> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sailresearch.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Install the CLI

> Install the sail command-line tool on macOS, Linux, and Windows

The `sail` CLI is a standalone terminal tool. Use it to create and manage
sailboxes, open interactive shells, log in, and expose ports. It is a single
native binary with no runtime dependencies.

The CLI and the SDKs are separate products. If you only want to drive Sail from
code, install an [SDK](/sdk-introduction). If you already use the Python
SDK, you have the CLI too. `pip install sail` puts `sail` on your `PATH`.

## macOS and Linux

```bash theme={null}
curl -fsSL https://cli.sailresearch.com/install.sh | sh
```

This installs the latest `sail` into `~/.local/bin`. If that directory is not on
your `PATH`, the installer prints the line to add.

## Windows

```powershell theme={null}
irm https://cli.sailresearch.com/install.ps1 | iex
```

This installs `sail.exe` into `%LOCALAPPDATA%\sail\bin` and adds it to your user
`PATH`. Restart your shell afterward.

## Verify

```bash theme={null}
sail --version
```

## Options

Both installers read a few environment variables.

| Variable           | Effect                                                            |
| ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `SAIL_CLI_VERSION` | Install a specific version, for example `0.2.7`. Default: latest. |
| `SAIL_INSTALL_DIR` | Install into a different directory.                               |

Pin a version:

```bash theme={null}
curl -fsSL https://cli.sailresearch.com/install.sh | SAIL_CLI_VERSION=0.2.7 sh
```

## Upgrade

Re-run the installer to upgrade to the latest version. It overwrites the
existing binary in place.

```bash theme={null}
curl -fsSL https://cli.sailresearch.com/install.sh | sh
```

If you installed the CLI through the Python SDK, upgrade it with `pip install -U
sail` (or the `uv` equivalent) instead.

## Next steps

Log in and open the interactive shell:

```bash theme={null}
sail auth login
sail shell
```

The [Sailboxes guide](/sailboxes) covers what you can do from there, including
creating and connecting to sailboxes. For every command and flag, see the
[CLI reference](/reference/cli).