---
title: Commands Overview
description: CowAgent command system — Terminal CLI and chat commands
---

CowAgent provides two ways to interact via commands:

- **Terminal CLI** — Run `cow <command>` in your system terminal for service management, skill management, and other operations
- **Chat Commands** — Type `/<command>` or `cow <command>` in any conversation to check status, manage skills, adjust configuration, etc.

## Cow CLI

After deploying with the one-click install script, the `cow` command is automatically available. For manual installations, run:

```bash
pip install -e .
```

Then use the `cow` command from anywhere:

```bash
cow help
```

Example output:

```
🐮 CowAgent CLI

Usage: cow <command>

Service:
  start     Start the CowAgent service
  stop      Stop the CowAgent service
  restart   Restart the CowAgent service
  update    Update code and restart service
  status    Show service status
  logs      View service logs

Skills:
  skill     Manage skills (list / search / install / uninstall ...)

Memory & Knowledge:
  memory    Memory distillation (dream)
  knowledge View knowledge base stats and structure

Data portability:
  backup    Back up config and agent workspace
  restore   Restore a CowAgent backup

Others:
  help      Show this help message
  version   Show version
```

## Chat Commands

In the Web console or any connected channel, type `/` to see command suggestions. Supported commands:

| Command | Description |
| --- | --- |
| `/help` | Show command help |
| `/status` | View service status and configuration |
| `/cancel` | Abort the currently running agent task |
| `/steer <instruction>` | Guide the currently running agent task without queueing a new turn |
| `/config` | View or modify runtime configuration |
| `/skill` | Manage skills (install, uninstall, enable, disable, etc.) |
| `/memory dream [N]` | Manually trigger memory distillation (default 3 days, max 30) |
| `/knowledge` | View knowledge base statistics |
| `/knowledge list` | View knowledge base directory structure |
| `/knowledge on\|off` | Enable or disable knowledge base |
| `/context` | View current session context info |
| `/context clear` | Clear current session context |
| `/logs` | View recent logs |
| `/version` | Show version number |

<Tip>
  Service management commands like `/start`, `/stop`, `/restart` will prompt you to use them in the terminal instead, as they involve process operations.
</Tip>

## Command Availability

| Command | Terminal (`cow`) | Chat (`/`) |
| --- | :---: | :---: |
| help | ✓ | ✓ |
| version | ✓ | ✓ |
| status | ✓ | ✓ |
| logs | ✓ | ✓ |
| cancel | ✗ | ✓ |
| config | ✗ | ✓ |
| context | — | ✓ |
| memory (subcommands) | ✗ | ✓ |
| knowledge (subcommands) | ✓ | ✓ |
| skill (subcommands) | ✓ | ✓ |
| start / stop / restart | ✓ | ✗ |
| update | ✓ | ✗ |
| install-browser | ✓ | ✗ |
| backup / restore | ✓ | ✗ |

<Note>
  `context` only shows a hint in the terminal to use it in chat. `config` is only available in chat.
</Note>
