Files
Miranda Limonczenko a5688423d0 docs(cli): restructure and tighten the CLI getting started guide (#50736)
Closes DOCS-1320

Was the bottom of a two-PR stack. The commit from #50680 moved here, so
that PR is closed and this one carries both changes.

## Problem

The CLI getting started guide had accumulated structural and prose
problems, none of which change what the page claims:

- **Nine flat H2 headings**, with Beta channel and Updating the Supabase
CLI sitting between installing and running. A first-time reader crossed
about 150 lines of beta and upgrade tabs before reaching `supabase
init`.
- **The introduction opened with a two-step procedure under no
heading**, listing `init` and `start` before the CLI is installed. Its
first sentence named the tool and where it runs rather than what the
reader gets.
- **Running a local Supabase project ran concept, fact, procedure, and
process together** as one stretch of prose, so the two commands the
reader has to run sat in paragraphs between the Docker background and
the first-run note.
- **Task headings mixed gerunds with imperatives:** Installing, Running,
Stopping, and Updating next to Access and Manage.
- **No navigation.** A long guide that mixes information types opened
straight into commands, with no outline of its major groups. The sidebar
contents is not a substitute: it isn't part of the document, and the
generated markdown an agent reads has no sidebar at all.
- **Four more sequences were prose.** Installing via npm, installing a
Linux package, the pre-upgrade backup, and opting out of telemetry each
had to be followed in order with nothing marking the order.
- **Smaller things:** the Studio screenshot's alt text named the topic
its heading already states, two links used "note above" and "here" as
their text, and an admonition restated where `sb_publishable_...` comes
from.

## Solution

Twelve commits, one change type each, plus a master merge and its fixup.

- **Style.** The install-method callout drops from four blocks to two
paragraphs and uses the documented `title` prop. Active voice on the
Postgres, analytics, and telemetry instructions. Descriptive link text.
Alt text that describes the Studio screenshot rather than naming it. Cut
the admonition restating `sb_publishable_...`.
- **Structure.** Beta channel and Updating the Supabase CLI move out of
the getting started path.
- **Grouping.** Local setup goes under Set up a local project, updating
and beta builds under Change your CLI version. The intro's `init` and
`start` list gets a Quickstart heading.
- **Value statement.** The opening sentence now says what the reader
gets.
- **Procedure format.** Running a local Supabase project leads with the
container runtime prerequisite, then four numbered actions, then the
first-run download as an outcome. Starting the container runtime is its
own step, since the old prose only assumed it with "with a container
runtime running".
- **Imperative headings.** Install, Run, Access, Stop, Update, Use the
beta channel.
- **Four more procedures.** npm install, Linux packages, the pre-upgrade
backup, and telemetry opt-out. The three pre-upgrade commands were one
unexplained block inside an admonition, so each step now says what its
command does. Re-enabling telemetry moves to a sentence, since it's the
reverse action rather than a step.
- **Intro navigation** listing the major groups, each line saying what
the reader gets from it.
- **Connect to a hosted project** (from #50680). A new section between
Stop local services and Change your CLI version, saying the stack runs
only on the reader's machine and nothing reaches a hosted project until
they sign in and link one, then pointing at the page that owns the
procedure. No commands. The `init` step gains a sentence saying it
creates local files only, and the value statement and intro navigation
cover the added goal.
- **Style guide and word list fixes** from an audit of the page against
`CONTRIBUTING.md` and `WORD_LIST.md`. `directory` over `folder` in
command-line contexts, `might` over `may`, present tense over `will`, a
noun after `this`, no `above` as a pointer, concrete verbs over
`manage`, no time-relative `latest`, no parentheses for supplementary
information, and an impact-first `caution` on the pre-upgrade callout.
The container runtime list becomes a table of tool and platforms, and
the group heading becomes Change your CLI version.


