# Post & schedule from the terminal with the DunSocial CLI

> The DunSocial app as a few shell commands, for your laptop, local agents, & CI.

- Published: 2026-07-28
- Last updated: 2026-07-28
- Author: DunSocial
- Topics: cli, how-to

---

<script>
	import { CodeSnippet, SetupSteps } from '$lib/components/content';
</script>

The DunSocial CLI (`dun`) turns the app into commands you can run in a terminal. Same workspace as the dashboard. Useful on a laptop, in a coding agent, or in GitHub Actions when you do not want to open a browser.

Chat in Claude or ChatGPT → [MCP](/blog/schedule-social-posts-from-claude-and-chatgpt). Custom product or webhooks → [API](/blog/schedule-posts-with-the-dunsocial-api). Shell & CI → CLI.

## A concrete picture

![CLI syncing with DunSocial](/images/blog/post-and-schedule-from-the-terminal-with-the-dunsocial-cli/syncing.webp)

You just merged a release. From the project folder:

1. You are already signed in on this machine (`dun auth login` once).
2. You list accounts & copy the X account id (not the @handle).
3. You schedule: “Shipped v1.2” in an hour.
4. The post appears in DunSocial with a CLI source badge. You can still edit or cancel it in the app before it goes live.

Same idea in CI: a token in secrets, one command in the workflow, announce the tag without anyone babysitting the composer.

## Getting set up

<SetupSteps
	steps={[
		{
			title: 'Install the CLI from npm (Node 20+).',
			code: 'npm install -g dunsocial',
			label: 'bash'
		},
		{
			title: 'Sign in. A browser window opens so you can approve access on this machine.',
			code: 'dun auth login',
			label: 'bash'
		},
		{
			title: 'Pick your workspace, then list connected account ids (not @handles).',
			code: `dun workspace use your-workspace
dun accounts list`,
			label: 'bash'
		}
	]}
/>

On a remote SSH box, `dun auth login --no-browser` prints a link to open locally.

For automation, skip device login. Create a token under Settings → CLI, export `DUN_TOKEN` & `DUN_WORKSPACE_ID`, & the same commands work headlessly.

## Everyday examples

<CodeSnippet
	tabs={[
		{
			id: 'schedule',
			label: 'schedule',
			code: `dun posts schedule \\
  --text "Hello from the terminal" \\
  --accounts ACCOUNT_ID \\
  --in 1h`
		},
		{
			id: 'publish',
			label: 'publish',
			code: `dun posts publish \\
  --text "Hello from the terminal" \\
  --accounts ACCOUNT_ID`
		},
		{
			id: 'thread',
			label: 'thread',
			code: `dun posts schedule-thread \\
  --account X_ACCOUNT_ID \\
  --file ./thread.json \\
  --in 2h`
		},
		{
			id: 'photo',
			label: 'photo',
			code: `dun media upload ./shot.png
dun posts schedule \\
  --text "New shot from the studio" \\
  --accounts ACCOUNT_ID \\
  --media ASSET_ID \\
  --in 30m`
		}
	]}
/>

Exact flags & edge cases live in the [schedule docs](https://www.dunsocial.com/docs/cli/posts/schedule-and-publish).

## Why CI likes it

`--json` prints a stable success or error object. Exit codes mean something (auth failed vs validation vs rate limit), so a workflow can fail for the right reason. Posts from the CLI are tagged in the UI, so you can audit what automation created.

Local agents can learn the surface with `dun skill install cursor` (or `all`): short instructions so they use real account ids instead of inventing API calls.

## When this is the right tool

Use the CLI if you already live in a shell, ship from Actions, or want a coding agent on your machine to schedule without leaving the editor. If the operator is a web chat assistant, MCP fits better. If you are embedding DunSocial inside another product, use the API.

Start here: [CLI overview](https://www.dunsocial.com/docs/cli) · [Install & sign in](https://www.dunsocial.com/docs/cli/getting-started/install-and-sign-in) · [npm package](https://www.npmjs.com/package/dunsocial).

---

## About this document

This is the Markdown representation of https://www.dunsocial.com/blog/post-and-schedule-from-the-terminal-with-the-dunsocial-cli. The HTML version of the same page is at the same URL. You can also request Markdown from any page by sending `Accept: text/markdown`.

Machine-readable summary of the whole site: https://www.dunsocial.com/llms.txt

## Company

- Product: DunSocial, https://www.dunsocial.com
- Legal entity: THISUX PRIVATE LIMITED, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
- Support: support@dunsocial.com
- Open the app: https://app.dunsocial.com/login