# Railway CLI > Manage Railway cloud deployments via the Railway CLI. Use when the user wants to deploy, manage services, set variables, view logs, link projects, add databases, configure domains, manage volumes, or perform any Railway platform operation from the terminal. - Skill: `miketromba/railway-cli` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add miketromba/railway-cli` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/miketromba/railway-cli/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: DevOps & Infra - Author: miketromba (https://skillmd.com/u/miketromba) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/miketromba/railway-cli --- # Railway CLI Operate the [Railway](https://railway.com) platform from the command line. Covers the full lifecycle: authentication, project setup, deployment, services, variables, environments, logs, domains, volumes, functions, and local development. **Source of truth**: [Railway CLI Docs](https://docs.railway.com/cli.md) ## Handling Missing Installation Assume `railway` is installed. If a command fails with "command not found" or similar, install it before retrying: ```bash # macOS (preferred) brew install railway # Any OS with Node.js >= 16 npm i -g @railway/cli # Shell script (macOS / Linux / WSL) bash <(curl -fsSL cli.new) ``` After install, verify with `railway --version`, then resume the original task. ## Self-Discovery The Railway CLI evolves across versions. When you encounter an unfamiliar subcommand or need to check current flags: ```bash railway --help # Top-level commands railway --help # Subcommand flags and usage ``` Always prefer `--help` output over memorized flags when composing complex commands. This keeps behavior correct even as the CLI updates. ## Authentication ```bash railway login # Browser-based login railway login --browserless # Token-based login (CI, SSH sessions) railway logout railway whoami # Verify current identity ``` **CI/CD token auth** (no interactive login): - `RAILWAY_TOKEN` — project-scoped actions - `RAILWAY_API_TOKEN` — account/workspace-scoped actions ```bash RAILWAY_TOKEN= railway up ``` ## Project Lifecycle ### Create or link ```bash railway init # Create new project (interactive) railway link # Link cwd to existing project railway unlink # Unlink cwd ``` ### Inspect ```bash railway status # Current project/service/environment info railway list # All projects in workspace railway open # Open project in browser ``` ## Deployment ```bash railway up # Deploy cwd railway up --detach # Deploy without tailing logs railway deploy --template postgres # Deploy from a template railway redeploy # Redeploy latest deployment railway restart # Restart service (no new build) railway down # Remove latest deployment ``` ## Services ```bash railway add # Add service (interactive) railway add --database postgres # Add a database (postgres, mysql, redis, mongo) railway add --repo user/repo # Add service from GitHub repo railway service # Switch linked service (interactive) railway scale # Scale service replicas railway delete # Delete the project ``` ## Variables ```bash railway variable list # List all variables railway variable set KEY=value # Set a variable railway variable set K1=v1 K2=v2 # Set multiple at once railway variable delete KEY # Remove a variable ``` ## Environments ```bash railway environment # Switch environment (interactive) railway environment new # Create environment railway environment delete # Delete environment ``` ## Local Development ```bash railway run # Run command with Railway env vars injected railway shell # Open shell with Railway env vars railway dev # Run services locally with Docker ``` `railway run` is useful for running migrations, seeds, or scripts that need production/staging credentials without `.env` files. ## Logs & Debugging ```bash railway logs # Stream live deployment logs railway logs --build # View build logs railway logs -n 100 # Last N lines railway ssh # SSH into running service container railway connect # Connect to database shell (psql, mysql, redis-cli, mongosh) ``` ## Networking ```bash railway domain # Generate a Railway subdomain railway domain example.com # Attach a custom domain ``` ## Volumes ```bash railway volume list railway volume add railway volume delete ``` ## Functions ```bash railway functions list railway functions new railway functions push ``` ## Utilities ```bash railway completion bash # Generate shell completions (bash/zsh/fish) railway docs # Open docs in browser railway upgrade # Upgrade CLI to latest version ``` ## Global Flags These flags work across most commands: | Flag | Description | |------|-------------| | `-s, --service ` | Target a specific service | | `-e, --environment ` | Target a specific environment | | `--json` | Output as JSON (useful for scripting) | | `-y, --yes` | Skip confirmation prompts | | `-h, --help` | Show help | | `-V, --version` | Show CLI version | ## Common Workflows ### First-time project setup ```bash railway login railway init # or: railway link railway up railway domain # get a public URL railway logs # verify deployment ``` ### Add a database to an existing project ```bash railway add --database postgres railway connect # verify connectivity railway variable list # check injected DATABASE_URL ``` ### Deploy with environment targeting ```bash railway environment new staging railway up -e staging railway logs -e staging ``` ### Run a one-off command with prod vars ```bash railway run -e production npx prisma migrate deploy ``` ## Additional Resources For the full and most current reference, see [reference.md](reference.md) or consult: - [Railway CLI Docs](https://docs.railway.com/cli.md) - `railway --help` / `railway --help` - [Railway CLI GitHub](https://github.com/railwayapp/cli)