Use the CLI, MCP, and REPL

Aside includes a command-line interface (CLI), Model Context Protocol (MCP) support, and a browser automation REPL.

Install the CLICopy Anchor Link

curl -fsSL https://releases.aside.com/install.sh | bash

The developer settings page can also install, update, or reinstall the CLI directly. Run aside --update to check for updates from the terminal.

Prepare CLI credential storageCopy Anchor Link

When signing the CLI in on another computer, including an assistant's hosted environment, set ASIDE_CLI_AUTH_PATH before running aside login. Choose an absolute file path, not a directory, in private storage that the current process is allowed to write and that remains available for later commands. Verify the parent directory exists and is writable; do not assume $HOME is writable.

Replace the example path and email with real values:

export ASIDE_CLI_AUTH_PATH="/your/allowed/private/path/aside-auth.json"
aside login --email "you@example.com"

In PowerShell, set $env:ASIDE_CLI_AUTH_PATH = 'C:\your\allowed\private\path\aside-auth.json' before running the same login command.

Keep the login process running while approving its code in Aside Settings > Account > Devices. Wait for Signed in as ... before continuing. Approval alone does not confirm that the CLI saved its credentials.

Pass the same ASIDE_CLI_AUTH_PATH to every later Aside command, including commands in new shells or agent tool calls. A shell export does not configure separate future shells automatically. Never print, upload, commit, or share the credential file; do not store it in a public, shared, or temporary directory. If the environment does not permit credential storage, stop and report the limitation rather than bypassing its restrictions.

Without this variable, the CLI uses ~/.aside/cli/auth.json. ASIDE_HOME does not change this CLI credential path, and ASIDE_CLI_AUTH_PATH does not relocate the CLI installation or other configuration files. If login fails after approval while creating a directory (ENOENT or EACCES), resolve the storage issue first, then start a fresh login and approve its new code.

Run a browser taskCopy Anchor Link

Use aside to start a browser agent session from the terminal:

aside "Open localhost:3000 and run a smoke test"

Use session resume to continue an existing session:

aside session resume <session-id> "Continue"

CLI sessions are removed about 15 minutes after they finish and do not appear in the browser chat list. To keep them, run aside settings save-sessions true.

Manage accountsCopy Anchor Link

If you are signed in to more than one Aside account, each CLI command runs under one selected account. Use the account commands to inspect, switch, or target accounts from the terminal.

List the accounts available on this device. The current account is marked with *:

aside account list

Show the current account, or check a specific one by ID:

aside account status
aside account status u1

Set the default account for future commands:

aside account use u1

Target a single run at a specific account with the --account flag. It works on aside and on aside exec:

aside --account u1 "Summarize the current page"
aside exec --account u1 -m openai-codex/gpt-5.5 "Plan this workflow"

If the selected account is signed out, the CLI prints a warning explaining how to recover. Your own provider keys (OpenAI, Anthropic) keep working, but built-in Aside models require an active sign-in. Sign in again from Aside Settings > Account, or switch to a signed-in account with aside account use <id> or --account <id>.

Use MCPCopy Anchor Link

Use aside mcp to connect Aside to another agent or coding tool as a Model Context Protocol server.

aside mcp

For clients that support mcp.json, add:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "aside": {
      "command": "aside",
      "args": ["mcp"]
    }
  }
}

If Developer settings found a concrete CLI path, use that path for command.

Aside can install browser automation setup for supported coding tools. Developer settings also describe MCP setup for tools that support mcp.json.

Use the REPLCopy Anchor Link

Use aside repl for browser automation REPL tasks:

aside repl "const p = await openTab('https://example.com')"

Use the REPL when you need direct page inspection, screenshots, downloads, or deterministic browser steps.

RelatedCopy Anchor Link

• Run tasks