The `akter` CLI

Responsibility: document the akter command-line tool: its commands, flags, output, and exit statuses.
Authority: normative CLI interface.
Owner role: API/SDK.
Change policy: a changed command, flag, or exit status updates this page, the runbooks, and the guides that use it. akter is the apps/cli bin, named durable before ADR 0085. It parses its arguments with Effect’s effect/cli module: one root akter command whose subcommands are the groups below, each flag typed and described, so akter --help and akter <command> --help print the same reference as this page. Flags take their value as --flag value or --flag=value, and -- ends flag parsing.

Exit statuses

Status	Meaning
0	The command succeeded, or printed help, its version, or completions.
1	The command ran and reported a refusal: `workflows check` or `payloads check` found a deploy that would be refused, `payloads clear` left a version uncleared, `adopt plan` found a table problem or an `adopt` step was refused, a runner refused an operator request (`Refused (<status>): <body>`), the control plane refused a hosted command or no longer accepts the stored session, a `login` was denied or expired, or a `deploy` failed or outlasted `--timeout`.
2	Usage error: an unknown command or flag, a missing or invalid value, an entry module that cannot be loaded, an unreachable runner or control plane, a database `workflows check`, `payloads`, or `adopt` cannot read, a refused `tenants create`, a hosted command run before `login`, or stored credentials other users can read. An invalid invocation prints the command’s help on stdout and the error on stderr.

Global flags

Every command takes --help (-h), --version (-v), --completions <bash|zsh|fish|sh>, which prints a shell completion script, --log-level <level>, and --wizard, which builds a command interactively.

`akter --help`

DESCRIPTION
  Run actors locally, check a deploy against stored data, adopt existing tables, inspect and repair a running deployment, and deploy to Akter Cloud

USAGE
  akter <subcommand> [flags]

GLOBAL FLAGS
  --help, -h                                                          Show help information
  --version, -v                                                       Show version information
  --wizard                                                            Start wizard mode for a command
  --completions <bash|zsh|fish|sh>                                    Print shell completion script (choices: bash, zsh, fish, sh)
  --log-level <all|trace|debug|info|warn|warning|error|fatal|none>    Sets the minimum log level (choices: all, trace, debug, info, warn, warning, error, fatal, none)

Develop and check:
  dev          Run the entry's app locally with a read-only inspector at /_durable/inspector
  workflows    Check workflow changes against open executions
  payloads     Check and clear stored event and job payload versions
  adopt        Adopt existing tables: plan, observe legacy writers, backfill, enforce, and check status
  fleet        Set up fleet views' change feed and rebuild a view from its source

Operate a running deployment:
  defects          Read recent defects from runners
  inspect          Read one actor's state, newest receipts, and dead letters through the first runner named
  export           Write one actor's state and pending intents and jobs to a new seed file, through the first runner named
  receipts         Read stored command outcomes
  dead-letters     Repair dead-lettered jobs; the runner audits each repair
  subscriptions    List and skip stuck subscription rows

Akter Cloud:
  login     Sign in to Akter Cloud through the browser and store the session for deploy
  logout    Sign out of Akter Cloud and delete the stored session
  whoami    Show who the stored Akter Cloud session signs in as
  deploy    Upload the build context, build and roll it out on Akter Cloud, and follow it until it is live

Control plane:
  tenants    Manage the tenant directory
  billing    Set up the billing catalog

Operator commands

defects list, inspect, export, receipts show, dead-letters, and subscriptions call a runner’s Operators.serve routes. Each reads its bearer token from DURABLE_OPERATOR_TOKEN, or from the environment variable --token-env names. --url repeats; defects list reads every runner named, and the single-actor commands use the first. See ADR 0050 for the grants each command needs and the runbooks for when to use them.

