Command reference

Run every command from the target repository root. This page omits the repeated npx @caesarlo/sdlc-harness prefix. Add it when the CLI is not installed.

npx @caesarlo/sdlc-harness --help

Every subcommand also accepts -h/--help — anywhere among its arguments, not just first — and prints that command’s own usage instead of running it.

npx @caesarlo/sdlc-harness feature --help
npx @caesarlo/sdlc-harness milestone archive -h

Repository and governance

Install Harness, audit the repository, and read status and traceability matrices.

Planning

Create milestones interactively; create features interactively or import them from JSON; archive completed milestones.

Feature lifecycle

Start, complete, block, and reopen features.

Verification and evidence

Execute verification and record reviews, manual evidence, and CI evidence.

Claims and leases

Claim, renew, take over, push, and release features.

Workspace

Create and clean up isolated Git worktree directories.

GitHub

Check repository protection configuration.

Environment and sessions

Check the project environment and summarize end-of-session status.

Feedback

Write structured feedback logs.

Repository and governance

Command	Purpose	Argument reference
`init [--force]`	Generate the complete protocol. By default, stop and list conflicts when files already exist.	View `init` arguments →
`adopt`	Insert only missing files. Generate a sidecar when `AGENTS.md` already exists.	View `adopt` details →
`validate`	Run every governance audit and exit nonzero on failure.	View `validate` details →
`status`	Output a JSON summary of features, approvals, traceability, and next steps.	View `status` details →
`traceability`	Output the complete traceability matrix and exit nonzero when actual gaps exist.	View `traceability` details →

Planning

Command	Purpose	Argument reference
`new-feature [--input <path>]`	Create a feature interactively or import it from a JSON file in the repository.	View `new-feature` arguments →
`new-milestone`	Create a milestone interactively.	View `new-milestone` details →
`milestone archive <milestone-id>`	Move a fully-passing milestone and its features to `.harness/archive/<milestone-id>.json`.	View `milestone archive` arguments →
`milestone list-archived`	List archived milestones as JSON.	View `milestone list-archived` details →

Feature lifecycle

Command	Status transition	Argument reference
`feature start <feature-id>`	Check readiness, dependencies, and WIP, then claim the feature and move it to `in_progress`.	View `start` arguments →
`feature complete <feature-id>`	Check evidence and independent review, then move the feature to `passing`.	View `complete` arguments →
`feature block <feature-id>`	Record a blocker, release the claim, and move the feature to `blocked`.	View `block` arguments →
`feature reopen <feature-id>`	Clear the blocker and move the feature from `blocked` to `not_started`.	View `reopen` arguments →

Verification, review, and evidence

Command	Purpose	Argument reference
`verify <feature-id>`	Execute automated verification and record test evidence.	View `verify` arguments →
`evidence manual <feature-id>`	Record manual evidence for a manual verification item.	View `evidence manual` arguments →
`review record <feature-id>`	Record a review conclusion for the current commit.	View `review record` arguments →
`evidence approval <artifact>`	Record project-level approval bound to the file content hash.	View `evidence approval` arguments →
`evidence import <feature-id>`	Validate and import a successful GitHub Actions run.	View `evidence import` arguments →

Claims and leases

Command	Purpose	Argument reference
`claim <feature-id>`	Claim a specific feature.	View `claim` arguments →
`claim --next`	Select a ready feature by dependency status, priority, and list order.	View `--next` arguments →
`claim renew <feature-id>`	Renew an existing claim from the current time.	View `renew` arguments →
`claim <feature-id> --takeover-expired`	Take over an expired claim.	View takeover arguments →
`claim <feature-id> --push`	Claim, commit, and push. Try the next feature after a remote conflict.	View `--push` arguments →
`release <feature-id>`	Release the claim and return `in_progress` to `not_started`.	View `release` arguments →

Solo mode usually does not require manual claims. verify temporarily claims the feature for defaultOwner when needed and releases it afterward. Team mode requires an active claim in advance.

Workspace

Command	Purpose	Argument reference
`workspace create <feature-id>`	Create `.worktrees/<id>` and a `feature/<id>` branch.	View `create` arguments →
`workspace status`	Output all registered workspaces.	View `status` details →
`workspace remove <feature-id>`	Safely remove one workspace.	View `remove` arguments →
`workspace prune`	Clean up workspaces whose claims were released or expired.	View `prune` arguments →

GitHub provider

Command	Purpose	Argument reference
`provider github check`	Check branch protection, review, and status-check configuration.	View GitHub arguments →

Environment and sessions

Command	Purpose	Argument reference
`env`	List configured environment commands.	View `env` details →
`env check`	Run `bootstrap`, `verify`, `e2e`, and `health` in sequence.	View `env check` details →
`session close`	Summarize governance, environment, Git, and feature status.	View `session close` details →

Feedback

Command	Purpose	Argument reference
`feedback log`	Write a structured entry at the top of the feedback log.	View `feedback log` arguments →

Common defaults

Argument	Default
Claim and lifecycle `--owner`	`harness.config.json.defaultOwner`
GitHub repository `--owner` for `provider github check` and `evidence import`	Inferred from `origin`; required when it cannot be inferred
`--ttl`	120 minutes
`--remote`	`origin`
`--branch`	`main`
`--base`	`main`

The default for --actor varies by command. See the corresponding argument page.

init --force and workspace ... --force can overwrite files or discard uncommitted or unpushed work. Read the corresponding argument page and command output before using them.

Getting started

Guides

Reference

Help

Repository and governance

Planning

Feature lifecycle

Verification and evidence

Claims and leases

Workspace

GitHub

Environment and sessions

Feedback

Repository and governance

Planning

Feature lifecycle

Verification, review, and evidence

Claims and leases

Workspace

GitHub provider

Environment and sessions

Feedback

Common defaults

Repository and governance

Planning

Feature lifecycle

Verification and evidence

Claims and leases

Workspace

GitHub

Environment and sessions

Feedback

​Repository and governance

​Planning

​Feature lifecycle

​Verification, review, and evidence

​Claims and leases

​Workspace

​GitHub provider

​Environment and sessions

​Feedback

​Common defaults

Repository and governance

Planning

Feature lifecycle

Verification, review, and evidence

Claims and leases

Workspace

GitHub provider

Environment and sessions

Feedback

Common defaults