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Run jolter <command> --help to inspect the syntax shipped by your installed version.

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Global options

OptionPurpose
--no-progressDisable the in-place progress line and use stable action lines
--no-colorDisable ANSI styling
-q, --quietSuppress operational progress while retaining results
-v, --verboseInclude transfer timing and additional operational detail
-h, --helpPrint help
-V, --versionPrint the Jolter version
--quiet and --verbose conflict. CI detection, redirected output, and JOLTER_NO_PROGRESS also disable the in-place renderer.

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Request syntax

Runtime and tool requests use <name>@<selector>: 
node@lts
node@24
bun@1.2
deno@2.1.3
pnpm@10
yarn@4.x
npm@11.1.0
eslint@8

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jolter setup

jolter setup
jolter setup --shell powershell
jolter setup --shell cmd
jolter setup --shell bash
jolter setup --shell zsh
jolter setup --shell fish
Creates or refreshes command shims and prints PATH commands for the selected shell. auto is the default.

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jolter use

jolter use <runtime-or-tool>@<selector>
jolter use node@lts pnpm@10
For a runtime, use resolves, installs or reuses, and globally activates the exact version. For a built-in tool, an active Node.js runtime is required. For a plugin tool, a provider plugin must already be installed. When run without a target in an interactive terminal, Jolter can prompt for a runtime or tool.

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jolter pin

jolter pin <runtime-or-tool>@<selector>
Writes jolter.json in the current directory. Runtime pinning replaces the previous runtime. Tool pinning preserves the runtime and other tools. Plugin-provided tool pinning records both the tool and provider plugin when Jolter can identify the provider.

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jolter update

Aliases: up. 
jolter update <runtime-or-tool>
jolter update <runtime-or-tool>@<selector>
jolter update --all
A bare name updates the globally active version within its current major line. An explicit selector may move to another line. --all updates every active runtime, built-in tool, and plugin tool sequentially.

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jolter list

Aliases: ls. 
jolter list
jolter list --json
Lists installed runtimes, built-in tools, plugin tools, and plugins. * marks globally active versions. ready means the expected executable or entry point exists.

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jolter doctor

jolter doctor
jolter doctor --json
Runs non-destructive health checks for storage, platform support, project resolution, installations, shims, PATH, cache state, proxies, certificates, and plugin state. Warnings do not fail the command. Any failed check produces a nonzero exit status.

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jolter sync

jolter sync
jolter sync --yes
Synchronizes the current project. A project runtime is required. Configured built-in tools require that runtime to be Node.js. --yes permits Jolter to install missing project plugins.

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jolter repair

jolter repair
jolter repair --yes
Runs project synchronization in repair mode. Complete reusable installations are retained. Incomplete or corrupt project requirements are replaced.

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jolter plugin

jolter plugin install <name>[@selector]
jolter plugin list
jolter plugin list --json
jolter plugin update <name>
jolter plugin update --all
jolter plugin uninstall <name> [--force]
Aliases: 
jolter plugin add eslint
jolter plugin i eslint
jolter plugin ls
jolter plugin up eslint
jolter plugin remove eslint
jolter plugin rm eslint
Plugins are installed globally under JOLTER_HOME/plugins.

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jolter uninstall

Aliases: remove, rm. 
jolter uninstall <runtime-or-tool>@<exact-version>
jolter uninstall <runtime-or-tool>@<exact-version> --force
Only exact semantic versions are accepted. Active versions are protected unless --force is passed.

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jolter prune

jolter prune
jolter prune --dry-run
jolter prune --keep 2
Removes old and incomplete installations while protecting active versions, current project requirements, and the newest kept complete versions for each kind.

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jolter cache

jolter cache status
jolter cache clean
status reports cached metadata and download file counts and size. clean removes metadata and downloaded archives, but not installed versions, shims, active selections, or lock files.

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jolter setup-ci

jolter setup-ci
jolter setup-ci --json
jolter setup-ci --yes
Synchronizes the project, refreshes shims, detects the CI provider, and reports the resolved toolchain and cache paths. On GitHub Actions, it appends shims to GITHUB_PATH and writes outputs when GITHUB_OUTPUT is available.

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jolter completions

Aliases: c, comp. 
jolter completions bash
jolter completions zsh
jolter completions fish
jolter completions elvish
jolter completions powershell
Writes a completion script to standard output.

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Exit and stream contract

  • Successful commands return exit code 0.
  • Parsing, installation, configuration, storage, and failed health checks return a nonzero exit code.
  • Final human results and JSON are written to standard output.
  • Progress and failures are written to standard error.
  • Machine-output commands suppress decorative progress.

Related topics

Plugin API referenceCompatibilityEnvironment variablesJolter