Command Line Interface (CLI)
The CLI tool (appd) provides a full-feature interface for interacting with the blockchain. This includes commands for node operations, key management, querying blockchain state, submitting transactions, and more.
To use the query and tx commands, your appd node must either:
- Be fully synced with the network you're interacting with, OR
- Be configured to use an external RPC endpoint in
~/.appd/config/client.toml
Example client.toml configuration:
# The network chain ID
chain-id = "myapp-1"
# The keyring's backend
keyring-backend = "os"
# CLI output format
output = "text"
# <host>:<port> to CometBFT RPC interface for this chain
node = "tcp://localhost:26657"
# Transaction broadcasting mode (sync|async)
broadcast-mode = "sync"
To use an external RPC, update the node field to point to a public or private RPC endpoint.
Global Flags
These flags are available for all commands:
| Flag | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
-b, --broadcast-mode | Transaction broadcasting mode (sync|async) | sync |
--chain-id | Specify Chain ID for sending Tx | |
--fees | Fees to pay along with transaction (e.g., 10ustake) | |
--from | Name or address of private key with which to sign | |
--gas-adjustment | Adjustment factor to multiply against the estimate returned by tx simulation | 1 |
--gas-prices | Gas prices to determine the transaction fee (e.g., 10ustake) | |
--home | Directory for config and data | ~/.appd |
--keyring-backend | Select keyring's backend | os |
--log_format | The logging format (json|plain) | plain |
--log_level | The logging level | info |
--log_no_color | Disable colored logs | |
--node | \<host>:\<port> to CometBFT RPC interface | tcp://localhost:26657 |
--trace | Print out full stack trace on errors |
Core Commands
Node Operations
start
Run the full node.
appd start [flags]
Key flags:
--json-rpc.enable: Enable the JSON-RPC server--json-rpc.address: JSON-RPC server address (default:0.0.0.0:8545)--json-rpc.ws-address: JSON-RPC WebSocket server address (default:0.0.0.0:8546)--json-rpc.api: API namespaces to enable (e.g.,eth,web3,net,txpool,debug)
You should only expose the debug endpoint in non production settings as it could impact network performance and uptime under certain conditions.
init
Initialize private validator, p2p, genesis, and application configuration files.
appd init [moniker] [flags]
status
Query remote node for status.
appd status [flags]
Key Management
The keys command provides keyring management functionality for accounts.
keys add
Add a new key or recover from mnemonic.
appd keys add [name] [flags]
Flags:
--recover: Recover key from mnemonic--algo: Key algorithm (eth_secp256k1)--coin-type: Coin type (60 for Ethereum)
keys list
List all keys in the keyring.
appd keys list [flags]
keys show
Display key information.
appd keys show [name|address] [flags]
keys export
Export a private key.
appd keys export [name] [flags]
keys import
Import a private key.
appd keys import [name] [keyfile] [flags]
EVM-specific Key Commands
keys unsafe-export-eth-key
Export an Ethereum private key (UNSAFE).
appd keys unsafe-export-eth-key [name] [flags]
keys unsafe-import-eth-key
Import Ethereum private keys into the local keybase (UNSAFE).
appd keys unsafe-import-eth-key [name] [pk] [flags]
Query Commands
The query (or q) command provides read-only access to blockchain data.
EVM Module Queries
query evm account
Get account information for an address.
appd query evm account [address] [flags]
query evm balance-erc20
Get ERC20 token balance.
appd query evm balance-erc20 [address] [erc20-address] [flags]
query evm code
Get smart contract code.
appd query evm code [address] [flags]
query evm storage
Get storage value at a specific key.
appd query evm storage [address] [key] [flags]
query evm params
Get EVM module parameters.
appd query evm params [flags]
Address Conversion
Convert between Ethereum (0x) and Cosmos (bech32) addresses:
# 0x to bech32
appd query evm 0x-to-bech32 [0x-address] [flags]
# bech32 to 0x
appd query evm bech32-to-0x [bech32-address] [flags]
ERC20 Module Queries
query erc20 token-pairs
Get all registered token pairs.
appd query erc20 token-pairs [flags]
query erc20 token-pair
Get a specific token pair.
appd query erc20 token-pair [token-address-or-denom] [flags]
query erc20 params
Get ERC20 module parameters.
appd query erc20 params [flags]
Feemarket Module Queries
query feemarket base-fee
Get the base fee at a given height.
appd query feemarket base-fee [flags]
query feemarket block-gas
Get the block gas used at a given height.
appd query feemarket block-gas [flags]
query feemarket params
Get fee market parameters.
