks, config, RAG, assets, external tools. Use when: looking up subcommands, starting or stopping the server, or managing Anima, models, tasks, logs, config, indexes.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# AnimaWorks CLI Complete Reference
All AnimaWorks operations are performed via the `animaworks` command.
This skill is a complete reference for all subcommands, arguments, and examples.
For operational concepts and rules, see `common_knowledge/`:
- Messaging rules → `communication/messaging-guide.md`
- Task management → `operations/task-management.md`
- Tool system → `operations/tool-usage-overview.md`
- Organization structure → `reference/organization/structure.md`
- Model selection and config → `reference/operations/model-guide.md`
---
## Server Operations (Generally Avoid)
```bash
animaworks start # Start server (default: 0.0.0.0:18500)
animaworks start --port 8080 # Specify port
animaworks start --foreground # Foreground mode (for debugging)
animaworks stop # Stop server
animaworks restart # Restart server
animaworks status # Check system state (processes, Anima list)
animaworks reset # Delete runtime directory + reinitialize
animaworks reset --restart # Reset then auto-start server
```
---
## Anima Management (anima subcommand)
### List, Status, and Info
```bash
animaworks anima list # List all Anima (name, enabled, model, supervisor)
animaworks anima list --local # Scan filesystem directly (no API)
animaworks anima status # All Anima process states (State, Model, PID, Uptime)
animaworks anima status {name} # Specific Anima process state
animaworks anima info {name} # Detailed config (model, role, credential, voice, etc.)
animaworks anima info {name} --json # JSON output
```
`anima info` output includes:
- Anima name, Enabled, Role, Model, Execution Mode
- Credential, Fallback Model, Max Turns, Max Chains
- Context Threshold, Max Tokens, LLM Timeout
- Thinking settings, Supervisor, Mode S Auth
- Voice settings (tts_provider, voice_id, speed, pitch)
### Create
```bash
# Create from character sheet (MD) — recommended
animaworks anima create --from-md {file} [--role {role}] [--name {name}]
# Create from template
animaworks anima create --template {template_name} [--name {name}]
# Create blank
animaworks anima create --name {name}
```
### Enable, Disable, Delete
```bash
animaworks anima enable {name} # Enable (return from pause)
animaworks anima disable {name} # Disable (pause)
animaworks anima delete {name} # Delete (after ZIP archive)
animaworks anima delete {name} --no-archive # Delete without archive
animaworks anima delete {name} --force # Delete without confirmation
animaworks anima restart {name} # Restart process
animaworks anima audit {name} # Comprehensive audit of subordinate's recent activity (default: 1 day)
animaworks anima audit {name} --days 7 # Audit last 7 days
```
### Change Model
```bash
animaworks anima set-model {name} {model_name}
animaworks anima set-model {name} {model_name} --credential {credential_name}
animaworks anima set-model --all {model_name} # Change all Anima at once
```
Requires `anima restart {name}` when server is running.
### Change Role
```bash
# Change role (reapply template + auto restart)
animaworks anima set-role {name} {role}
# Change status.json role field only (do not touch template)
animaworks anima set-role {name} {role} --status-only
# Update files only, no restart
animaworks anima set-role {name} {role} --no-restart
```
Files updated by set-role:
- `status.json` — role, model, max_turns updated from role template defaults
- `specialty_prompt.md` — replaced with role-specific guidelines
- `permissions.json` — replaced with role-specific tool and command permissions
Valid roles: `engineer`, `researcher`, `manager`, `writer`, `ops`, `general`
### Hot Reload
```bash
animaworks anima reload {name} # Reload model config from status.json (no process restart)
animaworks anima reload --all # Reload all Anima
```
---
## Model Information (models subcommand)
```bash
animaworks models list # List known models (name, mode, context window, note)
animaworks models list --mode S # Filter by execution mode (S/C/D/G/A/B)
animaworks models list --json # JSON output
animaworks models info {model_name} # Resolved info (execution mode, context window, threshold, source)
animaworks models show # Show current models.json contents
animaworks models show --json # Raw JSON output
```
Details → `reference/operations/model-guide.md`
---
## Chat and Messaging
```bash
# Chat with an Anima (human → Anima)
animaworks chat {name} "message"
animaworks chat {name} "message" --from {sender_name}
animaworks chat {name} "message" --local # Direct execution (no API)
# Send message between Animas
animaworks send {sender} {recipient} "message"
animaworks send {sender} {recipient} "message" --intent report
animaworks send {sender} {recipient} "message" --intent question