## Preview links

| Site | Live | Preview | Search for |
| ---- | ---- | ------- | ---------- |
| Docs |
[/docs/guides/local-development/cli/getting-started](https://supabase.com/docs/guides/local-development/cli/getting-started)
|
[/docs/guides/local-development/cli/getting-started](https://docs-git-docs-cli-getting-started-edits-supabase.vercel.app/docs/guides/local-development/cli/getting-started)
| Change your CLI version, Connect to a hosted project |

## Manual testing

1. Open the docs preview link above.
2. Read the introduction. It opens with a value statement, then links
the four major groups. Under Quickstart, the install-method callout
explains how the install method changes the command you run.
3. Read the On this page list. It nests: Quickstart, Set up a local
project with four sections under it, Change your CLI version with two
sections under it, Telemetry, Learn more.
4. Check Run a local Supabase project renders four numbered steps, with
code blocks inside steps 3 and 4. Check the npm tab of Install the
Supabase CLI renders three, and How to opt out renders two.
5. Load the page at `#installing-the-supabase-cli`, `#beta-channel`, and
`#updating-the-supabase-cli`. All three land on their sections despite
the renamed headings.
6. Load the legacy path
`/docs/guides/cli/getting-started#updating-the-supabase-cli`. It
redirects to the current path and keeps the fragment.
7. Check the introduction's group list includes Connect to a hosted
project, and that the section appears in the On this page list between
Stop local services and Change your CLI version.
8. Check that section is two sentences and a pointer, with no commands.
9. In Run a local Supabase project, select the "Connect to a hosted
project" link in step 3. The page scrolls to that section.
10. Follow both outbound links from the new section and confirm they
resolve, including the `#configure-github-actions` fragment.


<!-- This is an auto-generated comment: release notes by coderabbit.ai
-->
## Summary by CodeRabbit

* **Documentation**
* Reorganized the local development guide with a clearer quickstart,
setup steps, service access instructions, and CLI version guidance.
* Expanded installation examples to include bun and clarified
package-runner commands.
* Clarified upgrade, backup, container cleanup, and telemetry
instructions.
  * Added a reference to the Microsoft Writing Style Guide.
<!-- end of auto-generated comment: release notes by coderabbit.ai -->
2026-10-05 11:22:13 -07:00

