> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.shoal.xyz/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# CLI + Skills

> Use Shoal from the terminal and install the Shoal skill locally

Use this path if you want Shoal in the terminal or as local skill guidance in Claude Code.

## Install the CLI

```bash theme={null}
curl -fsSL https://api.shoal.xyz/install | bash
```

Or:

```bash theme={null}
npm install -g shoal-cli
```

## Authenticate

```bash theme={null}
shoal auth YOUR_API_KEY
```

This stores the API key locally for CLI use.

## Install the Shoal Skill

From the CLI:

```bash theme={null}
shoal skill install
```

Or directly:

```bash theme={null}
npx shoal-skill@latest
```

The Shoal skill installs local guidance for `/shoal`. It does not replace the hosted MCP server.

## When To Use This Path

* You want terminal-first access to Shoal
* You want local skill guidance in Claude Code
* You are intentionally using a local API-key-based flow

## When Not To Use It

If your client supports the hosted Shoal MCP server, prefer:

```text theme={null}
https://api.shoal.xyz/mcp
```

That path uses app-based OAuth and does not require pasting a raw API key into the MCP auth flow.

## Full Command Reference

For the complete CLI command list, see [CLI Tool](/guides/cli).