appd query feemarket params [flags]
Standard Cosmos Queries
Bank Module
# Get account balances
appd query bank balances [address] [flags]
# Get specific denom balance
appd query bank balance [address] [denom] [flags]
# Get total supply
appd query bank total [flags]
Staking Module
# Get all validators
appd query staking validators [flags]
# Get delegations for an address
appd query staking delegations [delegator-address] [flags]
# Get unbonding delegations
appd query staking unbonding-delegations [delegator-address] [flags]
Distribution Module
# Get rewards
appd query distribution rewards [delegator-address] [validator-address] [flags]
# Get commission
appd query distribution commission [validator-address] [flags]
Governance Module
# List all proposals
appd query gov proposals [flags]
# Get specific proposal
appd query gov proposal [proposal-id] [flags]
# Get votes on a proposal
appd query gov votes [proposal-id] [flags]
Transaction Commands
The tx command is used to create and broadcast transactions.
EVM Transactions
tx evm send
Send funds between accounts.
appd tx evm send [from] [to] [amount] [flags]
tx evm raw
Build a Cosmos transaction from a raw Ethereum transaction.
appd tx evm raw [hex-encoded-tx] [flags]
ERC20 Transactions
tx erc20 convert-coin
Convert native Cosmos coins to ERC20 tokens.
appd tx erc20 convert-coin [amount] [receiver] [flags]
tx erc20 convert-erc20
Convert ERC20 tokens to native Cosmos coins.
appd tx erc20 convert-erc20 [contract-address] [amount] [receiver] [flags]
Standard Cosmos Transactions
Bank Transactions
# Send coins
appd tx bank send [from] [to] [amount] [flags]
# Multi-send
appd tx bank multi-send [from] [to1] [amount1] [to2] [amount2] ... [flags]
Staking Transactions
# Create validator
appd tx staking create-validator [flags]
# Delegate
appd tx staking delegate [validator-address] [amount] [flags]
# Unbond
appd tx staking unbond [validator-address] [amount] [flags]
# Redelegate
appd tx staking redelegate [src-validator] [dst-validator] [amount] [flags]
Governance Transactions
# Submit proposal
appd tx gov submit-proposal [proposal-type] [flags]
# Vote on proposal
appd tx gov vote [proposal-id] [option] [flags]
# Deposit on proposal
appd tx gov deposit [proposal-id] [amount] [flags]
Advanced Commands
genesis
Genesis file manipulation commands.
# Add genesis account
appd genesis add-genesis-account [address] [coins] [flags]
# Collect genesis transactions
appd genesis collect-gentxs [flags]
# Generate genesis transaction
appd genesis gentx [key-name] [amount] [flags]
comet
CometBFT-specific commands.
# Show node ID
appd comet show-node-id [flags]
# Show validator info
appd comet show-validator [flags]
# Reset blockchain state
appd comet unsafe-reset-all [flags]
debug
Debugging utilities.
# Get raw bytes for address
appd debug addr [address] [flags]
# Decode raw hex bytes
appd debug raw-bytes [hex] [flags]
# Convert public key
appd debug pubkey [pubkey] [flags]
Examples
Setting up a new account
# Create a new account
appd keys add myaccount
# Import an Ethereum private key
appd keys unsafe-import-eth-key myethaccount 0x...
# List all accounts
appd keys list
# Show account details
appd keys show myaccount
Querying blockchain state
# Get account balance
appd query bank balances cosmos1...
# Get EVM account info
appd query evm account 0x...
# Get ERC20 balance
appd query evm balance-erc20 0xUserAddress 0xTokenAddress
# Get base fee
appd query feemarket base-fee
Sending transactions
# Send native tokens
appd tx bank send myaccount 1... 100ustake --gas-prices 10ustake
# Send via EVM
appd tx evm send myaccount 0x... 100ustake --gas-prices 10ustake
# Convert coins to ERC20
appd tx erc20 convert-coin 100ustake 0x... --from myaccount
Running a node
# Initialize node
appd init mynode --chain-id evmos_9001-2
# Start node with JSON-RPC enabled
appd start --json-rpc.enable --json-rpc.api eth,web3,net,txpool,debug
# Get node status
appd status
Configuration
The CLI uses the following configuration structure:
- Configuration directory:
~/.appd/(or specified by--home) - Key storage: Managed by the keyring backend (os, file, test)
- Node configuration:
~/.appd/config/config.toml - App configuration:
~/.appd/config/app.toml
For more detailed information about specific commands, use the --help flag with any command:
appd [command] --help
appd [command] [subcommand] --help