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Temporal CLI

3 posts · Jul 2021 – Apr 2023

What this trail covers

The Temporal CLI has been unified into a single `temporal` command-line tool, combining the functionality of `tctl` and `temporalite`. This new CLI simplifies development and testing by allowing users to run a local development server with persistent SQLite storage, exposing key endpoints (gRPC and Web UI), and offering basic workflow status visibility. It supports core Temporal functionality, including Advanced Visibility and a next-generation tctl experience. The goal is to provide a single, easily installable package for all Temporal tooling.

All Temporal trails
  1. Using the Temporal CLIThis post details the installation, usage, and configuration of the new unified `temporal` CLI. It covers starting a local development server (with and without data persistence), interacting with workflows (starting, listing, describing), managing environments for connecting to different Temporal Servers (including Temporal Cloud), and provides examples of common commands and aliases. It also highlights the migration from the older `tctl` tool, detailing global and specific changes in command structure, output formatting, and feature availability.
  2. The foundation of the new Temporal CLI experienceThis post announces the unification of Temporal's command-line tooling into a single `temporal` CLI. It details the motivation behind this change, stemming from the desire for a single binary and a lighter-weight development experience. The post highlights the engineering challenges of creating a single binary, particularly concerning dependencies like Cassandra and Elasticsearch, and how SQLite emerged as a solution. It also discusses the inspiration from Datadog's Temporalite project and Temporal's subsequent acquisition of ownership. The new CLI integrates Temporalite's capabilities with full support for Advanced Visibility and the next-generation tctl experience, aiming to improve the getting-started experience for both new and existing users.
  3. Temporal Transparency Update #11This post announces ongoing efforts to improve the Temporal CLI (`tctl`), making it more predictable, friendly, and easier to reason about. It highlights specific areas of improvement through RFCs, including consistent output formatting (tables, JSON, cards), the ability to pipe output to standard tools, and customizable timestamp formatting. It also mentions the merging of customizable defaults using a config file. The post emphasizes the need for community input on these changes.