Flags and exit codes
These flags apply to tatu; explicit flags take precedence over saved choices and settings files.
| Flag | Argument or default | What it does | See |
|---|---|---|---|
-c |
Boolean; off | Shorthand for -continue. |
Sessions |
-continue |
Boolean; off | Resume the latest session started in this directory. | Sessions |
-daemon-child |
Boolean; off | Reserved for sessions opened by tatu daemon; requires -headless. |
The daemon and worktrees |
-debug |
Boolean; off | Log tool arguments and every model call to the log file. | Troubleshooting |
-effort |
off, minimal, low, medium, high, xhigh, max, default |
Set reasoning effort; the levels depend on the model. | Models and effort |
-headless |
Boolean; off | Keep a session alive without a terminal for remote access; stop with an interrupt. | Apps and other computers |
-image |
Image path; repeatable | Attach an image with -p. |
Images |
-json |
Boolean; off | With -p, print state and events as JSON lines instead of the answer. |
Scripting |
-list-sessions |
Boolean; off | List saved sessions and exit. | Sessions |
-max-iterations |
Integer; 0 |
Cap model calls per prompt; 0 uses settings, then 200. Help currently says 0 = 50, but the run limit is 200. |
Scripting |
-max-tokens |
Integer; 0 |
Cap tokens per response; 0 uses settings, then the provider’s default. |
Models and effort |
-model |
Model ID | Choose the model. | Models and effort |
-no-context-files |
Boolean; off | Do not load AGENTS.md or CLAUDE.md instructions. |
AGENTS.md and /init |
-no-model-refresh |
Boolean; off | Do not refresh the model catalog from the network. | Privacy |
-no-session |
Boolean; off | Do not save the conversation. | Scripting |
-p |
Prompt; - reads stdin |
Run one prompt, print the answer and exit. | Scripting |
-provider |
Provider name | Choose the provider; otherwise use settings or the first provider with a credential. | Sign in |
-q |
Boolean; off | With -p, hide progress on stderr, not errors. |
Scripting |
-resume |
Session ID | Resume a saved session. | Sessions |
-rpc |
Boolean; off | Serve a session over stdin and stdout for another program. | Scripting |
-system |
Text | Append extra instructions to the system prompt. | Settings |
-thinking |
Boolean; off unless settings enable it | Show reasoning when the provider streams it. | Models and effort |
-version |
Boolean; off | Print the version and exit. | Install and update |
tatu mcp is not a flag but a command of its own: tatu mcp add, add-json, remove, list and get manage your MCP servers. It uses the exit codes below: 2 for a command used wrongly, 1 when it cannot do what you asked, such as a name that is taken.
tatu remote is another command of its own: tatu remote invite, invites, devices and revoke make and close invitations and unpair devices without opening a session. It exits 2 for a command used wrongly or a computer with no relay or no identity yet, and 1 when it cannot do what you asked, such as an unknown device.
| Exit code | What it means | See |
|---|---|---|
0 |
The run finished successfully. | Scripting |
1 |
Setup, input or model error, or the run hit its model-call limit. | Scripting |
2 |
Invalid command-line usage; requesting help also returns this code. | Scripting |
130 |
The run was interrupted. | Scripting |