---
title: "Commands reference"
description: "Every SF command, keyboard shortcut, and CLI flag."
---

## Session commands

| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `/sf` | Step mode — execute one unit at a time, pause between each |
| `/sf next` | Explicit step mode (same as `/sf`) |
| `/sf auto` | Autonomous mode — research, plan, execute, commit, repeat |
| `/sf quick` | Execute a quick task with SF guarantees without full planning overhead |
| `/sf stop` | Stop auto mode gracefully |
| `/sf pause` | Pause auto mode (preserves state, `/sf auto` to resume) |
| `/sf steer` | Hard-steer plan documents during execution |
| `/sf discuss` | Discuss architecture and decisions (works alongside auto mode) |
| `/sf rethink` | Conversational project reorganization |
| `/sf mcp` | MCP server status and connectivity |
| `/sf status` | Progress dashboard |
| `/sf widget` | Cycle dashboard widget: full / small / min / off |
| `/sf queue` | Queue and reorder future milestones (safe during auto mode) |
| `/sf capture` | Fire-and-forget thought capture (works during auto mode) |
| `/sf triage` | Manually trigger triage of pending captures |
| `/sf dispatch` | Dispatch a specific phase directly |
| `/sf history` | View execution history (supports `--cost`, `--phase`, `--model` filters) |
| `/sf forensics` | Full-access debugger for auto-mode failures |
| `/sf cleanup` | Clean up SF state files and stale worktrees |
| `/sf visualize` | Open workflow visualizer |
| `/sf export --html` | Generate self-contained HTML report |
| `/sf export --html --all` | Generate reports for all milestones |
| `/sf update` | Update SF to the latest version in-session |
| `/sf knowledge` | Add persistent project knowledge |
| `/sf fast` | Toggle service tier for supported models |
| `/sf rate` | Rate last unit's model tier (over/ok/under) |
| `/sf changelog` | Show categorized release notes |
| `/sf logs` | Browse activity logs, debug logs, and metrics |
| `/sf remote` | Control remote auto-mode |
| `/sf help` | Categorized command reference |

## Configuration and diagnostics

| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `/sf prefs` | Model selection, timeouts, budget ceiling |
| `/sf mode` | Switch workflow mode (solo/team) |
| `/sf config` | Re-run the provider setup wizard |
| `/sf keys` | API key manager — list, add, remove, test, rotate |
| `/sf doctor` | Runtime health checks with auto-fix |
| `/sf inspect` | Show SQLite DB diagnostics |
| `/sf init` | Project init wizard |
| `/sf setup` | Global setup status and configuration |
| `/sf skill-health` | Skill lifecycle dashboard |
| `/sf hooks` | Show configured post-unit and pre-dispatch hooks |
| `/sf run-hook` | Manually trigger a specific hook |
| `/sf migrate` | Migrate a v1 `.planning` directory to `.sf` format |

## Milestone management

| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `/sf new-milestone` | Create a new milestone |
| `/sf skip` | Prevent a unit from auto-mode dispatch |
| `/sf undo` | Revert last completed unit |
| `/sf undo-task` | Reset a specific task's completion state |
| `/sf reset-slice` | Reset a slice and all its tasks |
| `/sf park` | Park a milestone — skip without deleting |
| `/sf unpark` | Reactivate a parked milestone |

## Parallel orchestration

| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `/sf parallel start` | Analyze eligibility, confirm, and start workers |
| `/sf parallel status` | Show all workers with state, progress, and cost |
| `/sf parallel stop [MID]` | Stop all workers or a specific one |
| `/sf parallel pause [MID]` | Pause all or a specific worker |
| `/sf parallel resume [MID]` | Resume paused workers |
| `/sf parallel merge [MID]` | Merge completed milestones to main |

## Workflow templates

| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `/sf start` | Start a workflow template (bugfix, spike, feature, hotfix, refactor, etc.) |
| `/sf start resume` | Resume an in-progress workflow |
| `/sf templates` | List available workflow templates |
| `/sf templates info <name>` | Show detailed template info |

## Custom workflows

| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `/sf workflow new` | Create a new workflow definition |
| `/sf workflow run <name>` | Create a run and start auto-mode |
| `/sf workflow list` | List workflow runs |
| `/sf workflow validate <name>` | Validate a workflow definition |
| `/sf workflow pause` | Pause custom workflow auto-mode |
| `/sf workflow resume` | Resume paused custom workflow auto-mode |

## Extensions

| Command | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| `/sf extensions list` | List all extensions and their status |
| `/sf extensions enable <id>` | Enable a disabled extension |
| `/sf extensions disable <id>` | Disable an extension |
| `/sf extensions info <id>` | Show extension details |

## Keyboard shortcuts

| Shortcut | Action |
|----------|--------|
| `Ctrl+Alt+G` | Toggle dashboard overlay |
| `Ctrl+Alt+V` | Toggle voice transcription |
| `Ctrl+Alt+B` | Show background shell processes |
| `Ctrl+V` / `Alt+V` | Paste image from clipboard |
| `Escape` | Pause auto mode |

<Note>
In terminals without Kitty keyboard protocol support (macOS Terminal.app, JetBrains IDEs), slash-command fallbacks are shown instead of `Ctrl+Alt` shortcuts.
</Note>

## CLI flags

| Flag | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `sf` | Start a new interactive session |
| `sf --continue` (`-c`) | Resume the most recent session |
| `sf --model <id>` | Override the default model |
| `sf --print "msg"` (`-p`) | Single-shot prompt mode (no TUI) |
| `sf --mode <text\|json\|rpc\|mcp>` | Output mode for non-interactive use |
| `sf --list-models [search]` | List available models and exit |
| `sf --web [path]` | Start browser-based web interface |
| `sf --worktree` (`-w`) `[name]` | Start session in a git worktree |
| `sf --no-session` | Disable session persistence |
| `sf --extension <path>` | Load an additional extension |
| `sf --version` (`-v`) | Print version and exit |
| `sf sessions` | Interactive session picker |
| `sf config` | Set up global API keys |
| `sf update` | Update SF to the latest version |

## Headless mode

`sf headless` runs commands without a TUI — designed for CI, cron jobs, and scripted automation.

```bash
sf headless              # run auto mode
sf headless next         # run a single unit
sf headless query        # instant JSON snapshot (~50ms, no LLM)
sf headless --timeout 600000 auto   # with timeout
sf headless new-milestone --context brief.md --auto
```

| Flag | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `--timeout N` | Overall timeout in milliseconds (default: 300000) |
| `--max-restarts N` | Auto-restart on crash (default: 3, set 0 to disable) |
| `--json` | Stream events as JSONL to stdout |
| `--model ID` | Override the model |
| `--context <file>` | Context file for `new-milestone` (use `-` for stdin) |
| `--auto` | Chain into auto-mode after milestone creation |

**Exit codes:** `0` = complete, `1` = error/timeout, `2` = blocked.

### `sf headless query`

Returns a JSON snapshot of the project state — no LLM session, instant response.

```bash
sf headless query | jq '.state.phase'      # "executing"
sf headless query | jq '.next'              # next dispatch action
sf headless query | jq '.cost.total'        # total spend
```

## MCP server mode

```bash
sf --mode mcp
```

Runs SF as a Model Context Protocol server over stdin/stdout, exposing all tools to external AI clients (Claude Desktop, VS Code Copilot, etc.).
