CLI reference

The anchor command exposes the user-facing local application surface.

Core document commands

Command	Purpose
anchor serve	Serve the web UI and HTTP/SSE API.
anchor ingest PDF_PATH	Run a PDF through the bronze, silver and optional gold pipeline.
anchor list	List ingested documents.
anchor index SLUG	Print a document silver index.
anchor regions SLUG	Print gold-extracted regions.
anchor embed SLUG	Embed gold regions for semantic search.
anchor search QUERY	Search embedded gold regions.
anchor synopsis SLUG --entity ENTITY	Compose an entity-scoped synopsis.

Most document commands accept --data-dir DIR; use the same data directory as the running server. Set ANCHOR_DATA_DIR to change the default for CLI and MCP commands. An explicit --data-dir takes priority.

Canvas commands

anchor canvas --help

Command	Purpose
canvas list	List workspaces and reference relationships.
canvas create SLUG	Create a workspace.
canvas state SLUG	Print current nodes, edges and metadata.
canvas placeholders SLUG	List nodes waiting for an agent-populated value.
canvas add-node, update-node, remove-node	Mutate canvas nodes.
canvas add-edge, update-edge, remove-edge	Mutate edges.
canvas organize, align, distribute	Apply layout helpers.
canvas snapshot SLUG	Render a workspace using a running server and Chromium.

Extension commands

Command group	Purpose
anchor sysml	Render or export SysML text.
anchor fmu	Inspect and simulate FMUs when the optional runtime is installed.
anchor cad	Inspect supported CAD models and alter parameters.
anchor extensions	List and inspect OIP producer manifests.
anchor install	Register ANCHOR with Cursor or inspect the available compatibility helpers.

Run anchor <group> --help for option-level detail.

For current Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Cursor, and generic stdio setup instructions, see Agent configuration.