zerodb-cli · npm · v0.1.3
Wire your editor to ZeroDB in one command
npx zerodb-cli init creates a project, provisions an Instant DB, and writes the correct MCP config for Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, or Windsurf — no signup required to start.
Instant DB — no signup
Provisions a 72-hour trial project automatically when you have no credentials. Claim it with the printed URL to keep your data.
Editor auto-detect
Detects Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, and Windsurf from your project directory and writes the right MCP config for each.
.env + MCP config in one step
Writes ZERODB_API_KEY, ZERODB_PROJECT_ID, and ZERODB_API_URL to .env and the matching editor MCP JSON — nothing to hand-edit.
Install & run
Option A — npx (no global install)
npx zerodb-cli init
Runs immediately without a global install. Uses v0.1.3 from npm.
Option B — global install
npm install -g zerodb-cli zerodb init
Installs the zerodb binary globally so you can run it from any project.
What zerodb init does
- 1
Accept the AINative Terms
Prompts once per machine — skipped on subsequent runs.
- 2
Provision an Instant DB (if no credentials)
Calls POST /api/v1/public/instant-db to create a 72-hour trial project. No signup required. Prints a claim_url to make it permanent.
- 3
Auto-detect your editor
Scans the project directory for .claude/, .cursor/, .vscode/, .windsurf/. Override with --editor claude-code|cursor|vscode|windsurf.
- 4
Write .env
Creates .env with ZERODB_API_KEY, ZERODB_PROJECT_ID, and ZERODB_API_URL. Never overwrites an existing key.
- 5
Write editor MCP config
Writes .mcp.json (Claude Code), .cursor/mcp.json, .vscode/mcp.json, or .windsurf/mcp.json pointing at the hosted ZeroDB memory MCP.
Files created by zerodb init
| File | Editor | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| .env | All | ZERODB_API_KEY, ZERODB_PROJECT_ID, ZERODB_API_URL |
| .mcp.json | Claude Code | mcpServers.memory pointing at ainative-memory-mcp |
| .cursor/mcp.json | Cursor | Same MCP server config for Cursor |
| .vscode/mcp.json | VS Code | Same MCP server config for VS Code |
| .windsurf/mcp.json | Windsurf | Same MCP server config for Windsurf |
Add .env to your .gitignore — it contains real API keys.
Other commands
zerodb status
zerodb status # → API key: zdb_•••••••••••••••••• # → Project ID: proj_abc123 # → API URL: https://api.ainative.studio
Reads your .env and prints the API key (masked), project ID, and API URL — a quick check that init ran correctly.
Available flags
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
| --api-key <key> | Skip provisioning and use this key |
| --project-id <id> | Use an existing project ID |
| --editor <editor> | Override auto-detect: claude-code | cursor | vscode | windsurf |
Get the ZeroDB CLI Step-by-Step Guide
A free PDF workbook: install zerodb-cli, run init, wire your editor, and set up persistent agent memory — step by step.
Frequently asked questions
What is zerodb-cli?
zerodb-cli (npm package, v0.1.3) installs a zerodb binary that creates a ZeroDB project and configures MCP for your editor — Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, or Windsurf — in one command. No signup required to start.
What does zerodb init do?
zerodb init prompts you to accept the AINative Terms, then — if you have no credentials — provisions an Instant DB (a 72-hour trial project, no signup). It auto-detects your editor from the project directory (.claude/, .cursor/, .vscode/, .windsurf/) and writes .env with ZERODB_API_KEY, ZERODB_PROJECT_ID, and ZERODB_API_URL, plus the editor MCP config pointing at the hosted ZeroDB memory MCP. It finishes by printing a claim_url to make the trial project permanent.
Which editors does the CLI support?
The CLI auto-detects Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, and Windsurf from the project directory. You can override detection with --editor claude-code|cursor|vscode|windsurf. It writes .mcp.json, .cursor/mcp.json, .vscode/mcp.json, or .windsurf/mcp.json respectively.
What is zerodb status?
zerodb status reads your .env and prints the API key (masked), project ID, and API URL — a quick sanity check that the CLI correctly wired your environment.
Do I need to sign up before running zerodb init?
No. If you have no credentials, zerodb init provisions a free Instant DB trial project via POST /api/v1/public/instant-db. The trial lasts 72 hours. The CLI prints a claim_url — visit it while the project is live to make it permanent under a full account.
How do I install zerodb-cli?
Run npx zerodb-cli init to use it without a global install, or npm install -g zerodb-cli to install it globally. The package is zerodb-cli on npm at v0.1.3.
