CLI reference

slide-ng [command] [slides.md] [flags]

The entry file is slides.md unless you name another one. A first argument that starts with - or ends in .md means dev. An unknown flag is an error, so a typo is never silently ignored. Flags take --flag value or --flag=value, and a boolean flag has a --no-flag form.

dev

Starts the dev server. This is the default command.

Flag	Meaning
--port, -p	Port. Default 4230.
--open, -o	Open the deck in a browser.
--remote[=password]	Listen on every address so other devices can open the deck and follow the presenter. The password is optional. See Remote access.
--bind <address>	The address to listen on with --remote. Default 0.0.0.0.
--log error|warn|info|silent	How much of the child programs' output to show. Default info. error and silent hide it.
--force, -f	Clear the build cache.
--theme, -t	A theme name or path, instead of the headmatter's.

--tunnel and --base are refused with a message. The dev server always runs at /.

build

Makes a static site. See Hosting.

Flag	Meaning
--out, -o	Output folder. Default dist.
--base /talk/	The path the site is served under. /talk, talk/ and /talk/ all mean /talk/.
--offline	A folder that opens from disk. Cannot be combined with --base. See Presenting offline.
--download	Also make the PDF and add the download button.
--without-notes	Leave the speaker notes out.
--executable-path	The Chromium to use for the PDF, the install icons and the Open Graph picture.
--timeout	Timeout in milliseconds for the PDF.
--theme, -t	A theme name or path.

export

Makes a PDF, PNG, PPTX or Markdown file. See Export.

Flag	Meaning
--format	pdf (default), png, pptx or md.
--output, -o	Output name or path.
--range 1,4-5	Which slides.
--with-clicks, -c	One page per click step. On by default for pptx.
--dark	Dark mode.
--timeout	Milliseconds, 1000 to 600000. Default 30000.
--wait	Extra wait in milliseconds, 0 to 120000. Default 0.
--wait-until	networkidle (default), load, domcontentloaded or none.
--executable-path	The Chromium to use. Or set CHROME_PATH.
--per-slide	Make each slide separately and join them.
--scale	Device scale factor, 0.25 to 8. Default 2.
--omit-background	A transparent background.
--with-toc	Put an outline made from slide titles into the PDF.
--dist <folder>	Export an existing build instead of building first.
--url <address>	Export a running server, for example the dev server.
--base	The base path the deck is served under, for --dist.
--theme, -t	A theme name or path.

export takes one entry file per run.

export-notes

Takes the same flags as export and writes a PDF of the speaker notes.

format

slide-ng format [slides.md ...]

Tidies the files given, slides.md by default. No flags. See Formatting.

theme eject

slide-ng theme eject [slides.md] [--dir theme] [--theme name]

Copies the theme in use into the deck's folder, and sets theme: ./theme in the headmatter. --dir is a plain folder name. It refuses a folder that is not empty. See Themes and addons.

mcp

slide-ng mcp [slides.md]

Starts the MCP server on stdio. See MCP server.

skills install

slide-ng skills install [--dir <folder>] [--force]

Copies the agent skill into <dir>/slide-ng. --dir defaults to .agents/skills. --force replaces an earlier copy. It never writes outside the current folder. See Agents and the skill.

create

slide-ng create <folder> [--force]

Makes a new deck folder. --force, -f adds the files that are missing to a folder that already has files. See Your first deck.

Environment

Variable	Meaning
CHROME_PATH	The Chromium that export, --download, pwa icons and ogImage: auto use.
SLIDE_NG_THEME	A theme name or path that overrides the headmatter. --theme sets it.
SLIDES_FILE	The entry file, when no argument names one.