Akter Cloud commands

login, logout, whoami and deploy talk to a control plane (apps/api) through its CloudApi client (ADR 0085). login signs in through Better Auth’s device authorization grant and stores the session in credentials.json in the CLI’s configuration directory: AKTER_CONFIG_DIR when set, else ~/Library/Application Support/akter on macOS, %APPDATA%\akter on Windows and $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/akter (default ~/.config/akter) elsewhere. The file is 0600 in a 0700 directory, written under a random temporary name that must not already exist and renamed into place, and a file the group or others can read is refused until it is fixed or replaced by another login. The other commands send the stored session as a bearer token to the control plane it came from, which must be https, or http only on a loopback host (localhost, *.localhost, 127.0.0.0/8, [::1]); login --api-url refuses any other URL with exit 2, and stored credentials naming one are refused as unreadable. A session acts in every organization its user belongs to, like gh or vercel; the control plane checks membership on every request.

Commands

USAGE
  akter login [flags]

FLAGS
  --api-url string    The control plane to sign in to (default AKTER_API_URL, then http://localhost:3001)

It prints the console’s /device page and a code written XXXX-XXXX (never a link that carries the code), then polls at the interval the control plane names, five seconds slower after each slow_down, until the code is approved, denied or past its own expiry. Approving the code saves the session, which starts in the approver’s active organization, and prints who it signs in as; a denied or expired code exits 1 and saves nothing. If the control plane will not say who the new session belongs to, login signs the session out again and saves nothing.

`akter logout`

Sign out of Akter Cloud and delete the stored session

USAGE
  akter logout

It revokes the session at its control plane, then deletes the stored credentials even when the control plane could not be reached, and says so. A credentials file other users could read is still revoked, since its token may have leaked.

`akter whoami`

Show who the stored Akter Cloud session signs in as

USAGE
  akter whoami

It prints the email address and control plane, then one line per organization: its slug, the role and its id. An expired or revoked session exits 1 and asks for akter login.

`akter deploy`

Upload the build context, build and roll it out on Akter Cloud, and follow it until it is live

USAGE
  akter deploy [flags]

FLAGS
  --project string       The project to deploy to (default AKTER_PROJECT)
  --env choice           The environment to deploy to (default production) (choices: production, staging, dev)
  --context directory    The build context to upload (default the current directory)
  --dockerfile string    The Dockerfile's path inside the context (default Dockerfile)
  --commit string        The commit SHA the deployment is labeled with (default the context's git HEAD)
  --message string       The deployment's message (default the commit's subject)
  --timeout integer      Seconds to follow the rollout before giving up on it (default 900)

It packs the context as docker build would send it (<Dockerfile>.dockerignore, else .dockerignore; the Dockerfile always included): symbolic links are sent as links and never followed, files keep their permission bits, and owners and times are zeroed so the same files give the same digest. --dockerfile is cleaned (./a//Dockerfile is a/Dockerfile), and a path starting at / or containing .. is refused with exit 2 before anything is read. It uploads it to POST /api/projects/:projectId/sources, creates the deployment from the returned digest, and prints each rollout step as it starts and ends. It exits 0 once the deployment is live, and 1 when it fails, naming the failed step and, for a failed build, printing the build’s last 20 lines. Outside a git repository the deployment is labeled with the archive digest’s first 40 hex digits; a dirty working tree marks the message (with uncommitted changes). A control plane without a builder refuses the upload with NotImplemented, and one past 64 MiB is refused with PayloadTooLarge.

`akter billing setup`

Create or reconcile products, meters and prices using the configured provisional pricing. Every provider creation has a stable identity; repeating setup does not duplicate catalog objects.

akter billing setup --mode local --database-url postgres://project:project@localhost:55415/project
akter billing setup --mode stripe

Local mode is the default and uses only the SQL-backed Stripe implementation. Stripe mode reads STRIPE_API_KEY from the environment; it is not a command-line argument. API, edge and setup consume the same optional BILLING_PRICING_CONFIG JSON configuration. Setup does not publish the planning prices or establish live tax/provider support.

