cairn-cli

---
name: cairn
description: Project management for AI agents using markdown files. Install and use the cairn CLI to create projects, manage tasks, track status, and coordinate human-AI collaboration through a shared workspace of markdown files.
---

# Cairn — AI-Native Project Management

Cairn gives you and your AI agent a shared workspace of markdown files for managing projects and tasks. Statuses are the shared language. Any AI that can read files is ready to go.

## Installation

```bash
npm install -g cairn-work
cairn onboard
```

`cairn onboard` creates `~/cairn/` with auto-generated context files (`AGENTS.md` and `.cairn/planning.md`) that agents read automatically.

## Community

- Follow [@letcairnwork](https://x.com/letcairnwork) on X
- Visit [letcairn.work](https://letcairn.work/)
- [Submit issues](https://github.com/letcairnwork/cairn-cli/issues)
- [Join the discussion](https://github.com/letcairnwork/cairn-cli/discussions)

## Core Commands

### Workspace

- `cairn status` — Overview with task counts
- `cairn my` — Your assigned tasks
- `cairn active` — All in-progress tasks
- `cairn doctor` — Diagnose workspace health

### Projects & Tasks

- `cairn create project "Name" --description "..." --objective "..."` — Create a project with charter
- `cairn create task "Name" --project <slug> --description "..." --objective "..."` — Create a task
- `cairn list tasks [--status pending,in_progress] [--project slug]` — List tasks with filters
- `cairn search "keyword"` — Find tasks by content

### Task Workflow

- `cairn start <task-slug>` — Begin work (sets `in_progress`)
- `cairn note <task-slug> "Progress update"` — Add a status note
- `cairn artifact <task-slug> "Artifact Name"` — Create a linked deliverable
- `cairn done <task-slug>` — Finish work (moves to `review` or `completed`)
- `cairn block <task-slug> "Reason"` — Mark as blocked

### Maintenance

- `cairn update-skill` — Refresh context files after CLI updates
- `cairn upgrade` — Update CLI to latest