CLI Reference

All Rudel operations are available through WP-CLI under the wp rudel namespace.

Custom command name

The CLI command name can be changed by defining RUDEL_CLI_COMMAND in your wp-config.php before the plugin loads:

define( 'RUDEL_CLI_COMMAND', 'sandbox' );

This changes all commands from wp rudel ... to wp sandbox .... Useful for white-label distributions or when rudel conflicts with another command.

Only the WP-CLI command name is affected. Internal identifiers like the rudel_sandbox cookie and X-Rudel-Sandbox header remain unchanged. The URL path prefix can be configured separately via RUDEL_PATH_PREFIX.

Sandbox commands

`wp rudel create`

Create a new sandbox.

wp rudel create [--name=<name>] [--github=<repo>] [--engine=<engine>] [--template=<template>] [--clone-db] [--clone-themes] [--clone-plugins] [--clone-uploads] [--clone-all] [--clone-from=<id>]

Option	Description
`--name=<name>`	Human-readable name. Auto-generated from `--github` repo or random if omitted.
`--github=<repo>`	GitHub repository (`owner/repo`). Creates a branch and downloads files.
`--engine=<engine>`	Database engine: `mysql` (default), `sqlite`, or `subsite` (multisite only)
`--template=<template>`	Template to use (default: `blank`)
`--clone-db`	Clone the host database into the sandbox
`--clone-themes`	Copy host themes into the sandbox
`--clone-plugins`	Copy host plugins into the sandbox
`--clone-uploads`	Copy host uploads into the sandbox
`--clone-all`	Clone everything (database, themes, plugins, uploads)
`--clone-from=<id>`	Clone from an existing sandbox

# Blank sandbox (name auto-generated)
wp rudel create

# Named sandbox
wp rudel create --name="my-sandbox"

# GitHub worktree: creates branch, downloads repo
wp rudel create --github=inline0/my-theme

# Full clone of host
wp rudel create --clone-all

# SQLite engine
wp rudel create --engine=sqlite

# Multisite sub-site (requires multisite host)
wp rudel create --engine=subsite

`wp rudel list`

List all sandboxes.

wp rudel list [--format=<format>]

Option	Description
`--format=<format>`	Output format: `table` (default), `json`, `csv`, `yaml`, `count`

`wp rudel info`

Show sandbox details.

wp rudel info <id> [--format=<format>]

Option	Description
`<id>`	Sandbox ID (required)
`--format=<format>`	Output format: `table` (default), `json`, `yaml`

`wp rudel destroy`

Delete a sandbox permanently.

wp rudel destroy <id> [--force]

Option	Description
`<id>`	Sandbox ID (required)
`--force`	Skip confirmation prompt

`wp rudel status`

Show Rudel status and configuration.

wp rudel status

`wp rudel promote`

Replace the host site with a sandbox's state.

wp rudel promote <id> [--force] [--backup-dir=<path>]

Option	Description
`<id>`	Sandbox ID to promote (required)
`--force`	Skip confirmation prompt
`--backup-dir=<path>`	Custom directory for the host backup

`wp rudel logs`

View a sandbox's error log.

wp rudel logs <id> [--lines=<lines>] [--follow] [--clear]

Option	Description
`<id>`	Sandbox ID (required)
`--lines=<lines>`	Number of lines to show from the end (default: 50)
`--follow`	Watch for new entries in real time (like `tail -f`)
`--clear`	Clear the log file

`wp rudel snapshot`

Create a point-in-time snapshot of a sandbox.

wp rudel snapshot <id> --name=<name>

Option	Description
`<id>`	Sandbox ID (required)
`--name=<name>`	Snapshot name (required)

`wp rudel restore`

Restore a sandbox from a snapshot.

wp rudel restore <id> --snapshot=<name> [--force]

Option	Description
`<id>`	Sandbox ID (required)
`--snapshot=<name>`	Snapshot name to restore from (required)
`--force`	Skip confirmation prompt

`wp rudel export`

Export a sandbox as a zip archive.

wp rudel export <id> --output=<path>

Option	Description
`<id>`	Sandbox ID (required)
`--output=<path>`	Output path for the zip file (required)

`wp rudel import`

Import a sandbox from a zip archive.

wp rudel import <file> --name=<name>

Option	Description
`<file>`	Path to the zip file (required)
`--name=<name>`	Name for the imported sandbox (required)

`wp rudel cleanup`

Clean up expired or merged sandboxes.

wp rudel cleanup [--dry-run] [--max-age-days=<days>] [--merged]

Option	Description
`--dry-run`	Show what would be removed without deleting
`--max-age-days=<days>`	Override the configured max age in days
`--merged`	Remove sandboxes whose git branches have been merged into main

GitHub commands

`wp rudel push`

Push sandbox file changes to a GitHub branch. No git binary required.

wp rudel push <id> [--github=<repo>] [--message=<message>] [--dir=<dir>]

Option	Description
`<id>`	Sandbox ID (required)
`--github=<repo>`	GitHub repository (`owner/repo`). Remembered after first use.
`--message=<message>`	Commit message (default: "Update from Rudel sandbox")
`--dir=<dir>`	Subdirectory within wp-content to push (e.g. `themes/my-theme`)

Requires RUDEL_GITHUB_TOKEN to be defined in wp-config.php.

`wp rudel pr`

Create a GitHub pull request from a sandbox branch.

wp rudel pr <id> [--github=<repo>] [--title=<title>] [--body=<body>]

Option	Description
`<id>`	Sandbox ID (required)
`--github=<repo>`	GitHub repository. Uses stored repo from previous push if omitted.
`--title=<title>`	PR title (defaults to sandbox name)
`--body=<body>`	PR description

Template commands

`wp rudel template save`

Save a sandbox as a reusable template.

wp rudel template save <id> --name=<name> [--description=<description>]

Option	Description
`<id>`	Sandbox ID to save (required)
`--name=<name>`	Template name (required)
`--description=<description>`	Optional description

`wp rudel template list`

List all templates.

wp rudel template list [--format=<format>]

Option	Description
`--format=<format>`	Output format: `table` (default), `json`, `csv`, `yaml`, `count`

`wp rudel template delete`

Delete a template.

wp rudel template delete <name> [--force]

Option	Description
`<name>`	Template name (required)
`--force`	Skip confirmation prompt

Browser endpoints

Exit sandbox

?adminExit

Append ?adminExit to any URL to clear the rudel_sandbox cookie and redirect to the host homepage. Use this to switch back from a sandbox to the host site in the browser.

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