help

help is the terminal navigation point. It lists what is available in the current installation, shows the compact local reference, fetches the server reference, points to the public documentation page and explains system operators handled before an individual module runs.

SystemVersion 1.4.7Stable
lil-terminal

Overview

Use help as the map of the terminal rather than a static command list: local references reflect what is installed, -i opens the server reference, -l opens the public documentation, and @command can install a missing package and continue directly with the command.

Choose the right depth of help

Start with help <cmd> for the compact local contract, use help <cmd> -i for the current server reference and help <cmd> -l for the explanatory website page. help -a answers a different question: what the repository can install.

Syntax

lil-terminal
help [cmd] [-i|-l] · help -a · help me · help license

Reference

help

show installed commands and aliases

help -a

show all repository modules

help <cmd>

show the local command reference

help <cmd> -i

show the server command reference

help <cmd> -l

show the public documentation link

help hotkeys

show keyboard shortcuts

help aliases

show active command aliases

$

reuse the path of the file declared last (for example, @echo $)

@<cmd> [args]

silently install a missing package, then run the command

<cmd> | <cmd> | ...

run commands sequentially from left to right

<cmd> [args] > <file>

show textual output and append it to a file

<cmd> [args] > <file> -r

show textual output and replace the file

<cmd> [args] > <file> -a

explicitly select append mode

<file>

open a file (when a handler for its extension is registered)

<file.lil> [-s] [-r]

run a lil script from a file

<file.lil> -s

show each script command while it runs

<file.lil> -r

remove the script only after successful execution

Help levels

For everyday work, start with the local reference: it is deliberately compact and quick to scan. -i fetches the current server reference, while -l points to the corresponding public page on lil.dog for deeper reading. help -a shows the repository catalog in a compact five-column grid; plain help lists only commands available in the current terminal.

Keyboard shortcuts

help hotkeys reflects shortcuts implemented by the installed interface packages. On desktop, the optional hotkeys package can show a passive reminder rail; help hotkeys -on and help hotkeys -off change its visibility for the current session. The rail is not generated on mobile. Editor shortcuts keep their editor meaning, while shortcuts used on an empty terminal command line operate on the most recent terminal result. Clicking anywhere on the desktop rail runs help hotkeys and opens the complete shortcut reference.

Active file

$ resolves to the path of the file declared most recently by an operation that opened, created or wrote a file. It can be passed anywhere a file argument is expected. When the active file itself has a registered extension handler, entering $ as a bare command opens it through that handler.

$

reuse the path of the file declared last (for example, @echo $)

Automatic command prefix

An interactive command may start with @. If the target already exists, it runs immediately. Otherwise lil-terminal silently installs the missing package from the default repository and continues the original command without a full page reload. Secondary command names resolve to the module that owns them.

@<cmd> [args]

silently install a missing package, then run the command

Linear execution

The interface can execute ordinary commands sequentially with an unquoted top-level | separator. Each command starts after the previous command completes, and the sequence stops at the first failure. A UTF-8 .lil file whose first line is #lil can be launched by entering its path; < file.lil is the explicit form of the same operation. Use run when variables, conditions, capture, nested scripts or packed workflows are needed.

Direct .lil execution is quiet by default: the terminal shows command results and statuses without echoing every source command. Use -s when source commands are useful for review or diagnostics. With -r, the original script is removed only after successful execution; a failed script is retained.

<cmd> | <cmd> | ...

run commands sequentially from left to right

<file.lil> [-s] [-r]

run a lil script from a file

<file.lil> -s

show each script command while it runs

<file.lil> -r

remove the script only after successful execution

Output redirection

The final > <file> operator mirrors a command's textual result to a file while keeping the same result on screen. Paths resolve from the current working directory. Existing files are appended by default; -r replaces the destination. Commands that accept values use :, leaving > with one system-wide meaning: output redirection.

<cmd> [args] > <file>

show textual output and append it to a file

<cmd> [args] > <file> -r

show textual output and replace the file

<cmd> [args] > <file> -a

explicitly select append mode

File dispatch

A bare filename is opened only when an installed module has registered a handler for its extension. The same rule applies to the active-file token $ when it is entered as a bare command. This shortcut never installs a file handler automatically.

<file>

open a file (when a handler for its extension is registered)

Minimum package

Minimum Help keeps the installed-command index and current server reference but deliberately omits the repository catalog, public links, shortcut management and alias inventory. Modules whose local comments contain only @more do not keep a local reference.

Feature dependencies

A local reference row marked with @module is shown only when the corresponding optional module is available. The server reference keeps the marker so the capability remains discoverable.

