---
name: manta-cli
description: >-
  Use the public `manta` CLI to operate Manta-managed worktrees, folder contexts,
  terminals, repos, automations, artifacts, skill sharing, worktree comments, and the browser embedded inside the Manta app. Use when the user says "$manta-cli", "use manta cli",
  "Manta worktree", "child worktree", "cardStatus", "spawn codex/claude in a worktree",
  "read/wait/send Manta terminal", "terminal send", "full handoff", "handover",
  "give this to another agent", "another worktree", "Manta browser", "manta artifacts",
  "share HTML/Markdown", "public artifact link", "share skills", or "control the browser inside
  Manta". Prefer this over raw `git worktree`, ad hoc
  PTYs, Playwright, or Computer Use when the task touches Manta-managed state.
  Use Computer Use for external browser windows, webviews, or desktop UI only
  when the task requires OS/window-level control such as focus, menus, dialogs,
  coordinates, or screenshots.
---

# Manta CLI

This file is a discovery stub, not the usage guide. The full, version-matched Manta CLI
reference is served by the `manta` binary itself — kept out of this file on purpose so it
can never drift from the binary that will actually run your commands.

Engage Manta whenever its running editor/runtime is the source of truth: Manta-managed
worktrees, folder contexts, terminals, repos, automations, worktree comments, and the
browser embedded inside the Manta app. Triggers include "$manta-cli", "Manta worktree",
"child worktree", "spawn codex/claude in a worktree", "read/wait/send Manta terminal",
"full handoff" / "handover" / "give this to another agent", and "control the browser
inside Manta". Use plain shell tools when Manta state does not matter.

## Resolve the CLI for this session

Choose the executable once and reuse it for every later command:

- If the `MANTA_CLI_COMMAND` environment variable is set, use its value. Manta exports this
  for managed WSL sessions.
- Otherwise, in a dev checkout whose session exposes `MANTA_DEV_REPO_ROOT`, use `manta-dev`.
- Otherwise, on Linux outside a Manta-managed terminal, use `manta-ide`. The Linux package installs the executable as `manta-ide`, so bare
  `manta` is not on PATH outside Manta's terminals.
- Otherwise, use `manta`.

Below, `MANTA` is a placeholder for the executable you resolved. Substitute it before
running anything; do not create a shell variable or run `MANTA` literally. This works the
same way in POSIX shells, PowerShell, and cmd.exe.

If the selected executable cannot run, report its exact error and stop. Do not fall through
to another executable, which could silently target a different Manta build.

## Load the full guide before running Manta commands

```text
MANTA skills get manta-cli
```

That prints the complete, version-matched guide for the exact binary that will handle your
next commands — worktrees, handoffs, terminals, automations, and the built-in browser.
Read it first, then run the specific command you need.

Don't guess subcommands or flags from memory or from a cached copy of this stub. They
change between Manta releases, and this file deliberately no longer lists them. Confirm the
app is up with `MANTA status --json` (start it with `MANTA open --json` if needed), and
prefer `--json` for agent-driven calls.

## If an older Manta does not recognize `skills get`

Use this fallback only when the selected binary explicitly reports that `skills get` is an
unknown command. Another failure is not proof of an older binary; report it rather than
guessing or changing executables. For a confirmed pre-guide binary, use only this bounded,
read-only bootstrap to orient. Do not dead-end and do not invent commands:

```text
MANTA status --json
MANTA worktree ps --json
MANTA terminal list --json
```

Then tell the user that updating Manta restores the full, version-matched guide via
`MANTA skills get manta-cli`. Beyond these commands, ask the user rather than guessing a
command surface this older binary may not support.