CLI (cec)
cec is the Dory command line. It is installed with the Python package (computeengines) and talks to the same API as the SDKs, so every customer-facing operation has a command. Output is human-readable by default and JSON with --json.
Status. Not installable yet; available when the beta opens (uv tool install computeengines or pipx install computeengines will work then). See Status.
Conventions
- Authenticate once with
cec login (it prompts for the key without echoing it) or set CE_API_KEY. CE_API_URL overrides the control endpoint.
- Lifecycle commands (
create, start, resume, pause, stop, restart) wait for the final state; a local timeout does not cancel the server operation.
cec exec ID -- COMMAND ARGS... runs the arguments without a shell; use bash -lc '...' for shell syntax. Pass --idempotency-key KEY to make a retry safe.cec rm ID --yes deletes without a prompt; the confirmation header is sent for you.- Add
--json for machine-readable output. Commands exit non-zero on failure and print the problem (code, detail, retryable) in JSON mode.
cec login
ID=$(cec create --size ac-2 --name work --json | jq -r .id)
cec exec "$ID" -- python3 -V
cec preview "$ID" 8000
cec pause "$ID" && cec resume "$ID"
cec rm "$ID" --yes
Account and billing
| Command |
What it does |
cec login |
Store an API key (prompts without echoing it). |
cec whoami |
Show the account. |
cec limits |
Show tier limits and current use. |
cec classes |
List classes, sizes and prices. |
cec balance |
Show balance, runway and spend limit. |
cec prices |
Show the current price list. |
cec ledger |
List ledger transactions. |
cec topup |
Create a top-up link for a person to pay. |
cec topups |
List or get top-ups. |
cec spend-limit |
Show or set the monthly spend limit. |
cec receipts |
Download a top-up receipt. |
cec usage |
Show usage for a computer or the account. |
Computers
| Command |
What it does |
cec create |
Create a computer and wait until it is ready. |
cec ls |
List computers. |
cec get |
Show a computer. |
cec update |
Change name, metadata, timer or mode. |
cec start |
Start (or resume) and wait for readiness. |
cec stop |
Stop and wait. |
cec pause |
Pause (memory kept) and wait. |
cec resume |
Resume and wait for readiness. |
cec restart |
Reboot a running computer. |
cec resize |
Change CPU and RAM of a stopped computer. |
cec extend |
Extend the run timer. |
cec rm |
Delete a computer (needs confirmation). |
cec ops |
Show an operation. |
cec setup |
Show setup script status. |
cec metrics |
Show 24 hours of metrics. |
cec access |
Mint a data API access token. |
cec revoke-access |
Revoke all access tokens of a computer. |
cec health |
Show in-guest agent health. |
cec network |
Show or set the egress policy. |
cec ports |
List listening ports. |
Commands and files
| Command |
What it does |
cec exec |
Run a command (add --background for a long-running process). |
cec ps |
List or show processes. |
cec attach |
Stream a process's output. |
cec setup-log |
Stream the setup script log. |
cec stdin |
Write to or close a process's stdin. |
cec kill |
Signal or kill a process. |
cec cp |
Copy files to or from a computer. |
cec files |
ls, stat, rm, mv, mkdir, chmod inside a computer. |
Desktop and browser
| Command |
What it does |
cec screenshot |
Save a screenshot. |
cec desktop |
Create a viewer link; subcommands: act, launch, display, windows, cursor, control, focus, clipboard, sessions. |
cec cdp |
Create, list or remove browser (CDP) sessions. |
SSH and terminals
| Command |
What it does |
cec ssh |
Open an SSH session (port-443 tunnel when needed). |
cec ssh-config |
Print an SSH configuration for a computer. |
cec ssh-proxy |
ProxyCommand for SSH over the tunnel. |
cec shell |
Interactive terminal. |
cec ssh-keys |
ls, add, rm SSH public keys. |
Previews and hooks
| Command |
What it does |
cec preview |
Create a private preview for a port. |
cec previews |
ls, rm, link, unlink, token, access-link. |
cec hooks |
add, ls, rotate, rm incoming-webhook hooks. |
Snapshots and images
| Command |
What it does |
cec snapshots |
create, ls, get, restore, rm. |
cec images |
ls, get, create, rm. |
Keys, events and MCP
| Command |
What it does |
cec keys |
ls, get, create, rotate, rm, usage for API keys. |
cec events |
Stream the events feed. |
cec mcp |
Run the MCP server locally over stdio. |
See the Python SDK page for installation notes and the API reference for the operations behind each command.