471 lines
16 KiB
Plaintext

---
title: 'Supabase CLI'
description: 'The Supabase CLI provides tools to develop your project locally, deploy to the Supabase Platform, and set up CI/CD workflows.'
subtitle: 'Develop locally, deploy to the Supabase Platform, and set up CI/CD workflows'
---
The Supabase CLI runs the entire Supabase stack on your own machine or in a CI environment, so you can build and test locally, then connect your project to a hosted one when you're ready to deploy.
- [Quickstart](#quickstart) is the two-command version, if you already have the CLI and a container runtime.
- [Set up a local project](#set-up-a-local-project) installs the CLI and brings the stack up on your machine. Start here if you haven't run it before.
- [Connect to a hosted project](#connect-to-a-hosted-project) links your local directory to a project on the Supabase Platform.
- [Change your CLI version](#change-your-cli-version) updates the CLI and switches between stable and pre-release builds.
- [Telemetry](#telemetry) covers what the CLI collects and how to opt out.
## Quickstart
With two commands, you can set up and start a new local project:
1. Run `supabase init` to create a new local project.
2. Run `supabase start` to launch the Supabase services.
<Admonition type="note" title="Global command or project dependency">
How you run a CLI command depends on how you install it. Homebrew, Scoop, and the Linux packages give you a global `supabase` command. Installing with npm, pnpm, yarn, or bun adds the CLI to one project instead, so you run it through your package runner as `npx supabase <command>`. This page writes every example as `supabase <command>`.
The CLI is project-scoped either way. Most commands, including `start`, expect a directory that `supabase init` has already set up with a `supabase` directory and a `config.toml`. Run `init` first, then the rest from the same directory.
</Admonition>
## Set up a local project
Install the CLI, bring the Supabase stack up on your machine, and stop it when you're done.
### Install the Supabase CLI [#installing-the-supabase-cli]
<Tabs
scrollable
size="small"
type="underlined"
defaultActiveId="npm"
queryGroup="platform"
>
<TabPanel id="npm" label="npm">
1. Install the CLI as a project dev dependency. This command adds the CLI to a single project rather than installing a global command:
```sh
npm install supabase --save-dev
# or: pnpm add -D supabase / yarn add -D supabase / bun add -D supabase
```
2. Pin the version in `package.json` so your whole team uses the same CLI version.
3. Run the CLI through your package runner:
```sh
npx supabase --help
# or: pnpm supabase / yarn supabase / bunx supabase
```
<Admonition type="caution">
The Supabase CLI requires **Node.js 20 or later** when run via `npx` or `npm`. Older Node.js versions, such as 16, are not supported and fail to start the CLI.
</Admonition>
</TabPanel>
<TabPanel id="macos" label="macOS">
Install the CLI with [Homebrew](https://brew.sh):
```sh
brew install supabase/tap/supabase
```
</TabPanel>
<TabPanel id="windows" label="Windows">
Install the CLI with [Scoop](https://scoop.sh):
```powershell
scoop bucket add supabase https://github.com/supabase/scoop-bucket.git
scoop install supabase
```
</TabPanel>
<TabPanel id="linux" label="Linux">
The CLI is available via [Homebrew](https://brew.sh) and Linux packages.
#### Homebrew
```sh
brew install supabase/tap/supabase
```
#### Linux packages
Linux packages are provided in [Releases](https://github.com/supabase/cli/releases).
1. Download the `.apk`, `.deb`, or `.rpm` file for your package manager.
2. Install the package:
- `sudo apk add --allow-untrusted <...>.apk`
- `sudo dpkg -i <...>.deb`
- `sudo rpm -i <...>.rpm`
</TabPanel>
</Tabs>
### Run a local Supabase project [#running-a-local-supabase-project]
The most common thing you'll do with the CLI is run the full Supabase stack (Postgres, Auth, Storage, and the rest) on your own machine. That stack runs in Docker containers, so you need a container runtime installed first. On Windows and Linux, follow the official guide to install and configure [Docker Desktop](https://docs.docker.com/desktop).
On macOS, we recommend [OrbStack](https://orbstack.dev/) instead of Docker Desktop. It's a drop-in replacement that handles extended file attributes (xattrs) on mounted volumes and container networking more reliably than Docker Desktop. It also starts faster and uses less CPU, memory, and disk, which makes a noticeable difference when running the full Supabase stack.
Alternatively, you can use a different container tool that offers Docker-compatible APIs:
| Tool | Platforms |
| --------------------------------------------- | --------------------- |
| [Rancher Desktop](https://rancherdesktop.io/) | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| [Podman](https://podman.io/) | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| [colima](https://github.com/abiosoft/colima) | macOS |
