banksia
CLI for accountable multi-agent AI teams with a local web console
TLDR
SYNOPSIS
banksia [--debug] [-V|--version] [subcommand] [options]
DESCRIPTION
banksia is a command-line application and local runtime for building and running accountable AI teams on complex work. Workflows define a responsibility tree (not a fixed script). Managers can replan, parallelize, or iterate; progress and the lead's final Result are durable controller state, with deliverables kept as ordinary workspace files.The package ships a visual Console (browser UI). After banksia init and banksia serve, open http://127.0.0.1:18125/ (default). Initialization can configure a Task provider and an optional conversational Operator that uses the same controller operations as the UI. Default storage is SQLite; PostgreSQL is optional via banksia[postgres].Managed providers include Codex and Claude. Requires Python 3.12+; Linux and macOS are supported (native Windows is not; WSL2 uses the Linux path). Install with pipx install banksia.
PARAMETERS
(no subcommand) / status
Print controller status (default when no subcommand is given).init [--data-dir dir] [--database-url url] [--workspace dir] [--host addr] [--port n] [--log-level level] [--force] [--skip-db-upgrade] [--non-interactive] …
Initialize local controller state; optionally configure Task provider and Operator.serve
Start the local API/controller process that serves the Console and runtime.setup
Guided provider setup for Task work.providers list|status|check|configure|identity|set-default …
Inspect and configure LLM/providers.operator setup|status|disable …
Manage the conversational Operator agent.config show|path …
Show configuration or its path.workflow import|export …
Import or export Workflow definitions.task start …
Start a Task/run from the CLI.--debug
Include a traceback when a command fails.-V, --version
Print package version.
CONFIGURATION
Local data directory (set during init / --data-dir)
Controller state, SQLite database by default, and runtime files.--database-url
SQLAlchemy URL for PostgreSQL (e.g. postgresql+asyncpg://…). Requires the postgres extra.--host / --port
Bind address for the local API (default loopback and project default port 18125).Default workspace
Directory visible to Task members for files and managed actions.
CAVEATS
Intended for a trusted local machine; the controller binds to loopback by default. Task members in a run share one provider-visible workspace. Console assets under console/ use a Sustainable Use License (not pure MIT). Not a multi-tenant hosted service. Provider CLIs/SDKs and API credentials must be available for real runs.
HISTORY
Banksia is an open-source accountable multi-agent runtime (MIT for the core; Console derived material under Sustainable Use License). Upstream: github.com/ringlochid/banksia. Distributed on PyPI as banksia.