Introduction to NEAR CLI

NEAR CLI (Command Line Interface) is a powerful tool designed to help developers and users interact with the NEAR Protocol directly from the command line. It simplifies managing accounts, deploying contracts, and other tasks without needing a graphical interface.

What is NEAR CLI?

NEAR CLI is a command-line tool for working with the NEAR blockchain. It allows users to:

• Manage accounts
• Deploy and interact with smart contracts
• Send and receive tokens
• View account balances and transaction history
• Run various scripts to automate tasks

Why Use NEAR CLI?

If you’re a developer or advanced user, NEAR CLI gives you direct control over NEAR accounts and smart contracts. It’s lightweight and can be easily integrated into development workflows for automation and scripting purposes.

Getting Started

1. Installation: On Windows machine NEAR CLI can be via .msi installer.
   Find the most recent one here:
   https://github.com/near/near-cli-rs/releases/
   For Windows users this is the default choice
   
2. Run Windows Command Prompt
   Click the Start menu, type “cmd” or “Command Prompt,” and press Enter
3. Start using NEAR CLI
   For beginners we recommend to use near-cli in Interactive mode.
   Just type in your Windows terminal
   near
   

Interactive mode

To use the near-cli simply run the following in your terminal.

$ near

You should then see the following. Use the arrow keys and hit enter or simply type out one of the available options to select an option

:::important We provide examples only of the most used commands. Such commands may have two versions - a full one and a short one. If you want to explore all options provided by near-cli use the interactive mode described above. :::

Features

• Account Management: Create, delete, and manage NEAR accounts easily.
• Smart Contract Interaction: Deploy contracts and call functions on contracts.
• Token Transfers: Send NEAR tokens to any account.
• Transaction History: View past transactions and balances for any account.

Conclusion

NEAR CLI is an essential tool for developers and advanced users who want a powerful and flexible way to interact with the NEAR blockchain. It’s easy to use, scriptable, and integrates seamlessly with your development workflow. If you’re ready to dive into the NEAR ecosystem, NEAR CLI is a great place to start!

For more detailed information, visit the NEAR CLI documentation.