Project support

help me shows the currently published USDT, Bitcoin and Ethereum addresses. Support is voluntary and helps maintain the free core, documentation, testing and future releases. Recommending lil-terminal to developers and hosting users who work without SSH also supports the project. The support view is fetched from the repository when requested, so wallet addresses can change without replacing the installed Help module.

help me

support lil-terminal

Commercial licensing

help license presents the current licensing policy as short readable blocks rather than a dense table. Personal noncommercial use of core generation 1 is free with no time limit. Commercial or organizational production use requires one license per active deployment after the 40-day evaluation period. The license is perpetual for core generation 1 and does not require DRM or mandatory server checks. The view is fetched from the repository when requested, so pricing, wording and the approval date stay current without replacing the installed Help module.

help license

show personal and commercial license terms

Interactive sandbox preview

Run the prepared examples directly on the page. Their results are prebuilt and shown in the browser; no terminal command is executed on the server.

Show the local command reference

Install and manage

Install the current compatible version. Choose Base for the complete feature set or Minimum for the reduced package; use upgrade to update a module that is already installed.

Base and Minimum are two packages of the same current module release, not separate command versions.

Base package

Install the complete package with local command reference and every published mode.

install help
Minimum package

Install the reduced package. Local reference is omitted; help <cmd> -i opens the current server reference.

install help -m
Exact public version

Install exactly this published version.

install help -v 1.4.7
Check or update

Ask upgrade to check compatibility and replace the installed block only when needed.

upgrade help
Remove module

Remove the extension block while leaving the core and unrelated modules intact.

install help -u

Examples

Examples are copyable command lines, not actions executed by this website. Review paths, permissions and destructive flags before running them on a real project.

Show the local command reference
help find | @find "error" -t -f -p \sandbox\logs
find <query> [options]

find <query>     search names recursively in the current directory
find -q <query>  search for a query beginning with -

-f               search files only
-F | -d          search directories only
-h               search the current directory only
-t               search inside text files
-e <ext>         limit files by extension; tar.gz is supported
-php             short form for -e php
-c               use case-sensitive matching
-p <path>        start in another directory

\sandbox\logs\errors.log
Reuse the path of the file declared last (for example, @echo $)
mf \sandbox\tmp\draft.json | code $
help [cmd] [-i|-l] | help -a

$       active file path
<file>  open when its extension has a handler

help me  support lil-terminal with USDT, Bitcoin or Ethereum
Open a file (when a handler for its extension is registered)
\sandbox\config\app.json
help [cmd] [-i|-l] | help -a

$       active file path
<file>  open when its extension has a handler

help me  support lil-terminal with USDT, Bitcoin or Ethereum
Show installed commands and aliases
help
help [cmd] [-i|-l] | help -a | help me | help license

help                      show installed commands and aliases
help -a                   show all repository modules
help <cmd>                show the local command reference
help <cmd> -i             show the server command reference
help <cmd> -l             show the public documentation link

help hotkeys              show keyboard shortcuts
help aliases              show active command aliases

$                         reuse the path of the file declared last (for example, @echo $)
@<cmd> [args]             silently install a missing package, then run the command
<cmd> | <cmd> | ...       run commands sequentially from left to right
<cmd> [args] > <file>     show textual output and append it to a file
<cmd> [args] > <file> -r  show textual output and replace the file

<file>                    open a file (when a handler for its extension is registered)
<file.lil> [-s] [-r]      run a lil script from a file
<file.lil> -s             show each script command while it runs
<file.lil> -r             remove the script only after successful execution

auth
cd
core
find
help
install
…

help me       support lil-terminal
help license  show personal and commercial license terms
Show the server command reference
help help -i
help [cmd] [-i|-l] | help -a | help me | help license

help                      show installed commands and aliases
help -a                   show all repository modules
help <cmd>                show the local command reference
help <cmd> -i             show the server command reference
help <cmd> -l             show the public documentation link

help hotkeys              show keyboard shortcuts
help hotkeys -on          show the desktop shortcut reminder
help hotkeys -off         hide the desktop shortcut reminder
rail click                run @help hotkeys
help aliases              show active command aliases
help linear               show sequential-command and direct .lil execution reference
help me                   support lil-terminal
help license              show personal and commercial license terms

$                         reuse the path of the file declared last (for example, @echo $)
@<cmd> [args]             silently install a missing package, then run the command
<cmd> | <cmd> | ...       run commands sequentially from left to right
<cmd> [args] > <file>     show textual output and append it to a file
<cmd> [args] > <file> -r  show textual output and replace the file
<cmd> [args] > <file> -a  explicitly select append mode

