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

# Special commands

> Reference for Drift CLI's built-in special commands for help, updates, and process management

Drift CLI includes special commands that start with `/` for system-level operations and utilities. These commands provide quick access to help, version information, updates, and process management.

## Command-line help

Before launching the interactive CLI, you can get help directly from your terminal:

```bash theme={null}
drift --help
```

This displays usage information, available options, and how to get started with Drift CLI.

## Interactive commands

Once inside the Drift CLI interactive prompt, these special commands are available:

### /help

Display comprehensive help information and command examples.

**Usage:**

```bash theme={null}
drift> /help
```

This command shows:

* Overview of Drift's capabilities
* Example natural language commands
* List of all special commands
* Tips for getting started

<Note>
  Run `/help` when you're first getting started or need inspiration for what to ask Drift.
</Note>

***

### /version

Display the current version of Drift CLI.

**Usage:**

```bash theme={null}
drift> /version
```

This shows your installed version number, which is helpful when:

* Checking if you're on the latest release
* Reporting bugs or issues
* Verifying installation succeeded

**Example output:**

```
Drift CLI version 1.0.12
```

***

### /update

Update Drift CLI to the latest version.

**Usage:**

```bash theme={null}
drift> /update
```

This command:

* Downloads the latest release
* Installs the updated version
* Preserves your settings and workspaces

<Accordion title="Automatic update notifications">
  Drift CLI automatically checks for updates on startup. When a new version is available, you'll see a notification:

  ```
  ℹ️  A new version (1.1.0) is available. Type /update to install.
  ```

  Simply run `/update` to upgrade to the latest version.
</Accordion>

<Warning>
  If the update fails, you can manually download and install the latest `.deb` package from the [releases page](https://github.com/drift-tech/drift-releases/releases/latest).
</Warning>

***

### /ps

Show running background processes managed by Drift.

**Usage:**

```bash theme={null}
drift> /ps
```

This displays:

* Active ROS2 nodes
* Running Gazebo simulations
* Background launch files
* Process status and PIDs

Use this to:

* Monitor what's currently running
* Track simulation processes
* Verify launches succeeded
* Debug process-related issues

***

### /clear

Clear the terminal screen.

**Usage:**

```bash theme={null}
drift> /clear
```

This clears all previous output from the screen, giving you a clean workspace. Useful when:

* Your terminal gets cluttered with output
* You want to start a fresh task
* You need better visibility of current operations

***

### /exit

Exit the Drift CLI.

**Usage:**

```bash theme={null}
drift> /exit
```

This gracefully shuts down Drift and returns you to your normal terminal.

<Note>
  You can also use standard terminal shortcuts like `Ctrl+C` or `Ctrl+D` to exit.
</Note>

## Quick reference

| Command    | Description                          |
| ---------- | ------------------------------------ |
| `/help`    | Show comprehensive help and examples |
| `/version` | Display version information          |
| `/update`  | Update to the latest version         |
| `/ps`      | Show running background processes    |
| `/clear`   | Clear the terminal screen            |
| `/exit`    | Exit Drift CLI                       |