CircleCI CLI

Overview

Use this skill when the fastest path is CircleCI CLI-driven operations rather than editing config first. Prioritize safe, read-first diagnostics, then run targeted mutating commands only after confirming scope.

Inputs To Gather

• Repository path and target branch
• CircleCI project slug (if needed)
• Whether objective is inspect, rerun, trigger, or validate
• Required token/auth state and org permissions

Workflow

1. Verify CLI and auth state.
   • Confirm circleci is installed and version is available.
   • Confirm token/auth before issuing remote CircleCI commands.
2. Run read-only diagnostics first.
   • Inspect available pipeline/project/trigger state and capture concrete identifiers.
   • Extract first failing scope and step details from supported command output before rerun/trigger actions.
3. Validate config locally when relevant.
   • Run config validation/processing commands before committing risky edits.
4. Run targeted mutation commands.
   • Rerun only required workflow/job scope.
   • Trigger pipelines with explicit parameters and branch context.
5. Report results and next action.
   • Provide exact command results, remaining blockers, and safest follow-up.

Guardrails

• Prefer read-only commands before rerun/trigger/cancel operations.
• Confirm organization/project scope before mutating pipeline state.
• Never print raw secret values from environment variables or tokens.
• If permissions fail, report exact auth/scope gap and safest remediation.
• Respect installed CLI capabilities and avoid inventing commands.
• Do not use circleci api, circleci workflow, or other unavailable legacy commands unless circleci help confirms they exist.

Installed CLI Compatibility

For newer circleci builds that expose domain subcommands (for example pipeline, project, trigger) but not api:

• Verify available commands first with circleci help.
• Use only discovered subcommands from help output.
• Prefer circleci pipeline list|create|run and circleci trigger ... for pipeline operations.
• For cloud job logs, use supported platform tools (CircleCI app/UI or connected CircleCI MCP tooling) if the CLI does not expose a logs command.

Output Contract

Provide:

1. Commands run and purpose.
2. Key outputs (pipeline/workflow/job ids, status, failing step).
3. Actions taken (rerun/trigger/validate) and why.
4. Remaining blockers and next recommended CLI command.