`akter dev`

Run the entry’s app locally with a read-only inspector at /_durable/inspector

USAGE
  akter dev [flags]

FLAGS
  --entry file             The entry module; it exports `app`, a Layer of its routes
  --database-url string    Run on this Postgres instead of PGlite
  --data-dir directory     Where PGlite keeps its files (default in memory)
  --port integer           The port to listen on; 0 picks a free one (default 3000)
  --hostname string        The address to listen on (default 127.0.0.1)
  --tenant string          The one tenant the inspector reads (default default)

`akter workflows check`

Compare the entry’s workflows with every open execution, read-only; exit 1 when a deploy would be refused

USAGE
  akter workflows check [flags]

FLAGS
  --entry file             The entry module; it exports an `actors` array of actor definitions
  --database-url string    The application's Postgres URL
  --json                   Print the report as JSON

`akter payloads check`

Check that every stored event and job payload version still decodes, read-only; exit 1 when a deploy would be refused

USAGE
  akter payloads check [flags]

FLAGS
  --entry file             The entry module; it exports an `actors` array of actor definitions
  --database-url string    The application's Postgres URL
  --json                   Print the report as JSON

`akter payloads clear`

Mark superseded event versions past their retention horizon cleared; exit 1 when one stays uncleared

USAGE
  akter payloads clear [flags]

FLAGS
  --entry file             The entry module; it exports an `actors` array of actor definitions
  --database-url string    The application's Postgres URL
  --json                   Print the report as JSON

`akter adopt plan`

Plan adopting the entry’s existing tables, with the SQL each needs; exit 1 while a table has a problem

USAGE
  akter adopt plan [flags]

FLAGS
  --entry file             The entry module; it exports an `actors` array of actor definitions
  --database-url string    The application's Postgres URL
  --json                   Print the report as JSON
  --table string           Plan only this adopted table

`akter adopt observe`

Record which writers still write an adopted table, or report them with —report

USAGE
  akter adopt observe [flags] <table>

ARGUMENTS
  table string    The adopted table to observe

FLAGS
  --entry file             The entry module; it exports an `actors` array of actor definitions
  --database-url string    The application's Postgres URL
  --json                   Print the report as JSON
  --report                 Report the writes recorded so far instead of starting to observe
  --since string           With --report, only writes within this window, such as 7d
  --clear                  With --report, clear the reported writes

`akter adopt backfill`

Fill routing_key on an observed table’s rows, in batches

USAGE
  akter adopt backfill [flags] <table>

ARGUMENTS
  table string    The adopted table to backfill

FLAGS
  --entry file             The entry module; it exports an `actors` array of actor definitions
  --database-url string    The application's Postgres URL
  --json                   Print the report as JSON
  --batch integer          Rows per pass (default 1000)

`akter adopt enforce`

Enforce an adopted table: only the runtime’s writer role and —allow roles may write it

USAGE
  akter adopt enforce [flags] <table>

ARGUMENTS
  table string    The adopted table to enforce

FLAGS
  --entry file             The entry module; it exports an `actors` array of actor definitions
  --database-url string    The application's Postgres URL
  --json                   Print the report as JSON
  --writer-role string     The database role the runtime writes the table as
  --allow string           Another role still allowed to write the table; repeat for several
  --quiet string           How long no legacy write may have been recorded before enforcing, such as 7d

`akter adopt status`

Show each adopted table’s mode and the rows left to backfill

USAGE
  akter adopt status [flags]

FLAGS
  --database-url string    The application's Postgres URL
  --json                   Print the report as JSON

`akter adopt release`

Return an enforced table to observing

USAGE
  akter adopt release [flags] <table>

ARGUMENTS
  table string    The adopted table to release

FLAGS
  --entry file             The entry module; it exports an `actors` array of actor definitions
  --database-url string    The application's Postgres URL
  --json                   Print the report as JSON
  --to choice              The mode to return the table to; only observe (choices: observe)

`akter fleet setup`

Give the entry’s fleet view sources full replica identity, publish them, and create the logical slot; needs wal_level=logical

USAGE
  akter fleet setup [flags]

FLAGS
  --entry file             The entry module; it exports a `fleet` array of Fleet.view values
  --database-url string    The application's Postgres URL

`akter fleet rebuild`

Rebuild a fleet view from its source, clearing its error; exit 1 when no runtime registered it

