> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sifr.sh/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Sifr CLI Reference: Commands, Flags, and Exit Codes > A complete reference for every Sifr CLI command, global flags, exit codes, and the rules that determine single-file vs project mode. The `sifr` command is your single entry point for compiling, running, type-checking, formatting, linting, testing, and serving editor tooling for Sifr programs. Every workflow — from a one-off script to a multi-file project — runs through the same binary with a consistent set of flags and predictable exit codes. ## Global flags These flags apply across all subcommands. | Flag | Values | Description | | ------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `--diagnostic-format` | `human` \| `json` \| `compact` | Controls how diagnostics are rendered. Defaults to `human`. | | `--explain ` | e.g. [`SIFR-DECIMAL-0001`](/errors/SIFR-DECIMAL-0001) | Prints a description of a diagnostic code and exits — no compilation needed. | | `--config ` | string | Applies an inline config override or an explicit config file path. May be repeated. | | `--isolated` | — | Ignores all discovered `sifr.toml` files. Inline `--config KEY=VALUE` overrides still apply. | ## Exit codes | Code | Meaning | | ---- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `0` | Success — no errors. | | `1` | User diagnostic — a compiler or lint error was emitted. | | `2` | Usage or config error — bad flags, missing config, or an unknown subcommand. | | `3` | Internal compiler panic — an unexpected failure inside the compiler itself. | ## Available commands | Command | Summary | | ----------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | | `sifr run [TARGET]` | Compile and immediately execute a `.sifr` file or package target. | | `sifr build ` | Compile a `.sifr` file to a native binary on disk. | | `sifr check [PATH]` | Type-check without producing a binary — fast feedback loop. | | `sifr emit ` | Print the compiler's generated Rust without writing a binary. | | `sifr fmt [FILES]...` | Format `.sifr` source files. | | `sifr lint [FILES]...` | Run suppressible policy-rule diagnostics. | | `sifr test [DIR]` | Discover and run test functions. | | `sifr lsp --stdio` | Start the Language Server Protocol server over stdio. | | `sifr init [PATH]` | Create a new Sifr package in the given directory. | | `sifr fetch` | Fetch package dependencies. | | `sifr bridge check` | Validate Rust bridge projections and interop probes. | | `sifr tree` | Show the package dependency tree. | | `sifr package` | Assemble and verify a Cargo package archive. | | `sifr publish` | Publish a Sifr package through Cargo. | | `sifr vendor [PATH]` | Vendor dependency sources. | | `sifr repair` | Repair Sifr-managed Cargo projection drift. | | `sifr trace ` | Print deterministic compiler-service trace and status output. | | `sifr self version [--format text\|json]` | Inspect the managed standalone installation and schema-v2 receipt. | | `sifr self update` | Update a standalone Sifr installation. | | `--explain ` | Look up a diagnostic code without running a command. | ## Single-file mode vs project mode Sifr selects a compilation strategy from the nearest ancestor `sifr.toml`. This structural boundary determines how imports are resolved and what gets compiled. **Single-file mode** compiles one `.sifr` file in isolation. It is used for every explicit file outside a workspace, regardless of its filename, source contents, imports, or neighboring files. **Project mode** compiles an entrypoint with reachable workspace modules. It is used for every valid entrypoint inside the nearest valid ancestor `sifr.toml` workspace, regardless of its filename or imports. Mode selection never parses the entrypoint or probes sibling modules. A manifest-less local import receives the normal single-file import diagnostic; add `sifr.toml` to compile multiple local modules together. A malformed discovered manifest is always a hard diagnostic. `sifr run`, `build`, `check`, `emit`, and `trace` use the same workspace boundary for identical input paths. ## Stable self-update Official standalone installs can resolve the active stable release through the governed release index: ```bash theme={null} sifr self update --dry-run --format json sifr self update --channel stable sifr self update --version 0.1.0 ``` The stable channel, exact pins, installer, and target artifacts are all SHA-256 verified. Unknown, withdrawn, and `-rc.N` versions are rejected. Same-version reinstalls, channel changes, and approved downgrades require `--force`. ## Diagnostic output formats Pass `--diagnostic-format` to any compiler-facing command to change how diagnostics are rendered. Renders source locations, code snippets, caret highlights, related spans, notes, help text, fix suggestions, and documentation URLs. Best for interactive development. ```text theme={null} error[SIFR-DECIMAL-0001]: Decimal() received invalid exact literal '12.34.56' --> src/main.sifr:3:30 | 3 | price = Decimal("12.34.56") | ^^^^^^^^ invalid literal ``` One summary line followed by one line per diagnostic. Stable for CI, agents, and terminal scanning. ```text theme={null} 1 error, 0 warnings, 0 notes E SIFR-DECIMAL-0001 src/main.sifr:3:30 Decimal() received invalid exact literal '12.34.56' ``` The first four fields are stable: severity abbreviation, diagnostic code, location, then message. Emits a `RenderedDiagnostic[]` JSON array including `code`, `severity`, `message`, `spans`, `children`, `help`, and `suggestions`. Intended for tools and editor integrations. ## Looking up a diagnostic code Use `--explain` to get a description of any diagnostic code without compiling anything: ```bash theme={null} sifr --explain SIFR-DECIMAL-0001 ``` Pass `--diagnostic-format json` to get machine-readable output: ```bash theme={null} sifr --diagnostic-format json --explain SIFR-DECIMAL-0001 ```