CLI installation

Homebrew / script install, then MCP-pair with the Pro app on this Mac

Purpose

starcat-cli is a CLI and a stdio MCP bridge for agents. It does not open SQLite. Reads and writes go through the app’s MCP tools. Permission, dry-run, Pro, and audit stay in the macOS Starcat app. The app runs on a Mac; the CLI can live on that Mac or a trusted network to a paired app.

Settings → MCP pairing URI plus terminal starcat pair / doctor

Screenshot TODO · images/screenshots/cli/installation.webp

Install

Homebrew

brew tap starcat-app/starcat-cli
brew install starcat

Tap: homebrew-starcat-cli.

macOS / Linux script

curl -fsSL https://github.com/starcat-app/starcat-cli/releases/latest/download/install.sh | sh

Default ~/.local/bin/starcat (STARCAT_INSTALL_DIR overrides). The script checks SHA-256.

Windows PowerShell

irm https://github.com/starcat-app/starcat-cli/releases/latest/download/install.ps1 | iex

Pairing (required)

1. Starcat → Settings → MCP → enable. Needs Pro
2. Copy the pair command; URI lasts about 5 minutes, single use
3. Terminal:

starcat pair "starcat-pair://connect?..."
starcat doctor

4. Confirm the device in the app. Unconfirmed pairing is incomplete. Or run starcat pair and paste the URI. Long-lived credentials go in the Keychain. See MCP.

starcat --version
starcat doctor
starcat capabilities

Notes

The App Store sandbox cannot launch arbitrary user CLIs. The CLI is a separate process and still needs a running app that can host MCP. Next: Usage, Agent Skill.