USAGE
  akter fleet rebuild [flags] <view>

ARGUMENTS
  view string    The fleet view to rebuild

FLAGS
  --database-url string    The application's Postgres URL

`akter defects list`

List recent defects from each runner named; each keeps only its own recent defect spans

USAGE
  akter defects list [flags]

FLAGS
  --url string          A runner's base URL; repeat to name several, a single-actor command uses the first
  --token-env string    The environment variable holding the operator bearer token (default DURABLE_OPERATOR_TOKEN)
  --json                Print the runner's answer as JSON
  --tenant string       The tenant to read, or * for every tenant the operator's grant covers (default *)
  --actor string        Only defects of this actor type
  --since string        Only defects this recent: 1h, 30m, 2d, 45s, or any duration
  --limit integer       At most this many of the newest defects, 1 to 1000

`akter inspect`

Read one actor’s state, newest receipts, and dead letters through the first runner named

USAGE
  akter inspect [flags] <actor>

ARGUMENTS
  actor string    The actor, as <Type>/<id>

FLAGS
  --tenant string       The tenant the request acts in
  --receipts integer    How many of the newest receipts to show, 1 to 1000 (default 20)
  --url string          A runner's base URL; repeat to name several, a single-actor command uses the first
  --token-env string    The environment variable holding the operator bearer token (default DURABLE_OPERATOR_TOKEN)
  --json                Print the runner's answer as JSON

`akter export`

Write one actor’s state and pending intents and jobs to a new seed file, through the first runner named

USAGE
  akter export [flags] <actor>

ARGUMENTS
  actor string    The actor, as <Type>/<id>

FLAGS
  --tenant string       The tenant the request acts in
  --output file         The seed file to create; an existing file is never replaced
  --url string          A runner's base URL; repeat to name several, a single-actor command uses the first
  --token-env string    The environment variable holding the operator bearer token (default DURABLE_OPERATOR_TOKEN)
  --json                Print the runner's answer as JSON

`akter receipts show`

Print one receipt’s stored outcome as JSON; the runner never runs the command to answer

USAGE
  akter receipts show [flags] <actor> <commandId>

ARGUMENTS
  actor string        The actor, as <Type>/<id>
  commandId string    The command id whose stored outcome to show

FLAGS
  --tenant string       The tenant the request acts in
  --url string          A runner's base URL; repeat to name several, a single-actor command uses the first
  --token-env string    The environment variable holding the operator bearer token (default DURABLE_OPERATOR_TOKEN)
  --json                Print the runner's answer as JSON

`akter dead-letters retry`

Run a dead-lettered job again

USAGE
  akter dead-letters retry [flags] <jobId>

ARGUMENTS
  jobId string    The dead-lettered job's id

FLAGS
  --actor string        The actor that enqueued the job, as <Type>/<id>
  --tenant string       The tenant the request acts in
  --reason string       Why, recorded in the operator audit log (up to 500 characters)
  --url string          A runner's base URL; repeat to name several, a single-actor command uses the first
  --token-env string    The environment variable holding the operator bearer token (default DURABLE_OPERATOR_TOKEN)
  --json                Print the runner's answer as JSON
  --provider-checked    Confirm the provider never applied an ambiguous attempt, so running it again is safe

`akter dead-letters discard`

Settle a dead-lettered job without running it

USAGE
  akter dead-letters discard [flags] <jobId>

ARGUMENTS
  jobId string    The dead-lettered job's id

FLAGS
  --actor string        The actor that enqueued the job, as <Type>/<id>
  --tenant string       The tenant the request acts in
  --reason string       Why, recorded in the operator audit log (up to 500 characters)
  --url string          A runner's base URL; repeat to name several, a single-actor command uses the first
  --token-env string    The environment variable holding the operator bearer token (default DURABLE_OPERATOR_TOKEN)
  --json                Print the runner's answer as JSON

`akter subscriptions list`

List subscription rows whose deliveries keep failing, with their lag and last error

USAGE
  akter subscriptions list [flags]