animaworks send {sender} {recipient} "message" --reply-to {message_id}
animaworks send {sender} {recipient} "message" --thread-id {thread_id}
# Manual heartbeat trigger
animaworks heartbeat {name}
animaworks heartbeat {name} --local # Direct execution (no API)
```
---
## Board (Shared Channels)
```bash
animaworks board read {channel} # Read channel messages
animaworks board read {channel} --limit 50 # Specify max messages
animaworks board read {channel} --human-only # Human messages only
animaworks board post {sender} {channel} "text" # Post to channel
animaworks board dm-history {self} {peer} # Get DM history
animaworks board dm-history {self} {peer} --limit 50 # Specify max messages
```
---
## Config Management (config subcommand)
```bash
animaworks config list # List all config values
animaworks config list --section system # Filter by section
animaworks config list --show-secrets # Show API key values
animaworks config get {key} # Get specific value (dot notation: system.log_level)
animaworks config get {key} --show-secrets
animaworks config set {key} {value} # Set a config value
animaworks config export-sections # Export to template files
animaworks config export-sections --dry-run
```
---
## Log Viewing (logs)
```bash
animaworks logs {name} # View specific Anima logs
animaworks logs --all # View server + all Anima logs
animaworks logs {name} --lines 100 # Specify line count (default: 50)
animaworks logs {name} --date 20260301 # View logs for specific date
```
---
## Cost Tracking (cost)
```bash
animaworks cost # Token usage and cost for all Anima
animaworks cost {name} # Specific Anima cost
animaworks cost --today # Today only
animaworks cost --days 7 # Last 7 days (default: 30)
animaworks cost --json # JSON output
```
---
## Task Management (task subcommand)
```bash
animaworks task list # List tasks
animaworks task list --status pending # Filter by status (pending/in_progress/done/cancelled/blocked)
animaworks task add --assignee {name} --instruction "task description"
animaworks task add --assignee {name} --instruction "desc" --source human --deadline 2026-03-10T18:00:00
animaworks task update --task-id {id} --status done
animaworks task update --task-id {id} --status done --summary "completion summary"
```
---
## RAG Index Management
```bash
animaworks index # Incremental index update for all Anima
animaworks index --anima {name} # Specific Anima only
animaworks index --full # Full reindex of all data
animaworks index --dry-run # Preview changes only (no execution)
```
---
## Asset Operations
### Optimize Assets
```bash
animaworks optimize-assets # Optimize 3D assets for all Anima
animaworks optimize-assets --anima {name} # Specific Anima only
animaworks optimize-assets --dry-run # Preview only
animaworks optimize-assets --simplify # Mesh simplification
animaworks optimize-assets --texture-compress # Texture compression
animaworks optimize-assets --texture-resize 512 # Texture resize
```
### Remake Assets
```bash
animaworks remake-assets {name} --style-from {reference} # Regenerate assets with style transfer
animaworks remake-assets {name} --style-from {ref} --steps portrait,fullbody
animaworks remake-assets {name} --style-from {ref} --dry-run
animaworks remake-assets {name} --style-from {ref} --no-backup
```
---
## External Tool Execution (animaworks-tool)
Commands for Anima to use external services (Slack, Gmail, GitHub, etc.).
```bash
# Show help
animaworks-tool {tool_name} --help
# Execute
animaworks-tool {tool_name} {subcommand} [args...]
# Background execution (for long-running tools)
animaworks-tool submit {tool_name} {subcommand} [args...]
```
### Examples
```bash
animaworks-tool web_search query "AnimaWorks framework"
animaworks-tool slack send --channel "#general" --text "Good morning"
animaworks-tool github issues --repo owner/repo
animaworks-tool submit image_gen pipeline "1girl, ..." --anima-dir $ANIMAWORKS_ANIMA_DIR
```
For submit details → `common_knowledge/operations/background-tasks.md`
### Background Task Monitoring (Anima Internal Tools)
To check progress of tasks submitted via `submit`, use these internal tools:
- `list_background_tasks` — List running and completed tasks
- `check_background_task(task_id)` — Get status and result for a specific task
These are not CLI commands but MCP tools used by Anima during conversation.
---
## Initialization and Migration
```bash
animaworks init # Initialize runtime directory (~/.animaworks/)
animaworks init --force # Re-initialize, overwriting existing config
animaworks init --skip-anima # Skip Anima creation
animaworks migrate-cron # Convert cron.md from Japanese format to standard cron
```
---
## Global Options
```bash
animaworks --gateway-url http://host:port {command} # Specify server URL
animaworks --data-dir /path/to/data {command} # Specify runtime directory
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