<file>                    open a file (when a handler for its extension is registered)
<file.lil> [-s] [-r]      run a lil script from a file
<file.lil> -s             show each script command while it runs
<file.lil> -r             remove the script only after successful execution
Show the server command reference
help -i
Command required
Show all repository modules
help -a
attr          cert          dns           ini           php
auth          clear         doctor        install       ping
cd            code          echo [read]   json          pwd
curl          copy          find          mail          run
db            del           hash          net           upgrade
…
Show the local command reference
help find
find <query> [options]

find <query>     search names recursively in the current directory
find -q <query>  search for a query beginning with -

-f               search files only
-F | -d          search directories only
-h               search the current directory only
-t               search inside text files
-e <ext>         limit files by extension; tar.gz is supported
-php             short form for -e php
-c               use case-sensitive matching
-p <path>        start in another directory
Show the server command reference
help find -i
find <query> [options]

find <query>     search names recursively in the current directory
find -q <query>  search for a query beginning with -

-f               search files only
-F | -d          search directories only
-h               search the current directory only
-t               search inside text files
-e <ext>         limit files by extension; tar.gz is supported
-php             short form for -e php
-c               use case-sensitive matching
-p <path>        start in another directory
Show the public documentation link
help find -l
https://lil.dog/docs/files/find
Show keyboard shortcuts
help hotkeys
Enter                  run the current command; insert a line break inside an editor
↑ / ↓                  browse command history
⌃R                     search backward through command history
Tab                    complete a command; indent inside the code editor
Shift+Tab              outdent inside the code editor
⌃S / ⌘S                on an empty command line append the last result to history.log; in the code editor save without closing
⌃+Shift+S / ⌘+Shift+S  on an empty command line replace history.log with the last result
Shift+Enter            save and close the plain or code editor
⌃L / ⌘K                clear terminal output while the command line is active
⌃C / ⌘C                copy the last result when the active command line is empty; ⌃C otherwise cancels the current input
⌃U                     clear the current command line
Escape                 close an editor without saving, or cancel a hidden prompt
⌃+Shift+L / ⌘+Shift+L  open or hide the web terminal when embedded

Rail

help hotkeys -on       show the desktop shortcut reminder
help hotkeys -off      hide the desktop shortcut reminder
Help · hotkeys
help hotkeys -off
LIL_RELOAD
Help · hotkeys
help hotkeys -on
LIL_RELOAD
Show active command aliases
help aliases
cat         echo
read        echo
cp          copy
mv          mov
rm          del
ls          dir
patch       diff
download    upload
Support lil-terminal
help me
Voluntary support

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     |  |/  ;-._
     }  ` _/  / ;
     |  /` ) /  /
     | /  /_/\_/\ 
     |/  /      |
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      \    `.  /
       |      |
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USDT · TRON (TRC20)     TFyVBisBAKDrZpghA6dBeG6ZUETpPYnkuy
BTC · Bitcoin           bc1qtjqafk06jzmnkgdhfdp8pkn07aq45muevwr9lx
ETH · Ethereum (ERC20)  0x7f87690afD5525e1383d71e5F82Fbc72509F10dc

Send a voluntary contribution in USDT, Bitcoin or Ethereum. It helps fund maintenance, documentation and testing.
Share lil-terminal with developers and site owners who need terminal-style work on hosting without SSH.
Show personal and commercial license terms
help license
Personal use
Free with no time limit for an individual’s own noncommercial projects.

Commercial use
A perpetual license for one active commercial deployment, with lower per-deployment prices at volume.
40-day commercial evaluation
Organizations may evaluate the complete product for 40 consecutive days before purchasing. Reinstalling does not restart the evaluation.
Price: from 8.88 USD per deployment; volume discounts apply.

License model
Perpetual for core generation 1
No account, DRM or phone-home requirement

License
https://lil.dog/license

Pricing
https://lil.dog/pricing

Terms version: 2026-08-06
Help · linear
help linear
<cmd> | <cmd>
<file.lil> [-s] [-r]
< <file.lil> [-s] [-r]
Show the local command reference
help missing_command
missing_command: command not found
Run a lil script from a file
\sandbox\scripts\research.lil
Built-in pwd

Installed find, v1.7 (base)

\sandbox
\errors.log
Run a lil script from a file
\sandbox\scripts\research.lil -s
@install pwd find
Built-in pwd
Installed find, v1.7 (base)
cd \sandbox
\sandbox
pwd -s
\sandbox
find "error" -t -f -p logs > \errors.log
\errors.log

Related documentation

How do I copy the last terminal result with the keyboard? →How do I install a module? →Why does a command say “command not found”? →

Current public release

v1.4.72026-08-14

Canonical documentation links

help <cmd> -l now receives the canonical public documentation URL from the repository, so links always follow the current grouped /docs routes.

# Version history