The AutoShelf CLI is a companion to the macOS app. Control rules, organize files, and automate workflows from the command line. Requires the AutoShelf app.
// install
Skip the browser. Get the AutoShelf CLI running in under 10 seconds.
curl -fsSL https://useautoshelf.com/cli/install.sh | shInstalls to /usr/local/bin/autoshelf. Requires macOS 13+ (Apple Silicon or Intel).
// commands
See all your active rules at a glance. Check which folders are watched and what conditions trigger each rule.
Create new rules from the terminal. Specify the watch folder, conditions, and actions, all from one command.
Manually trigger a rule to organize files right now. No waiting for file events. Run it when you want, on demand.
List all watched folders and see their status. Know exactly what AutoShelf is monitoring at all times.
// usage
# List all rules
autoshelf rules list
# Create a rule to move PDFs from Downloads to Documents
autoshelf rules create \
--watch ~/Downloads \
--condition "extension = pdf" \
--action "move ~/Documents/PDFs"
# Run a rule on demand
autoshelf rules run my-rule-name
# See all watched folders
autoshelf folders
# Get help on any command
autoshelf --help
autoshelf rules create --help
// why cli
Chain commands in shell scripts. Automate onboarding, project setup, or cleanup workflows that run on cron or CI.
No GUI needed. Create a rule, run it, move on. The CLI talks directly to the AutoShelf engine on your machine.
The CLI is a companion to the AutoShelf app, not a standalone tool. Rules created via CLI show up in the app and vice versa. Same engine, different surface.
No server, no API keys, no network required. The CLI communicates with the local AutoShelf daemon over Unix sockets.
// faq
Yes. The CLI is a companion tool, not a standalone app. It communicates with the local AutoShelf daemon, so the macOS app needs to be installed and running for CLI commands to work.
macOS 13 Ventura and later, same as the app. Both Apple Silicon (arm64) and Intel (amd64) are supported.
Yes. Every command returns structured output designed for scripting. Exit codes indicate success or failure, so you can chain commands reliably.
The install script downloads the correct binary for your architecture to /usr/local/bin/autoshelf. You can also download the tarball directly from the links below.
The CLI binary is free to use. Source code may be released in the future. Check the roadmap for updates.