WP-CLI: Mastering WordPress from the command line

WP-CLI is the official command-line tool for WordPress management. It lets you automate tasks such as creating users, updating plugins, and changing site settings directly on your server.

Basic installation requirements

Before starting, make sure you have:

PHP CLI: working php-cli package.
Shell access: root/sudo or jailed shell.
Download tool: curl, wget, or equivalent.

1. Standard installation (with root/sudo)

Recommended method to run wpcli globally from anywhere in terminal.

Step 1: download WP-CLI

curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/wp-cli/builds/gh-pages/phar/wp-cli.phar

Step 2: make it executable

chmod +x wp-cli.phar

Step 3: move to global command path

sudo mv wp-cli.phar /usr/local/bin/wpcli

Verification

wpcli --info

If you get WP-CLI, PHP, and OS details, installation is successful.

2. Local installation (without root/sudo)

For jailed shell environments, install inside your user path.

Step 1: create local binary directory

mkdir ubin

Step 2: download WP-CLI

curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/wp-cli/builds/gh-pages/phar/wp-cli.phar

Step 3: make it executable

chmod +x wp-cli.phar

Step 4: move to local directory

mv wp-cli.phar ubin/wpcli

How to run it

ubin/wpcli

Warning: even from a subdirectory, wpcli will try to locate wp-config.php to connect to your WordPress installation.

Essential WP-CLI commands

Category	Task	Example
Plugins	List plugins	`wpcli plugin list`
Plugins	Activate plugin	`wpcli plugin activate [slug]`
Plugins	Install plugin	`wpcli plugin install [slug]`
Users	List users	`wpcli user list`
Users	Create user	`wpcli user create NAME EMAIL --role=ROLE --user_pass=PASSWORD`
Users	Delete user	`wpcli user delete ID`
Database	Export backup	`wpcli db export backup.sql`
Database	Import backup	`wpcli db import backup.sql`
Database	Optimize/Repair	`wpcli db optimize` / `wpcli db repair`
Updates	Update core	`wpcli core update`
Updates	Update all plugins	`wpcli plugin update --all`
Updates	Update all themes	`wpcli theme update --all`
Configuration	Generate `wp-config.php`	`wpcli core config --dbname=DB --dbuser=USER`
Configuration	Install WordPress	`wpcli core install --url=DOMAIN --title=TITLE`

The biggest WP-CLI advantage is operational speed plus easy automation for maintenance workflows.

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