Command reference

bee --help
bee <command> --help

command	what it does
init	Store the one Mongo connection everything else is pulled from
config	show · get · set · path — shared config and secrets
remember	Persistent memory. Bare text saves; search · context · stats · history query
hook	session-start · prompt · pre-tool · install · rule
lint <paths>	What this project expects of these files
handover	The state of play for whoever picks the work up next
budget	What bee costs the agent’s context per turn, by component
compact	Which memories are costing recall rather than adding to it
steering	Which rules bee decided NOT to deliver, and why
worker	Background maintenance
ask	Ask the configured model. Reads stdin — an AI-to-AI access point
soul	bee’s persona/identity (the SOUL protocol)
skill	Query a skill-bridge over MCP
howto	Pattern/how-to store

remember

bee remember "<text>" [--type decision|error|learning|pattern]
                      [--reason …] [--alternative "option: why not"]
                      [--solution …] [--prevention …]
                      [--category …] [--tags a,b] [--json]
                      [--path '<glob>']   # repeatable — anchors it to those files

bee remember search "<query>" [--semantic] [--all-projects]
                              [--since 7d] [--before 2026-08-01]
                              [--agent <name>] [--limit N]
bee remember context
bee remember history --since 7d
bee remember stats

hook

bee hook install --harness claude|codex|hermes --scope user|project|local
bee hook session-start
bee hook prompt            # reads the envelope on stdin
bee hook pre-tool          # reads the envelope on stdin

bee hook rule add "<text>" [--scope always|session|prompt|file]
                           [--path '<glob>']   # repeatable; implies file delivery
                           [--global]
bee hook rule list
bee hook rule rm <id>

compact

bee compact [--limit N] [--json]
bee compact --archive
bee compact --archived
bee compact --restore <id>

There is no delete. See Over a long run.

lint

bee lint [paths…] [--rules] [--detect] [--fix]
                  [--install] [--install-machine]
                  [--memory N] [--timeout SECONDS] [--json]

steering

bee steering [--since 7d] [--limit N] [--json]

Counts are a lower bound. See What bee held back.

handover

bee handover [--session [ID]] [--since 12h] [--limit N] [--json]

ask

bee ask "how does the outbox retry?"
echo "summarise this diff" | git diff | bee ask
bee ask --tools "..."           # lets the model call bee's own tools
bee ask --tools --allow-write "..."   # write tools are default-deny

soul

bee soul                      # the active identity
bee soul list
bee soul use <name>
bee soul add <name> --title … --prompt … --tone … --emoji …
bee soul show <name>
bee soul remove <name>