Docs / AEP / CLI

AEP CLI Quickstart

Install the CLI, authenticate with an API key, and run your first command.

1. Install

The CLI is a separate, optional download — not required for normal (human, UI-based) use of AEP. Grab the build for your OS from the CLI download page:

2. Authenticate

The CLI authenticates with an API key, not your browser session or account password — agents and automation can't do an interactive login. Generate one from Account Settings → API Keys → New Key, give it a name and an expiry, and copy it once (it won't be shown again).

Set it in your shell environment or CI secrets vault:

export AEP_API_KEY=<your-key>

3. Connect and run a command

Point the CLI at whichever AEP surface you're licensed for. Today that's the Desktop App; Self-Managed and SaaS connectors light up once each ships (see the CLI product page's Connect by Surface section for the full breakdown).

# Point the CLI at the Desktop App export AEP_API_KEY=<your-key> aep connect --surface=desktop # Verify connection aep status

From here, the CLI can trigger skill runs, poll for completion, and retrieve output — the same actions available in AEP, callable from a script or CI step instead of a click.

Next steps