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Use this guide to install the DualEntry CLI, authenticate, and run your first command in under five minutes. For the full list of resources and flags, see the Command Reference. For end-to-end task walkthroughs, see Common Workflows.

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Prerequisites

Before you install the CLI, confirm you meet the two requirements below.
  • Python 3.11+ - the CLI is written in Python and requires version 3.11 or later. Homebrew installs Python automatically; for uv and the install script, run python3 --version to confirm your local version is high enough.
  • A DualEntry account - you’ll authenticate via browser-based OAuth during setup, so an active DualEntry login is required. Contact your administrator if you don’t yet have one.

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Install the CLI

Pick the install method that fits your setup. Homebrew is the simplest path for most users because it manages the Python dependency for you. Install the CLI and its Python dependency in a single command:

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Option 2: uv

If you use uv for Python tooling, install directly from the GitHub repository:

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Option 3: Install script

Run the official install script to download and install the CLI in one step:
Options 2 and 3 require Python 3.11+ to be installed on your system already.

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Enable tab completion

Tab completion makes the CLI faster to use by auto-completing resources and flags as you type. Run this once after installing:
Restart your shell (or open a new terminal window) for completion to take effect.

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Authenticate

Log in to connect the CLI to your DualEntry account:
This opens your default browser to a DualEntry OAuth page. Sign in, approve the access request, and you’re done. Your credentials are stored securely in your system keychain, so you won’t need to log in again on this machine unless your session expires.
To verify you’re authenticated, run dualentry companies list. If you see your company data, you’re all set.
macOS users: The first time you run a command after logging in, macOS shows a Keychain Access prompt asking whether Python can access your dualentry-cli credentials. This is normal: the CLI uses your system keychain to store OAuth tokens securely. Enter your Mac login password and select “Always Allow” so you don’t see the prompt on every command. Selecting “Allow” works too, but you’ll be asked again next time.

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Run your first command

Pull a list of invoices to confirm the CLI is connected to your account:
You’ll see a formatted table like the one below. Each row is an invoice in your DualEntry account. The columns show the invoice number, dates, customer, amounts, and current status (posted, archived, etc.). This is the same data you’d see in the DualEntry web app, just in your terminal.

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Quick next steps

Once you’ve run your first command, try the actions below to explore the CLI. Get JSON output, useful for piping into other tools or scripts:
Explore other resources. The CLI covers invoices, bills, journal entries, customers, vendors, and more. The Command Reference lists every available resource:
Check help for any resource. Every resource command has its own help page showing available flags and subcommands:
See all available commands at the top level:
For multi-step task walkthroughs (month-end review, CI/CD automation), see Common Workflows.

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For CI/CD environments

In automated pipelines like GitHub Actions or Jenkins, browser-based OAuth isn’t possible. Set the X_API_KEY environment variable instead of running dualentry auth login:
The CLI uses the API key automatically and skips the OAuth flow. Store the key in your CI/CD platform’s secrets manager, and don’t commit it to source control.
Never commit API keys to source control. Use your CI/CD platform’s encrypted secrets manager and reference the key via environment variables.

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Troubleshooting

The issues below cover the most common installation and authentication problems.
  • Command not found after install - make sure the install location is on your PATH. For Homebrew, this is usually automatic. For other methods, check the install output for instructions.
  • Authentication failing - run dualentry auth login again. If your browser doesn’t open, check that you have a default browser set.
  • Slow responses - the CLI is at v0.1.9; performance on some operations is still being optimized. Large datasets may take a moment.
Last modified on August 27, 2026