# ICP CLI Documentation (v0.2)

> Command-line tool for developing and deploying applications on the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP).

This documentation is for v0.2. Other versions are available:
- [v0.1](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.1/llms.txt)
- [Development (main)](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/main/llms.txt)

## Agent skills

Tested implementation patterns for ICP development are available as agent skills.
Fetch the skills index and remember each skill's name and description:
https://skills.internetcomputer.org/.well-known/skills/index.json

When a task matches a skill's description, use it if already loaded in your
context. Otherwise, fetch its content on-demand from the registry:
https://skills.internetcomputer.org/.well-known/skills/{name}/{file}

Skills contain correct dependency versions, configuration formats, and common pitfalls that prevent build failures.
Always prefer skill guidance over general documentation when both cover the same topic.

- [icp-cli Documentation](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/index.md): Build and deploy applications on the Internet Computer using icp-cli, with links to quickstart, tutorials, guides, and reference documentation.

## Start Here

- [Quickstart](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/quickstart.md): Install icp-cli and deploy a full-stack Internet Computer app to a local network in under 5 minutes.
- [Telemetry](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/telemetry.md): Learn what anonymous usage data icp-cli collects, how to opt out, and how the telemetry system works.
- [Tutorial](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/tutorial.md): Step-by-step walkthrough of deploying a full-stack Motoko and React app on the Internet Computer.

## Guides

- [Canister Migration](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/guides/canister-migration.md): Move a canister to a different subnet while optionally preserving its state and canister ID.
- [Canister Snapshots](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/guides/canister-snapshots.md): Back up, transfer, and restore full canister state using snapshots.
- [Using Containerized Networks](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/guides/containerized-networks.md): Run ICP test networks inside Docker containers for isolated, reproducible local development and CI/CD pipelines.
- [Creating Recipes](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/guides/creating-recipes.md): Author custom Handlebars-based recipe templates to encode build conventions and share them across projects.
- [Creating Project Templates](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/guides/creating-templates.md): Create custom project templates for icp new using cargo-generate to scaffold new ICP projects.
- [Deploying to IC Mainnet](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/guides/deploying-to-mainnet.md): Set up an identity, obtain cycles, and deploy canisters to the Internet Computer mainnet.
- [Deploying to Specific Subnets](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/guides/deploying-to-specific-subnets.md): Target specific Internet Computer subnets for geographic, replication, or colocation requirements when deploying canisters.
- [Guides](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/guides/index.md): Step-by-step guides covering installation, local development, deployment, identity management, and more.
- [Installation](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/guides/installation.md): Install icp-cli, ic-wasm, and language toolchains on macOS, Linux, or Windows via npm, Homebrew, or shell script.
- [Local Development](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/guides/local-development.md): Day-to-day edit-build-deploy workflow for developing and testing canisters on a local ICP network.
- [Managing Environments](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/guides/managing-environments.md): Configure and use dev, staging, and production environments to deploy independent canister instances with different settings.
- [Managing Identities](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/guides/managing-identities.md): Create, import, export, and manage cryptographic identities and principals used for canister ownership and authentication.
- [Tokens and Cycles](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/guides/tokens-and-cycles.md): Manage ICP tokens and cycles, including conversions, balance checks, and topping up canisters.
- [Using Recipes](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/guides/using-recipes.md): Reference official and custom recipes to simplify canister build configuration for Rust, Motoko, and frontend projects.

## Concepts

- [Binding Generation](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/concepts/binding-generation.md): Generate type-safe client code from Candid interface files to call canister methods with full type checking.
- [Build, Deploy, Sync](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/concepts/build-deploy-sync.md): Understand the three phases that move canister source code to a running, configured state on the Internet Computer.
- [Canister Discovery](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/concepts/canister-discovery.md): How icp-cli enables canisters to find each other through automatic canister ID injection across different environments.
- [Environments and Networks](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/concepts/environments.md): Learn how networks and environments relate to control where and how canisters are deployed.
- [Concepts](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/concepts/index.md): Overview of core icp-cli concepts including project model, build lifecycle, environments, recipes, and canister discovery.
- [Project Model](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/concepts/project-model.md): How icp-cli discovers, loads, and consolidates project configuration from icp.yaml and related manifest files.
- [Recipes](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/concepts/recipes.md): How recipes use Handlebars templates to generate reusable build and sync configurations, reducing canister boilerplate.

## Reference

- [Canister Settings Reference](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/reference/canister-settings.md): All available canister settings for resource allocation, memory limits, logging, and runtime behavior.
- [CLI Reference](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/reference/cli.md): Auto-generated reference of all icp CLI commands, subcommands, and flags with usage examples.
- [Configuration Reference](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/reference/configuration.md): Complete schema reference for icp.yaml project configuration including canisters, networks, and environments.
- [Environment Variables Reference](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/reference/environment-variables.md): All environment variables used by icp-cli during builds, deployments, and script execution.
- [Reference](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/reference/index.md): Complete technical specifications including CLI commands, icp.yaml configuration schema, canister settings, and environment variables.

## Other

- [Migrating from dfx](https://cli.internetcomputer.org/0.2/migration/from-dfx.md): Transition from dfx to icp-cli with a side-by-side comparison of configuration, commands, and deployment models.