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The sbt command

sbt is how scripts and agents use SBT. Run it with no arguments inside a repository to open SBT's terminal app.

sbt --help lists every command, and sbt <command> --help explains one. The help is the reference: it is generated from the same code that runs.

Tasks

sbt create "Add a search filter"           # prints the new ID, e.g. WEB-13
sbt list --ready                           # tasks with nothing blocking them
sbt view WEB-13                            # one task in full
sbt edit WEB-13 --status "In Progress"
sbt edit WEB-13 --dod "Search works with an empty query"
sbt edit WEB-13 --append-notes "Filter added; tests pass."
sbt rank task WEB-13 --top                 # first in your order

A task ID works from any folder. Most commands take --json for output a script can read.

Agents

An agent claims a task before it starts and releases it when it hands back. The claim is what shows you who is on what.

sbt work claim WEB-13
sbt work release WEB-13

sbt skill install --agent all teaches Claude Code, Codex and Pi to do this on their own. sbt mcp offers every command as a tool to any agent that speaks the Model Context Protocol. It runs locally and opens no port.

Everything else

Command What it does
sbt doctor Checks your setup and changes nothing
sbt wiki Reads and edits the Library
sbt form Publishes a question to the Inbox
sbt pr Reads and merges pull requests
sbt wait Waits for checks or for your answer, with a timeout
sbt jobs Manages scheduled jobs
sbt flags Lists flags and switches them off or on
sbt share Exports and imports task lists
sbt paths Prints where settings and logs live
sbt stats Summarizes what you used, what was slow and what failed

Read this guide from a terminal

sbt skill show sbt-guide               # the page list
sbt skill show sbt-guide --topic tasks # one page