FLAGS
  --lagging                 List the rows whose deliveries keep failing; the only listing, so required
  --tenant string           The tenant the request acts in
  --min-attempts integer    Only rows with at least this many failed attempts
  --limit integer           At most this many rows, 1 to 1000
  --url string              A runner's base URL; repeat to name several, a single-actor command uses the first
  --token-env string        The environment variable holding the operator bearer token (default DURABLE_OPERATOR_TOKEN)
  --json                    Print the runner's answer as JSON

`akter subscriptions skip`

Skip a stuck subscription row’s events through a cursor; the runner audits the skip

USAGE
  akter subscriptions skip [flags]

FLAGS
  --source string          The source actor whose events the row delivers, as <Type>/<id>
  --subscriber string      The subscribing actor, as <Type>/<id>
  --subscription string    The subscription's name on the subscriber
  --through string         Skip every event up to and including this source event cursor
  --tenant string          The tenant the request acts in
  --reason string          Why, recorded in the operator audit log (up to 500 characters)
  --url string             A runner's base URL; repeat to name several, a single-actor command uses the first
  --token-env string       The environment variable holding the operator bearer token (default DURABLE_OPERATOR_TOKEN)
  --json                   Print the runner's answer as JSON

`akter tenants create`

Record a new tenant’s home region in the control plane’s directory, attributed to —operator

USAGE
  akter tenants create [flags] <tenant>

ARGUMENTS
  tenant string    The tenant's name: 1 to 128 of A-Z a-z 0-9 . _ : -

FLAGS
  --deployment string      The deployment the tenant belongs to
  --region string          The tenant's home region: the deployment's primary region
  --database-url string    The control plane's Postgres URL
  --engine choice          The control plane database's engine (default CONTROL_PLANE_DATABASE_ENGINE, then postgres) (choices: postgres, neki)
  --operator string        The subject of the User the directory change's receipt records

Runtime

Clients and CLI

Conventions

The akter CLI

The `akter` CLI

Exit statuses

Global flags

`akter --help`

Operator commands

Akter Cloud commands

Commands

`akter logout`

`akter whoami`

`akter deploy`

`akter billing setup`

`akter dev`

`akter workflows check`

`akter payloads check`

`akter payloads clear`

`akter adopt plan`

`akter adopt observe`

`akter adopt backfill`

`akter adopt enforce`

`akter adopt status`

`akter adopt release`

`akter fleet setup`

`akter fleet rebuild`

`akter defects list`

`akter inspect`

`akter export`

`akter receipts show`

`akter dead-letters retry`

`akter dead-letters discard`

`akter subscriptions list`

`akter subscriptions skip`

`akter tenants create`

​The akter CLI

​Exit statuses

​Global flags

​akter --help

​Operator commands

​Akter Cloud commands

​Commands

​akter login

​akter logout

​akter whoami

​akter deploy

​akter billing setup

​akter dev

​akter workflows check

​akter payloads check

​akter payloads clear

​akter adopt plan

​akter adopt observe

​akter adopt backfill

​akter adopt enforce

​akter adopt status

​akter adopt release

​akter fleet setup

​akter fleet rebuild

​akter defects list

​akter inspect

​akter export

​akter receipts show

​akter dead-letters retry

​akter dead-letters discard

​akter subscriptions list

​akter subscriptions skip

​akter tenants create

The `akter` CLI

Exit statuses

Global flags

`akter --help`

Operator commands

Akter Cloud commands

Commands

`akter login`

`akter logout`

`akter whoami`

`akter deploy`

`akter billing setup`

`akter dev`

`akter workflows check`

`akter payloads check`

`akter payloads clear`

`akter adopt plan`

`akter adopt observe`

`akter adopt backfill`

`akter adopt enforce`

`akter adopt status`

`akter adopt release`

`akter fleet setup`

`akter fleet rebuild`

`akter defects list`

`akter inspect`

`akter export`

`akter receipts show`

`akter dead-letters retry`

`akter dead-letters discard`

`akter subscriptions list`

`akter subscriptions skip`

`akter tenants create`