To bring the stack up:
1. Start your container runtime.
2. Open a terminal in the directory where you want to create your project.
3. Initialize the project:
```bash
supabase init
```
The command creates a `supabase` directory, which is safe to commit to version control. `init` creates local files only: it doesn't sign you in or connect the directory to a project on the Supabase Platform. To connect one, see [Connect to a hosted project](#connect-to-a-hosted-project).
4. Start the Supabase services from the same directory:
```bash
supabase start
```
<Admonition type="note">
If you installed the CLI as a project dependency with npm, pnpm, yarn, or bun, run `npx supabase init` and `npx supabase start` instead. See [Install the Supabase CLI](#installing-the-supabase-cli).
</Admonition>
The first run takes time while the CLI downloads the Docker images. It pulls the entire Supabase stack, plus a few extra images useful for local development, such as a local SMTP server and a database diff tool.
### Access your project's services
After all the Supabase services are running, the CLI prints your local credentials. The output looks like this, with the URLs and keys you use in your local project:
```
Started supabase local development setup.
╭──────────────────────────────────────╮
│ 🔧 Development Tools │
├─────────┬────────────────────────────┤
│ Studio │ http://127.0.0.1:54323 │
│ Mailpit │ http://127.0.0.1:54324 │
│ MCP │ http://127.0.0.1:54321/mcp │
╰─────────┴────────────────────────────╯
╭──────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
│ 🌐 APIs │
├────────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Project URL │ http://127.0.0.1:54321 │
│ REST │ http://127.0.0.1:54321/rest/v1 │
│ GraphQL │ http://127.0.0.1:54321/graphql/v1 │
│ Edge Functions │ http://127.0.0.1:54321/functions/v1 │
╰────────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────╯
╭───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
│ ⛁ Database │
├─────┬─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ URL │ postgresql://postgres:postgres@127.0.0.1:54322/postgres │
╰─────┴─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
╭──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
│ 🔑 Authentication Keys │
├─────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Publishable │ sb_publishable_... │
│ Secret │ sb_secret_... │
╰─────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
```
<Tabs
scrollable
size="small"
type="underlined"
defaultActiveId="studio"
queryGroup="access-method"
>
<TabPanel id="studio" label="Studio">
```sh
# Default URL:
http://localhost:54323
```
The local development environment includes Supabase Studio, a graphical interface for querying and editing your database.
![Local Supabase Studio showing the Default Project home page, with a sidebar of section icons, a Client libraries row for JavaScript, Python, and Flutter, and a grid of example project cards.](/docs/img/guides/cli/local-studio.png)
</TabPanel>
<TabPanel id="postgres" label="Postgres">
```sh
# Default URL:
postgresql://postgres:postgres@localhost:54322/postgres
```
Access the local Postgres instance with [`psql`](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/app-psql.html) or any other Postgres client, such as [pgAdmin](https://www.pgadmin.org/). For example:
```bash
psql 'postgresql://postgres:postgres@localhost:54322/postgres'
```
<Admonition type="note">
To access the database from an edge function in your local Supabase setup, replace `localhost` with `host.docker.internal`.
</Admonition>
</TabPanel>
<TabPanel id="kong" label="API Gateway">
```sh
# Default URL:
http://localhost:54321
```
If you are accessing these services without the client libraries, you might need to pass the client keys as an `Authorization` header. Learn more about [JWT headers](/docs/learn/auth-deep-dive/auth-deep-dive-jwts).
```sh
curl 'http://localhost:54321/rest/v1/' \
-H "apikey: sb_publishable_..."
http://localhost:54321/rest/v1/ # REST (PostgREST)
http://localhost:54321/realtime/v1/ # Realtime
http://localhost:54321/storage/v1/ # Storage
http://localhost:54321/auth/v1/ # Auth (GoTrue)
```
</TabPanel>
<TabPanel id="analytics" label="Analytics">
Local logs rely on the Supabase Analytics Server, which reads the Docker logging driver. On Linux and macOS, mount the `/var/run/docker.sock` domain socket. On Windows, expose the `tcp://localhost:2375` daemon socket. Configure the socket manually after [installing the CLI](#installing-the-supabase-cli).
<Admonition type="note">
For advanced logs analysis using the Logs Explorer, use the BigQuery backend instead of the default Postgres backend. See [Using the BigQuery backend](/docs/reference/self-hosting-analytics/introduction#using-the-bigquery-backend).
</Admonition>
All logs are stored in the local database under the `_analytics` schema.
</TabPanel>
</Tabs>
