---
title: Using the Redoc CLI
---
# Using the Redoc CLI
With Redoc's command-line interface you can bundle your OpenAPI definition and API documentation
(made with Redoc) into a zero-dependency HTML file and locally render your
OpenAPI definition with Redoc.
## Step 1 - Install Redoc CLI
You can install the `redoc-cli` package globally using one of the following package managers:
- [npm](https://docs.npmjs.com/about-npm)
- [yarn](https://classic.yarnpkg.com/en/docs/getting-started)
Or you can install `redoc-cli` using [npx](https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/npm-vs-npx-whats-the-difference/).
### Install Redoc CLI with yarn
To install the `redoc-cli` package globally with yarn:
```bash
yarn global add redoc-cli
```
### Install Redoc with npm
To install the `redoc-cli` package globally with npm:
```bash
npm i -g redoc-cli
```
### Install with `npx`
To install the `redoc-cli` package locally with `npx`, navigate to your project
directory in your terminal, then use the following command:
```bash
npx redoc-cli
```
## Step 2 - Use the CLI
### Redoc CLI commands
The CLI includes the following commands:
- **`redoc-cli serve [spec]`:** Starts a local server with Redoc. You must include the required parameter, spec, which is
a reference to an OpenAPI definition. Options include:
- `--ssr`: Implements a server-side rendering model.
- `--watch`: Automatically reloads the server while you edit your OpenAPI definition.
- `--options`: Customizes your output using [Redoc options](https://redoc.ly/docs/api-reference-docs/configuration/).
To add nested options, use dot notation.
- **`redoc-cli bundle [spec]`:** Bundles `spec` and Redoc into a zero-dependency HTML file. Options include:
- `-t` or `--template`: Uses custom [Handlebars](https://handlebarsjs.com/) templates to render your OpenAPI definition.
- `--templateOptions`: Adds template options you want to pass to your
custom Handlebars template. To add options, use dot notation.
- **`--help`:** Prints help text for the Redoc CLI commands and options.
- **`--version`:** Prints the version of the `redoc-cli` package you have installed.
### Redoc CLI examples
#### Bundle
Bundle with the main color changed to `orange`:
```bash
redoc-cli bundle openapi.yaml --options.theme.colors.primary.main=orange
```
Bundle using a custom Handlebars template and add custom `templateOptions`:
```bash
redoc-cli bundle http://petstore.swagger.io/v2/swagger.json -t custom.hbs --templateOptions.metaDescription "Page meta description"
```
Sample Handlebars template:
```handlebars
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="utf8" />
<title>{{title}}</title>
<!-- needed for adaptive design -->
<meta description="{{{templateOptions.metaDescription}}}">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
<style>
body {
padding: 0;
margin: 0;
}
</style>
{{{redocHead}}}
{{#unless disableGoogleFont}}<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Montserrat:300,400,700|Roboto:300,400,700" rel="stylesheet">{{/unless}}
</head>
<body>
{{{redocHTML}}}
</body>
</html>
```
#### Serve
Serve with the `nativeScrollbars` option set to `true`:
```bash
redoc-cli serve openapi/dist.yaml --options.nativeScrollbars
```