CircleCI CLI
circleci-cli
The official CircleCI CLI shows runs and failing-test logs, while skills and MCP connect it to Claude Code, Codex and Cursor.
- 460 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
- MIT
Extended access
Why this level
- Uses your CircleCI token and can rerun jobs
- Hands build logs to the agent, which can contain secrets and internal addresses
Install
- Works in
In your terminal, with SkillFoxx CLI
npx skillfoxx add cli/circleci-cliDetects the agents on your machine, shows the access level and pins the version.
Other ways to install
Access and checks
How we reviewExtended accessThe tool runs code or makes network calls and only reads external data.
- Uses your CircleCI token and can rerun jobs
- Hands build logs to the agent, which can contain secrets and internal addresses
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
`circleci` is the CircleCI command-line tool for runs, jobs and configuration straight from the terminal. The README calls it an agent-friendly CLI. For Claude Code and Codex, CircleCI publishes dedicated skills in the `CircleCI-Public/skills` repository: they teach an agent to validate configuration, watch a run, read failing job and test logs, and rerun jobs. `circleci help agents` prints the steps. The CLI can also enable MCP for Claude desktop, Cursor and VS Code with `circleci mcp <client> enable` commands.
Who it is for. Teams whose builds run on CircleCI at circleci.com or CircleCI server and who want to triage failed pipelines without leaving an agent chat.
Good fit when
- A pipeline failed and an agent has to read job logs and find the failing test.
- Before a push the `.circleci/config.yml` configuration should be validated from the terminal.
- A run needs watching and a job needs a rerun after a fix.
- Cursor or VS Code has to be connected to CircleCI through MCP with one command.
Not a fit when
- Builds run in another CI: the CLI works only with CircleCI.
- An agent must not be trusted with a CircleCI token: the CLI works with a token after `circleci auth login`.
- A replacement for the web UI in project setup is expected: the CLI focuses on runs and configuration.
Example request
Show the latest pipeline run, find the failed job, read the test logs and suggest a fix without rerunning.Limitations
After `circleci auth login` the CLI works with your token and the agent acts on your behalf. The skills live in a separate `CircleCI-Public/skills` repository, not in the CLI itself. Installing skills for Cursor goes through `npx skills add` and needs Node 22.20 or newer. Rerunning jobs may spend credits on your CircleCI plan. The full command list and MCP connection options are documented at cli.circleci.com, while the README covers only the main ones.
How to disable. Remove the `circleci` plugin in Claude Code or Codex, run `circleci mcp <client> disable` if MCP was enabled, and uninstall the CLI with the package manager used for installing. Delete the stored token from CLI settings.
FAQ
How do I install the skills for different agents?
For Claude Code: `claude plugin marketplace add CircleCI-Public/skills`, then `claude plugin install circleci@circleci-public-skills`. For Codex: `codex plugin marketplace add CircleCI-Public/skills` and `codex plugin add circleci@circleci-skills`.
What about Cursor?
Run `npx skills add CircleCI-Public/skills -a cursor --skill circleci-cli`. Without Node, copy the skill folder into `~/.cursor/skills/<name>` by hand.
How do I enable MCP?
`circleci mcp claude enable` for Claude desktop followed by `claude mcp add-from-claude-desktop -s user`, `circleci mcp cursor enable` for Cursor and `circleci mcp vscode enable` for VS Code.
Which CLI install methods exist?
Homebrew (`brew install circleci`), winget on Windows, snap, plus apt, yum and dnf packages on Linux.
Does the CLI work with CircleCI server?
Yes, the README states support for both circleci.com and CircleCI server on macOS, Windows and Linux.
Discussion
No questions or reviews yet.
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README in short
The README opens with CLI installation, then gives skills and MCP commands in separate blocks. The `circleci help agents` section repeats the agent steps right in the terminal.