---

name: api-cli-services description: "Operates Cognee through the CLI, FastAPI app, Docker Compose profiles, MCP server, UI launch, cloud/local connection, and dataset push/sync surfaces." disable-model-invocation: true metadata: disco-role: operating license: Apache 2.0

Cognee API, CLI, and Service Router

Use this sub-skill when the request is about service-facing Cognee entry points: CLI flags and subcommands, the FastAPI server, Docker Compose profiles, MCP transports, cloud/local connection helpers, UI launch, and dataset push/sync operations.

Route here for

• cognee-cli global flags and service-oriented subcommands.
• python -m cognee.api.client and the public FastAPI router surface.
• cognee serve, cognee serve --logout, cognee push, and related connection flows.
• cognee-mcp transports, tools, resources, and API/cloud connection modes.
• cognee-cli -ui, Docker Compose profiles, and frontend launch notes.
• Safe help/output checks that do not start listeners or mutate data.

Route away

• Backend/provider selection, storage/database matrices, and environment tuning: configuration-backends.
• Deep SDK workflow semantics beyond service routing and connectivity.
• Frontend internals beyond build and launch guidance.

Read first

1. references/cli-reference.md
2. references/services-mcp.md
3. references/deployment.md
4. references/troubleshooting.md

Safe helpers

• scripts/check_cli_surface.py — verifies the installed cognee-cli help surface.
• scripts/check_mcp_surface.py — checks the MCP entry point and reports a missing mcp package clearly.

Working rules

• Prefer public entry points such as cognee-cli, python -m cognee.api.client, cognee serve, cognee push, and cognee-mcp.
• Treat cognee serve --logout as the CLI disconnect path; the SDK exposes cognee.disconnect(clear_saved=True).
• Keep service commands non-destructive unless the user explicitly asked for a change.
• Use the troubleshooting reference for auth, CORS, transport, bundle, container, and port issues.
• Use the configuration sub-skill for provider and backend matrix questions.