---
title: CLI
description: Use the shadcn CLI to add components to your project.
---

<Callout type="info">
  **Note:** We rely on the [shadcn/ui
  CLI](https://ui.shadcn.com/docs/installation/cli) to add components to your
  project.
</Callout>

## init

Use the `init` command to initialize configuration and dependencies for a new project.

The `init` command installs dependencies, adds the `cn` util and configures CSS variables for the project.

```bash
npx shadcn@latest init
```

### Options

```txt
Usage: shadcn init [options] [components...]

initialize your project and install dependencies

Arguments:
  components         the components to add or a url to the component.

Options:
  -y, --yes           skip confirmation prompt. (default: true)
  -d, --defaults,     use default configuration. (default: false)
  -f, --force         force overwrite of existing configuration. (default: false)
  -c, --cwd <cwd>     the working directory. defaults to the current directory. (default: "/Users/shadcn/Desktop")
  -s, --silent        mute output. (default: false)
  --src-dir           use the src directory when creating a new project. (default: false)
  --no-src-dir        do not use the src directory when creating a new project.
  --css-variables     use css variables for theming. (default: true)
  --no-css-variables  do not use css variables for theming.
  -h, --help          display help for command
```

## add

Use the `add` command to add components and dependencies to your project.

```bash
npx shadcn@latest add [component]
```

### Options

```txt
Usage: shadcn add [options] [components...]

add a component to your project

Arguments:
  components         the components to add or a url to the component.

Options:
  -y, --yes           skip confirmation prompt. (default: false)
  -o, --overwrite     overwrite existing files. (default: false)
  -c, --cwd <cwd>     the working directory. defaults to the current directory. (default: "/Users/shadcn/Desktop")
  -a, --all           add all available components (default: false)
  -p, --path <path>   the path to add the component to.
  -s, --silent        mute output. (default: false)
  --src-dir           use the src directory when creating a new project. (default: false)
  --no-src-dir        do not use the src directory when creating a new project.
  --css-variables     use css variables for theming. (default: true)
  --no-css-variables  do not use css variables for theming.
  -h, --help          display help for command
```

## build

Use the `build` command to generate the registry JSON files.

```bash
npx shadcn@latest build
```

This command reads the `registry.json` file and generates the registry JSON files in the `public/r` directory.

### Options

```txt
Usage: shadcn build [options] [registry]

build components for a shadcn registry

Arguments:
  registry             path to registry.json file (default: "./registry.json")

Options:
  -o, --output <path>  destination directory for json files (default: "./public/r")
  -c, --cwd <cwd>      the working directory. defaults to the current directory. (default:
                       "/Users/shadcn/Code/shadcn/ui/packages/shadcn")
  -h, --help           display help for command
```

To customize the output directory, use the `--output` option.

```bash
npx shadcn@latest build --output ./public/registry
```