Vapi CLI

Product Introduction

1. Vapi CLI is a command-line interface tool specifically designed for voice AI development, enabling developers to integrate voice capabilities into any project through terminal commands. It automates setup processes, provides local webhook debugging, and integrates with AI-powered IDEs using Model Context Protocol (MCP).
2. The core value of Vapi CLI lies in its ability to streamline voice AI development workflows by reducing configuration overhead, enabling real-time debugging, and embedding comprehensive API knowledge directly into developers' tools. It prioritizes developer experience (DX) by unifying voice agent management, environment switching, and observability within terminal-based operations.

Main Features

1. The CLI auto-detects project frameworks (e.g., Next.js) during initialization and generates preconfigured components, SDK integrations, and use-case-specific code examples with vapi init. This eliminates manual setup and ensures immediate compatibility with voice AI features.
2. Developers can test webhooks locally using vapi listen --forward-to localhost:3000, which routes live call events to a local development server for real-time debugging. This feature supports HTTPS tunneling for external service testing and provides detailed logs for troubleshooting.
3. MCP integration via vapi mcp setup embeds Vapi’s API documentation, code examples, and best practices directly into supported IDEs like Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code. This ensures AI-powered code suggestions are accurate and context-aware, reducing reliance on external documentation.

Problems Solved

1. Vapi CLI addresses the complexity of integrating voice AI into diverse tech stacks by automating SDK installation, environment configuration, and example code generation. This reduces setup time from hours to seconds.
2. The tool targets developers and engineering teams building voice-enabled applications, particularly those requiring rapid prototyping, multi-environment testing (staging/production), and collaborative workflows.
3. Typical use cases include adding voice assistants to web apps, debugging call-handling logic via local webhooks, and onboarding new team members with preconfigured project templates and IDE context.

Unique Advantages

1. Unlike generic CLI tools, Vapi CLI specializes in voice AI workflows with native support for assistant management, phone number provisioning, and call analytics via terminal commands like vapi assistant create and vapi logs calls.
2. Its MCP integration is an industry-first innovation that transforms IDEs into voice AI experts, providing real-time documentation access and preventing API hallucination errors common with generic AI coding assistants.
3. Competitive advantages include cross-platform compatibility (macOS, Linux, Windows, Docker), seamless multi-account switching for enterprise teams, and a unified interface for both cloud and local development environments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How do I install Vapi CLI on my operating system? Vapi CLI supports one-command installation across macOS, Linux, Windows, and Docker. For Windows, run iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://vapi.ai/install.ps1')) in PowerShell as Administrator; other platforms use curl or manual builds from source.
2. Which IDEs support MCP integration? MCP is currently compatible with Cursor, Windsurf (Codeium’s IDE), and VS Code with GitHub Copilot. Configure it using vapi mcp setup, which generates IDE-specific context files for accurate code completion.
3. Can I debug webhooks without deploying to a live server? Yes, use vapi listen --forward-to localhost:[PORT] to forward production-grade webhook events to your local development environment, complete with SSL termination and event validation.
4. How do I switch between multiple Vapi accounts? Execute vapi auth switch [ACCOUNT_ID] to toggle between organizations, staging environments, or production instances without reauthentication. Current active accounts are displayed in the terminal after switching.
5. Is there offline functionality for Vapi CLI? While core commands like vapi logs require cloud connectivity, local webhook debugging and MCP-powered IDE features remain fully functional offline once initialized.