--- slug: "cli-steel-dev" source_type: "readme" source_url: "https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/steel-dev/cli@main/README.md" repo: "https://github.com/steel-dev/cli" source_file: "README.md" branch: "main" --- # Steel CLI > Browser infrastructure for AI agents, from your terminal. [![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/license-MIT-blue)](./LICENSE) [![Discord](https://img.shields.io/badge/discord-join-5865F2?logo=discord&logoColor=white)](https://discord.gg/steel-dev) The Steel CLI gives any AI agent (Claude, Cursor, Browser Use, or your own) a production-grade cloud browser: markdown-first scraping, long-running sessions, stealth, residential proxies, automatic CAPTCHA handling, and credential injection. One binary, cloud or self-hosted. ```bash # Install, then interactively log in and install agent skills curl -fsS https://setup.steel.dev | sh # Scrape a page (agent-ready markdown) steel scrape https://example.com ```

Steel CLI demo

## Why Steel CLI - **Agent-native.** Markdown-first output, `steel describe` for machine-readable command introspection, shell completions, and ready-to-install skills for Claude Code, Cursor, OpenCode, and Codex. - **Long-running sessions.** 24-hour browser sessions, reusable named profiles, persistent auth context. Built for agents that actually live: deep research, async workflows, overnight jobs. - **Framework-agnostic.** First-class support for Claude Computer Use, OpenAI Computer Use, Gemini Computer Use, Browser Use, Playwright, Puppeteer, Selenium, Stagehand, CrewAI, Magnitude, Notte, Agno, and AgentKit. - **Cloud or self-hosted.** Fully open source. Use managed infrastructure at [steel.dev](https://steel.dev), or run the [Steel Browser](https://github.com/steel-dev/steel-browser) stack yourself with `steel dev` or Docker. - **Pro browser features.** Managed residential proxies, stealth mode, automatic CAPTCHA solving, stored credential injection. Everything a real-world agent needs. ## Links - ๐Ÿ“– [Docs](https://docs.steel.dev): guides, recipes, API reference - ๐Ÿงช [Cookbook](https://github.com/steel-dev/steel-cookbook): runnable examples across Python, Node, and every supported framework - ๐Ÿ’ฌ [Discord](https://discord.gg/steel-dev): community, feedback, roadmap - ๐Ÿ™ [GitHub](https://github.com/steel-dev/cli): source, issues, releases ## Install ```bash curl -fsS https://setup.steel.dev | sh ``` The installer drops a single binary into `~/.steel/bin`, updates your shell's `PATH`, and auto-generates shell completions for bash, zsh, and fish. Alternatives: - Download from [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/steel-dev/cli/releases) - `cargo install steel-cli` After install, either restart your shell or run `export PATH="$HOME/.steel/bin:$PATH"`. ## Shell Completions Shell completions are installed automatically by `install.sh`. To regenerate or install manually: ```bash # Bash (user-local) steel completion bash > ~/.local/share/bash-completion/completions/steel # Zsh (ensure a writable dir is in $fpath, then reload) steel completion zsh > "${fpath[1]}/_steel" # Fish steel completion fish > ~/.config/fish/completions/steel.fish # PowerShell (append to $PROFILE) steel completion powershell | Out-String | Invoke-Expression ``` Supported shells: `bash`, `zsh`, `fish`, `powershell`, `elvish`. ## Command Overview | Group | Commands | | ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Onboarding | `init`, `forge` | | Browser lifecycle | `browser start`, `browser stop`, `browser sessions`, `browser live` | | Browser passthrough | `steel browser ` | | Browser profiles | `profile import`, `profile sync`, `profile list`, `profile delete` | | API tools | `scrape`, `screenshot`, `pdf` | | Local runtime | `dev install`, `dev start`, `dev stop` | | Credentials | `credentials list`, `credentials create`, `credentials update`, `credentials delete` | | Account and utility | `login`, `logout`, `config`, `doctor`, `cache`, `update`, `completion` | Full flags and schemas: [CLI reference](https://github.com/steel-dev/cli/blob/HEAD/docs/cli-reference.md). ## Agent-Browser Integration `steel browser` is directly backed by the vendored [`agent-browser`](https://github.com/steel-dev/agent-browser) runtime. Steel-owned lifecycle commands: - `steel browser start` - `steel browser stop` - `steel browser sessions` - `steel browser live` All other `steel browser ` calls inherit upstream runtime behavior and route through Steel. Migration from upstream `agent-browser` is typically command-prefix only: - before: `agent-browser ...` - after: `steel browser ...` See the [compatibility matrix](https://github.com/steel-dev/cli/blob/HEAD/docs/browser-compat.md), [Steel browser reference](https://github.com/steel-dev/cli/blob/HEAD/docs/references/steel-browser.md), and [synced command catalog](https://github.com/steel-dev/cli/blob/HEAD/docs/references/steel-browser-commands.md) for details. ## Endpoint Resolution For browser lifecycle, browser passthrough bootstrap, and top-level API tools (`scrape`, `screenshot`, `pdf`), endpoint selection is deterministic. Self-hosted precedence (highest to lowest): 1. `--api-url ` 2. `STEEL_BROWSER_API_URL` 3. `STEEL_LOCAL_API_URL` 4. `browser.apiUrl` in `~/.config/steel/config.json` 5. `http://localhost:3000/v1` Cloud precedence: 1. `STEEL_API_URL` 2. `https://api.steel.dev/v1` Attach-flag override rule: - If `--cdp` or `--auto-connect` is provided, Steel bootstrap injection is skipped and passthrough args are forwarded unchanged. ## Output and Runtime Notes - `steel scrape` defaults to markdown-first output for token efficiency; use `--raw` for the full JSON payload. - `steel browser start` and `steel browser sessions` emit display-safe connect URLs with sensitive query values redacted. - Browser command paths bypass auto-update checks for lower interactive latency. - Piped output auto-switches to JSON for machine-readable workflows. Use `--json` to force it, or `STEEL_FORCE_TTY=1` to disable. ## Documentation Map Primary docs: - [Docs index](https://github.com/steel-dev/cli/blob/HEAD/docs/README.md) - [Generated CLI reference](https://github.com/steel-dev/cli/blob/HEAD/docs/cli-reference.md) - [Browser compatibility](https://github.com/steel-dev/cli/blob/HEAD/docs/browser-compat.md) - [Upstream sync guide](https://github.com/steel-dev/cli/blob/HEAD/docs/upstream-sync.md) Reference docs: - [References index](https://github.com/steel-dev/cli/blob/HEAD/docs/references/README.md) - [Steel CLI reference (high-level)](https://github.com/steel-dev/cli/blob/HEAD/docs/references/steel-cli.md) - [Steel browser reference (modes + contracts)](https://github.com/steel-dev/cli/blob/HEAD/docs/references/steel-browser.md) - [Steel browser commands (synced + transformed)](https://github.com/steel-dev/cli/blob/HEAD/docs/references/steel-browser-commands.md) - [Agent troubleshooting playbook](https://github.com/steel-dev/cli/blob/HEAD/docs/references/agent-troubleshooting.md) - [Pinned upstream source snapshot](https://github.com/steel-dev/cli/blob/HEAD/docs/references/upstream/agent-browser-commands.source.md) Agent skills: - [Steel Skills catalog](https://github.com/steel-dev/skills) - [Steel Agent Skills docs](https://docs.steel.dev/overview/agent-skills) - [agent-browser migration guide](https://github.com/steel-dev/skills/blob/main/steel-browser/references/migration-agent-browser.md) --- Licensed under [MIT](https://github.com/steel-dev/cli/tree/HEAD/LICENSE).