anywrite
anywrite
Overview
anywrite is a single compiled Bun/TypeScript CLI for the Anytype desktop app's local HTTP API — all 52 endpoints across spaces, objects, properties, tags, types, templates, lists, chat, files, members, search, and auth — as one binary with zero runtime dependencies. It exists as a low-context alternative to Anytype's official MCP server: rather than exposing 52 always-loaded tools to every agent session, anywrite is a normal CLI wired as a skill that costs zero context until it's actually invoked, and is equally usable from a terminal or any script.
When to Use This Skill
- Use when the user mentions Anytype or asks to create, update, search, or organize notes, tasks, or PKM objects.
- Use when working with Anytype spaces, properties, tags, types, templates, or lists (sets and collections).
- Use when the user asks to upload files to a space, chat inside a space, or read/write structured objects programmatically.
How It Works
Step 1: Ensure Anytype desktop is running and authenticated
This repository does not ship the anywrite executable. The user must install or build a reviewed upstream release outside the current workspace and provide its explicit absolute path. Before use, verify that path is an executable regular file, is not a symlink, and is not a workspace-relative dist/ artifact. Never auto-discover or execute ./dist/anywrite from the repository being worked on.
The Anytype desktop app must be running locally (default http://localhost:31009). Authenticate once:
"/absolute/path/to/anywrite" auth --status # shows configured yes/no and where the key came from
"/absolute/path/to/anywrite" auth # challenge flow — a 4-digit code appears in the app
"/absolute/path/to/anywrite" auth --code 1234 # non-interactive form of the same exchangeThe key is written to ~/.anywrite/config.json and is never printed by any command.
Step 2: Invoke a resource + action
anywrite <resource> <action> [positionals] [--flag value]Resources: spaces, objects, properties, tags, types, templates, lists, files, members, search, chat, auth. Output is JSON by default; add --pretty for a human view, --json as an escape hatch for anything the typed flags don't model yet. space/type/property positionals accept a name or an id — names are resolved to ids automatically.
Examples
Example 1: Create and update an object
"/absolute/path/to/anywrite" objects create <space> --type task --name "Buy milk"
"/absolute/path/to/anywrite" objects update <space> <object_id> --status "Done"Example 2: Search and upload a file
"/absolute/path/to/anywrite" search global --query "task" --types task
"/absolute/path/to/anywrite" files upload <space> --file ./image.pngExample 3: Read chat messages
"/absolute/path/to/anywrite" chat messages <space> <chat_id> --allBest Practices
- ✅ Pass names for
space/type/propertyand let the CLI resolve them to ids.
- ✅ Use default JSON output for scripting and
--prettyfor human review.
- ✅ Reach for
--jsonwhen a brand-new API field isn't yet covered by a typed flag.
- ❌ Don't set an empty-string emoji
--icon; omit the flag entirely instead.
- ❌ Don't expect
lists add/removeto work on sets — they only apply to collections.
Limitations
- This skill does not replace environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
- Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, or safety boundaries are missing.
- Bounded by the Anytype local API itself: no block-level editing (body is whole-markdown replace only), no member invite/role management, no template create/update/delete, no space deletion.
- The object body field is named
--bodyon create but--markdownon update.
Security & Safety Notes
- The API key is stored locally in
~/.anywrite/config.jsonand is never printed by any command, includingauth --status.
- Config precedence at runtime:
ANYTYPE_API_KEYenv var, then~/.anywrite/config.json, then a read-only fallback to an existing~/.anytype-cli/config.yaml.
- All operations target a locally-running Anytype desktop instance; no data is sent to third-party servers.
- Delete is a soft archive everywhere and is idempotent — a repeated delete stays
200, never410.
Common Pitfalls
- Problem:
lists add/removesilently does nothing on a set.
- Problem: Re-uploading an identical file returns an existing object id instead of a new one.
- Problem: Chat messages don't paginate like everything else.
Related Skills
@docx- When the deliverable is a Word document rather than an Anytype object.