# Your next task. From the terminal.

Send a message, inspect its result and put the workflow into a script. Bird CLI gives you the same commands in your terminal and in a shell-capable agent.

[Start now](/dashboard/signup)

[Install and authenticate](/docs/cli)

**Terminal**

```bash
# Install the CLI.
curl -fsSL https://cli.bird.com/install.sh | sh

# Authenticate once (opens your browser).
bird auth login --scope emails:write

# Send an email.
bird email send \
  --from "Bird <onboarding@messagebird.dev>" \
  --to delivered@messagebird.dev \
  --subject "Welcome to Bird" \
  --html "<p>You are in.</p>"
```

## Keep the message ID. Follow the result.

The send returns structured JSON with a message ID and an accepted status. Read the message by that ID to inspect delivery counts and the reported outcome. Acceptance records queued work; the delivery result arrives asynchronously.

**Read the returned message**

```bash
bird email get YOUR_MESSAGE_ID
```

[Install, log in, send and read an email ↗](/docs/get-started/quickstarts/cli/email)

[Email send reference ↗](/docs/cli/reference/email-send)

[Explore Email API ↗](/email-api)

## Repeat the useful work.

Explore a command by hand, then use JSON output and documented exit codes in your automation. A shell-capable agent can inspect the same result before choosing its next operation. Follow the automation guide for dry runs, retries and idempotency.

[Automation guide ↗](/docs/ai/cli-for-agents)

[Connect an agent through MCP ↗](/ai/mcp-client)

[Watch the agent setup lesson ↗](/learn/basics/setting-up-your-coding-agent)

## Choose the task you need.

### Send and inspect messages

Send SMS, preview a WhatsApp template or reply to a mailbox thread. Keep the returned identifiers to inspect what happened next.

[Send SMS](/docs/cli/reference/sms-send)

[Preview WhatsApp](/docs/cli/reference/whatsapp-preview)

[Reply to a thread](/docs/cli/reference/email-threads-messages-reply)

### Check a code or look up a number

Create and check a verification, or inspect phone-number signals with Lookup. Your application decides how a successful check or returned signal affects its next action.

[Check a passcode](/docs/cli/reference/verify-verifications-check)

[Look up a number](/docs/cli/reference/lookup-phone-number)

### Prepare calling and realtime resources

Create Voice session credentials or a Realtime app and key. Your SIP client handles calls; your Realtime SDK and WebSocket connection handle publishing and subscriptions.

[Voice credentials](/docs/cli/reference/voice-session-credentials-create)

[Realtime app setup](/docs/cli/reference/realtime-apps-create)

## Before your first command

### How do I sign in?

Follow the installation guide and run bird auth login with the scopes needed for your task. The email quickstart requests emails:write so its send can proceed after browser consent.

### Can I use it from an agent?

Yes. A shell-capable agent can run the CLI and inspect JSON output and exit codes. A compatible remote MCP client can connect through Bird’s hosted MCP server instead.

### Where are the full commands documented?

The CLI documentation covers installation, authentication and command reference. Product guides explain sender setup, result interpretation and the next integration step.

## Put your first command to work.

[Talk to sales](/demo)



## Related resources

- [Set up your coding agent](/docs/ai/set-up-your-agent) (docs)
- [What is an MCP server, and how does an agent use one to send messages?](/explained/platform/what-is-an-mcp-server-and-how-does-an-agent-send-messages) (answer)
- [Build with AI agents](/learn/paths/agents) (course)
- [Coding agents](/ai) (product)

[Get an implementation brief](/learn/workspace?topic=agents)