§ CLI

CLI reference

Developer toolLocal-only

Dettivo ships a bundled CLI named `dettivo`. Run `dettivo install-helper --link` to symlink it into `~/.local/bin/`. The CLI exposes dictation, meeting, transcript, import, polish, and MCP commands over the same IPC the app uses.

Who this is for

Developers, ops engineers, anyone scripting around their dictation history. Anyone configuring MCP for Claude Code / Cursor / Codex.

Install the CLI

01
Symlink into PATH
Run `dettivo install-helper --link`. Symlinks the bundled binary into `~/.local/bin/dettivo`.
02
Verify
`dettivo --version` should print the build. `dettivo status` should report the app state.

Command groups

Group	Subcommands	Notes
dictation	start · stop · cancel · status	Drive a dictation session.
meetings	start · stop · list · latest	Drive meeting capture.
transcripts	list · get · search · latest · export · insert	Read history. Insert into focused app.
import	<file>	Add an audio file to History; transcribe.
polish	test · presets · rules	Polish sandbox.
mcp	serve · config	Run / configure the MCP server.
install-helper	--link · --unlink	Manage the PATH symlink.
status		Print app state, permissions, version.

Output + exit codes

Concept	Values
Output formats	`--format plain` (default) · `--format markdown` · `--format json`
Exit 0	Success.
Exit 1	Generic error.
Exit 2	App not running.
Exit 3	Permission denied.
Exit 4	Args / usage error.
Exit 5	Timeout.

Example: pipe the latest transcript into your shell

# Get the latest transcript as markdown
dettivo transcripts latest --format markdown > note.md

# Insert the latest transcript into the focused app
dettivo transcripts insert --latest

# Search transcripts for a phrase
dettivo transcripts search "term sheet" --format json | jq '.'

§ Related

Launching April 2026

Be first on the launch list.

Dettivo opens for new purchases in April 2026. One-time license, three Macs, lifetime updates.