ByteRover CLI

3.8.3 verified Sat Apr 25 auth: no javascript

ByteRover CLI (brv) is an AI-powered context memory tool for developers. It provides a REPL interface and web dashboard for curating project knowledge into a persistent context tree, with version control, cloud sync, and MCP integration. The current stable version is 3.8.3, released with frequent minor releases (every few weeks). It bundles 18 LLM providers and 24 built-in agent tools. Unlike simple note-taking tools, ByteRover offers agentic codebase mapping, git-like versioning for context, and native connectors for 22+ AI coding agents. It ships with TypeScript types and has a bundled installer that does not require Node.js.

Common errors

error Error: Unsupported platform: darwin-x64 (or similar) during install.sh ↓

cause The shell script installer did not support Intel Macs before v3.7.0.

fix

Upgrade to v3.7.0+ or use npm install -g byterover-cli.

error Error: Cannot find module 'byterover-cli' or 'brv: command not found' ↓

cause Package not installed globally or not in PATH.

fix

Run npm install -g byterover-cli and ensure npm global bin directory is in PATH.

error brv webui shows unstyled dialogs and missing borders (v3.8.0, v3.8.1) ↓

cause CSS assets not built correctly with release pipeline.

fix

Upgrade to v3.8.2 or later.

error Error: Node.js version must be >=20.0.0 ↓

cause Installed via npm on an older Node.js version.

fix

Upgrade Node.js to v20+ or use shell script installer (bundles Node.js).

Warnings

gotcha npm installed version requires Node.js >= 20.0.0 ↓

fix Use the shell script installer which bundles Node.js, or upgrade Node.js to >=20.

deprecated brv login --api-key <key> is deprecated; use brv login and allow browser sign-in. ↓

fix Run brv login without flags; use --api-key only on CI or non-interactive shells.

gotcha Binary install (script) may fail on older macOS/Linux without curl or sh. ↓

fix Install via npm: npm install -g byterover-cli (requires Node.js >=20).

gotcha brv webui may fail to render correctly if CLI is installed under a hidden folder like ~/.nvm or ~/.asdf. Fixed in v3.8.3. ↓

fix Upgrade to v3.8.3 or later.

breaking brv curate now waits for work to finish by default (v3.8.0+). Scripts relying on async behavior may block indefinitely. ↓

fix Use brv curate --async to restore non-blocking behavior.

Install

npm install byterover-cli

yarn add byterover-cli

pnpm add byterover-cli

Imports

default (brv CLI)

wrong

npm install byterover-cli (local install, CLI won't be in PATH)

correct

npm install -g byterover-cli

Install globally or use npx byterover-cli for one-off runs.

TypeScript types
```
import { ByteRoverConfig } from 'byterover-cli'
```
Types are shipped with the package; available when installed locally.
MCP tools
wrong
```
require('byterover-cli') (not a library)
```
correct
```
Use brv mcp or brv connectors to expose as MCP server.
```
The package is primarily a CLI, not a library. MCP integration is done via CLI commands.

Quickstart

Installs ByteRover CLI (bundled, no Node.js needed), starts the REPL in a project directory, and demonstrates curating knowledge and querying it.

curl -fsSL https://byterover.dev/install.sh | sh
cd your/project
brv /
/curate "Authentication uses JWT with 24h expiry" @src/middleware/auth.ts
/query How is authentication implemented?