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CLI reference

The prime binary handles authoring, compilation, and distribution. Source: packages/cli/src/index.ts.

Commands

Command	Args	Purpose
`init`	—	Create a new `.prime` file interactively.
`compile`	`<file> [--deep]`	Compile `.prime` → atom dir + index.
`check`	`<file> \| --registry`	Validate without emitting.
`test`	`<file>`	Run evaluation criteria tests.
`graph`	`<file> [--format ascii\\|svg]`	Visualise the relationship graph.
`decompose`	`<SKILL.md>`	AI-assisted skill → atoms decomposition.
`compose`	`--name <name>`	Compose atoms into a new SKILL.md.
`list`	`[--scope @s] [--dir]`	List atoms in a local registry.
`show`	`<@scope/name>`	Print atom details + edges.
`deps`	`<@scope/name>`	Walk dependency tree.
`install`	`[name] [--remote]`	Install Prime(s) from a registry.
`publish`	`[--remote] [--token]`	Publish current Prime.
`search`	`<query> [--remote]`	Search the registry.
`info`	`<name>`	View Prime details.
`ls`	`[--dir]`	List installed packs.

Global flags

--version, -v — print version
--help, -h — print usage
--dir <path> — override default sources/compiled directory
--remote <url> — registry URL (for publish/install/search/info)
--json — machine-readable output (where applicable)

Exit codes

Code	Meaning
0	Success.
1	Generic error (parse, IO, network).
2	Validation error (L1 / L3 surfaced diagnostics).
3	Bad CLI usage (missing required arg, unknown command).

Environment variables

PRIME_DIR — default compiled-output directory the runtime + MCP server use.
DEEPSEEK_API_KEY — enables L2 LLM checking.
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY — alternative L2 backend.
PRIME_REGISTRY — default --remote if not specified.

Help output

$ prime --help

prime v0.1.0 — A protocol layer for AI knowledge.

Usage: prime <command> [options]

Core:
  init                    Create a new .prime file
  compile <file>          Compile .prime → atom dir + index
  check <file>            Validate without emitting
  test <file>             Run evaluation criteria tests
  graph <file>            Visualise relationship graph

Authoring:
  decompose <SKILL.md>    AI-assisted Skill → Primes decomposition
  compose --name <name>   Compose Primes into a new Skill

Registry (local):
  list [--scope @s]       List atoms
  show <@scope/name>      Print atom details + edges
  deps <@scope/name>      Walk dependency tree
  install <@scope/name>   Resolve atom + verify deps locally

Distribution:
  install [name]          Install Prime(s) from prime.dev
  publish                 Publish to prime.dev
  search <query>          Search the registry
  info <name>             View Prime details
  ls                      List installed Primes (.primes/)