generated: '2026-08-13'
install: []
commands: []
method: searched
source: https://docs.kentico.com/documentation/developers-and-admins/installation
note: >-
  Kentico's command surface is .NET-native rather than a single branded binary.
  It is made of three real things: (1) dotnet new templates shipped in
  Kentico.Xperience.Templates, (2) dotnet tools installed globally
  (kentico-xperience-dbmanager, xperience-manager), and (3) --kxp-* switches the
  Xperience application itself accepts when run from the CLI. All three are
  first-party and documented.

tools:
  - name: kentico-xperience-dbmanager
    kind: dotnet tool
    install: dotnet tool install --global kentico-xperience-dbmanager
    purpose: Create and install the Xperience project database.
    docs: https://docs.kentico.com/documentation/developers-and-admins/installation

  - name: xperience-manager
    kind: dotnet tool
    package: Kentico.Xperience.Manager
    version: 5.4.0
    published: '2026-04-23'
    install: dotnet tool install --global Kentico.Xperience.Manager
    purpose: >-
      Simplifies Xperience by Kentico project management — installing,
      updating, and administering local projects.
    source_code: https://github.com/Kentico/xperience-by-kentico-manager

  - name: "@kentico/management-api-mcp"
    kind: node CLI (stdio MCP server)
    install: npx -y @kentico/management-api-mcp@latest
    bin: xperience-mcp
    purpose: Expose the local Xperience management API to AI agents as MCP tools.
    options:
      - "--enabled-tools <names> (-e)"
      - "--disabled-tools <names> (-x)"
      - "--dynamic-tools (-d)"
    detail: mcp/kentico-mcp.yml

templates:
  install: dotnet new install Kentico.Xperience.Templates
  update: dotnet new update
  commands:
    - name: dotnet new kentico-xperience-mvc -n <Name>
      description: Create a new Xperience by Kentico ASP.NET Core project.
    - name: dotnet new kentico-xperience-sass
      description: SaaS-ready project template preconfigured for CD and Xperience Portal.

application_commands:
  invocation: "dotnet run --no-build -- <switch>   (or dotnet <assembly>.dll <switch> for a built app)"
  groups:
    - group: update
      commands:
        - command: --kxp-update
          description: >-
            Update the project database and file system to match the installed
            NuGet package version. Required after every hotfix/refresh update.
    - group: continuous-integration
      commands:
        - command: --kxp-ci-enable
          description: Enable Continuous Integration serialization for the project.
        - command: --kxp-ci-store
          description: Serialize all supported objects to the CIRepository folder.
        - command: --kxp-ci-restore
          description: Restore serialized CI data into the database.
    - group: continuous-deployment
      commands:
        - command: --kxp-cd-store
          description: Serialize CD-supported objects for deployment packaging.
        - command: --kxp-cd-restore
          description: Restore a CD data package into the target environment database.

flows:
  - name: Update an Xperience project
    steps:
      - Update all Kentico.Xperience.* NuGet packages.
      - "Run: dotnet run --no-build --kxp-update"
      - "Update admin client deps: cd <Project>.Web.Admin/Client && npm update"
      - Verify the version in the Xperience administration.
    docs: https://docs.kentico.com/documentation/developers-and-admins/installation/update-xperience-by-kentico-projects
    agent_skill: skills/kentico-project-lifecycle-update-xperience.md

  - name: Automate a SaaS deployment
    steps:
      - "Serialize CD data: dotnet run --no-build -- --kxp-cd-store"
      - Create the SaaS deployment ZIP package.
      - "POST it to the Xperience Portal API deployment endpoint with a Bearer PAT."
    docs: https://docs.kentico.com/guides/configuration/saas/saas-walkthrough/saas-update-with-xperience-portal-api
    reference_script: https://github.com/Kentico/xperience-by-kentico-training-guides/blob/finished/scripts/Update-XperienceProjectWithDatabase.ps1

packages: packages/kentico-packages.yml