---
title: "Install vargai: the varg CLI for skills and AI video"
description: "Install vargai in one line on macOS, Linux or Windows: search and install AI video skills with no key, then run Seedance, Kling, Veo, ElevenLabs and every varg model from your terminal or your agent."
url: https://varg.ai/how-to/cli
updated: 2026-10-30
---

# Install vargai: varg from your terminal

vargai is the varg command line. Without a key it searches and installs the skills on varg how to; with one it runs every varg model and tool (Seedance 2.5, Kling 4, Veo 3.1, ElevenLabs and 200+ more) — everything the varg MCP server does.

## 1. Install

One file in ~/.varg/bin, no Node or Bun needed. macOS, Linux (glibc and musl) and Windows, x64 and arm64; the download is checked against SHA256SUMS.

```sh
curl -fsSL https://varg.ai/install | sh    # macOS, Linux
irm https://varg.ai/install.ps1 | iex    # Windows PowerShell
```

## 2. Find and install skills — no key needed

The same catalog as this site. `install` runs the skill's install command for your agent (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Gemini CLI, OpenClaw; --agent picks one, --print only shows it).

```sh
vargai search "captions for reels"
vargai show remotion-captions    # the card: install commands + the full guide
vargai install remotion-captions
```

## 3. Log in

Make an API key at https://varg.ai/dashboard/api. It is saved to ~/.varg/credentials, which the varg MCP server and the varg skills read too. VARG_API_KEY works instead.

```sh
vargai login
vargai whoami    # account, team, balance
```

## 4. Generate

Every tool of the varg MCP is a command: images, video, speech, music, render, uploads, jobs, cost. Options come from each tool's schema.

```sh
vargai generate_image "a red fox in fresh snow" --aspect-ratio 16:9
vargai estimate_cost --tool video '{"model":"seedance_2_5","prompt":"waves at dusk"}'
vargai tools    # every tool; ○ = works without a key
vargai help generate_video    # one tool's options
```

## 5. Keep it current

Releases: https://github.com/vargHQ/sdk/releases. To remove it: delete ~/.varg/bin and the vargai link the installer printed (e.g. ~/.local/bin/vargai).

```sh
vargai version    # this version and the latest
vargai update
```

## What do you want to do?

Each job: the command to run yourself, or the whole job as a prompt for your agent.

### Find and install a skill (Free · no key)

Search 2,000+ skills, guides and components by what you want to make, then install the best one into your agent.

```sh
vargai search "captions for reels"
```

### Make a video (Uses credits)

Text or a photo to video on Seedance 2.5, Kling 4, Veo 3.1 and the rest, with sound when the model has it. Guide: https://varg.ai/how-to/make-a-video.md

```sh
vargai generate_video "slow dolly through a neon street at night" --duration 5
```

### Make images (Uses credits)

Product shots, thumbnails, characters and edits of your own photos, on GPT Image 2.5, Nano Banana 2.1 and more. Guide: https://varg.ai/how-to/make-ai-images-and-photos.md

```sh
vargai generate_image "serum bottle on wet black stone, soft light" --aspect-ratio 4:3
```

### Voiceover and music (Uses credits)

A voice in any language from ElevenLabs and the rest, a song or an instrumental bed for your edit. Guide: https://varg.ai/how-to/make-ai-music-voiceover-and-audio.md

```sh
vargai generate_music "warm lofi beat for a product demo" --instrumental
```

### Edit your own footage (Uses credits)

Cut, caption, dub or restyle a clip you already have: upload it, then the skill does the edit. Guide: https://varg.ai/how-to/edit-a-video.md

```sh
vargai upload_file --path ./clip.mp4
```

### Publish your skill (Free)

List a skill you built on varg how to, where agents search for video skills. Reviewed within a day. Guide: https://varg.ai/how-to/publish.md

```sh
vargai publish_skill --name "My skill" --summary "What it makes" --source-url https://github.com/you/skill --dry-run
```

## For AI agents

Install and check it in your own shell (no prompts; the installer also links vargai into a directory already on PATH when it can):

```sh
curl -fsSL https://varg.ai/install | sh
export PATH="$HOME/.varg/bin:$PATH"
vargai version
```

Skills need no key: `vargai search "<what the person wants>"`, then `vargai install <slug>`. To generate, the person makes a key at https://varg.ai/dashboard/api; then `vargai login --api-key "$VARG_API_KEY"` (or export VARG_API_KEY). `vargai tools --json` lists every tool with its input schema, `--json` on any command prints the raw result, and `vargai estimate_cost` prices a call before it spends.

Other ways in: the varg MCP server (`https://mcp.varg.ai/mcp`), the varg-ai skill (`npx skills add vargHQ/skills --skill varg-ai`), the SDK (`bun add -g vargai`). Search this catalog over HTTP: https://varg.ai/how-to/api/search?q=<request>.