### Stop local services [#stopping-local-services]
When you finish working, stop the stack. Stopping doesn't reset your local database:
```bash
supabase stop
```
With the default ports, `supabase start` runs one local project per machine, because every project's `config.toml` uses the same ports. To run several local projects or git worktrees at the same time, see [Running multiple local projects](/docs/guides/local-development/running-multiple-local-projects).
## Connect to a hosted project
The stack you started in [Run a local Supabase project](#running-a-local-supabase-project) runs only on your machine. Nothing reaches a hosted project until you sign in to the CLI and link your local directory to one.
For the steps, see [Pushing to a remote project](/docs/guides/local-development/cli-workflows#pushing-to-a-remote-project). To run deployments from CI, see [Configure GitHub Actions](/docs/guides/deployment/managing-environments#configure-github-actions).
## Change your CLI version
These sections cover the CLI itself rather than your local project.
### Use the beta channel [#beta-channel]
Pre-release CLI builds ship from the development branch and are versioned `X.Y.Z-beta.N`. Use the npm `beta` dist-tag, or install `supabase-beta` with Homebrew or Scoop. `supabase-beta` is a separate package from `supabase`.
<Tabs
scrollable
size="small"
type="underlined"
defaultActiveId="npm"
queryGroup="platform"
>
<TabPanel id="npm" label="npm">
Install as a dev dependency:
```sh
npm install supabase@beta --save-dev
```
Or run without installing:
```sh
npx supabase@beta --help
```
</TabPanel>
<TabPanel id="macos" label="macOS">
```sh
brew install supabase/tap/supabase-beta
brew link --overwrite supabase-beta
```
</TabPanel>
<TabPanel id="windows" label="Windows">
```powershell
scoop bucket add supabase https://github.com/supabase/scoop-bucket.git
scoop install supabase-beta
```
</TabPanel>
<TabPanel id="linux" label="Linux">
#### Homebrew
```sh
brew install supabase/tap/supabase-beta
brew link --overwrite supabase-beta
```
#### Linux packages
Beta builds are attached to [GitHub pre-releases](https://github.com/supabase/cli/releases). Download the `.apk`, `.deb`, or `.rpm` for your platform and install with the same commands as [Linux packages](#linux-packages).
</TabPanel>
</Tabs>
### Update the Supabase CLI [#updating-the-supabase-cli]
Update the CLI with the same package manager you installed it with. See the [CLI releases page](https://github.com/supabase/cli/releases) for available versions.
<Tabs
scrollable
size="small"
type="underlined"
defaultActiveId="npm"
queryGroup="platform"
>
<TabPanel id="npm" label="npm">
Update the CLI with [npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/supabase):
```sh
npm update supabase --save-dev
```
Update to the current beta release, or switch a stable install to the beta channel:
```sh
npm install supabase@beta --save-dev
```
</TabPanel>
<TabPanel id="macos" label="macOS">
```sh
brew upgrade supabase
```
Beta channel:
```sh
brew upgrade supabase-beta
```
</TabPanel>
<TabPanel id="windows" label="Windows">
```powershell
scoop update supabase
```
Beta channel:
```powershell
scoop update supabase-beta
```
</TabPanel>
<TabPanel id="linux" label="Linux">
#### Homebrew
```sh
brew upgrade supabase
```
Beta channel:
```sh
brew upgrade supabase-beta
```
#### Linux packages
1. Download the package from the [Supabase CLI releases page](https://github.com/supabase/cli/releases/latest)
2. Install the package using the same commands as the [initial installation](#linux-packages):
- `sudo apk add --allow-untrusted <...>.apk`
- `sudo dpkg -i <...>.deb`
- `sudo rpm -i <...>.rpm`
</TabPanel>
</Tabs>
If you have any Supabase containers running locally, stop them and delete their data volumes before upgrading. Deleting the volumes lets Supabase managed services apply new migrations on a clean local database.
<Admonition type="caution" title="Back up before you stop">
`supabase stop --no-backup` deletes your local schema and data changes. Save them first.
</Admonition>
1. Save local schema changes as a migration:
```sh
supabase db diff -f my_schema
```
2. Dump local data to your seed file:
```sh
supabase db dump --local --data-only > supabase/seed.sql
```
3. Stop the containers and delete their data volumes:
```sh
supabase stop --no-backup
```
## Telemetry
The Supabase CLI collects telemetry data about general usage. Participating in this program is optional, and you can opt out at any time.
### How to opt out
1. Disable telemetry:
```bash
supabase telemetry disable
```
2. Confirm the current setting:
```bash
supabase telemetry status
```
To enable telemetry again, run `supabase telemetry enable`.
You can also opt out using the `SUPABASE_TELEMETRY_DISABLED=1` environment variable. The broader `DO_NOT_TRACK=1` convention is also respected.
## Learn more
- [CLI configuration](/docs/guides/local-development/cli/config)
- [CLI reference](/docs/reference/cli)