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Prerequisites

  • Node.js 22 or higher
  • npm
  • A Codika API key (obtain from the Codika dashboard under Organization Settings > API Keys)

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Step 1: Install the CLI

npm install -g codika
Verify the installation: 
codika --version

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Step 2: Authenticate

codika login
This prompts for your API key (masked input), verifies it against the platform, and stores a named profile in ~/.config/codika/config.json. For non-interactive environments: 
codika login --api-key cko_your_api_key_here
Verify your identity: 
codika whoami
Output: 
Organization:  My Company
Key name:      dev-key
Key:           cko_abc...xyz
Scopes:        deploy:use-case, workflows:trigger
Expires:       2026-12-31
Profile:       my-company

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Step 3: Scaffold a use case

codika init my-first-automation --name "My First Automation"
This creates: 
my-first-automation/
  config.ts                    # Deployment configuration
  version.json                 # Version tracking (starts at 1.0.0)
  project.json                 # Platform project ID
  package.json                 # Dependencies (codika)
  tsconfig.json                # TypeScript config for IDE support
  .gitignore                   # Ignores node_modules/
  node_modules/                # Dependencies installed automatically
  workflows/
    main-workflow.json         # HTTP-triggered parent workflow
    scheduled-report.json      # Schedule-triggered workflow
    text-processor.json        # Sub-workflow (called by parent)
  skills/
    main-workflow/SKILL.md     # Agent skill for the HTTP workflow
    scheduled-report/SKILL.md  # Agent skill for the scheduled workflow
The template includes three workflows demonstrating different trigger types (HTTP, schedule, sub-workflow), the mandatory Codika node pattern, and placeholder usage. It also includes two agent skills that describe how AI agents can interact with the triggerable workflows. Dependencies are installed automatically so the use case is immediately deployable.

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Step 4: Validate

codika verify use-case ./my-first-automation
Expected output if valid: 
✓ Use case validation passed
  must: 0  should: 0  nit: 0
If there are issues, the CLI lists each finding with rule ID, severity, file, and message. Use --fix to auto-fix what it can: 
codika verify use-case ./my-first-automation --fix

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Step 5: Deploy

codika deploy use-case ./my-first-automation
The CLI:
  1. Reads version.json (1.0.0)
  2. Bumps to 1.0.1 (patch by default)
  3. Packages all workflow files and collects agent skills from skills/
  4. Sends to the Codika platform API
  5. On success: updates version.json, archives deployment locally, saves devProcessInstanceId to project.json
Output: 
✓ Deployed successfully
  Version:     1.0.1 (API: 1.1)
  Workflows:   3
  Project:     abc123
  Instance:    def456

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Step 6: Trigger a workflow

codika trigger main-workflow --poll --payload-file - <<'EOF'
{"message": "Hello world"}
EOF
The --poll flag waits for execution to complete (default timeout: 120 seconds) and prints the result.

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Step 7: Check execution details

If you need to debug: 
codika get execution <executionId> --deep --slim
The --deep flag fetches sub-workflow executions recursively. The --slim flag strips noise for readability.

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Optional: Publish to production

Once you’re happy with your dev deployment, publish it to production: 
codika publish <templateId>
The templateId is stored in project.json under the deployments map after each deploy. Check it with: 
cat project.json | grep templateId
This creates a production process instance. See publish for visibility and sharing options.

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Optional: Download skills for agents

Your use case already includes agent skills (created during init). After deploying, agents can download them: 
codika get skills
Or download directly into a Claude Code project: 
codika get skills --output .claude/skills
Claude Code will auto-discover the skills and know how to trigger your workflows. See Agent Skills for the full story.

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What’s next

Core concepts

Learn how use cases, processes, and workflows relate.

Build your own

Step-by-step guide to building a custom use case from scratch.

CLI Reference

Complete reference for all CLI commands and options.

Validation rules

Understand all validation rules enforced by the CLI.

Builder System

Let AI agents build use cases from your business requirements.