Command Reference

Everything in motd happens through commands. Type them in the input bar at the bottom of the terminal.

Shell

/help

Show all available commands grouped by category.

> /help

/menu

Toggle the sidebar. Shows motd branding, commands, doc links, and footer. Click any command to run it.

> /menu

/clear

Clear the terminal output.

> /clear

/terminal --width [value]

Set the terminal width. Accepts px, %, or reset.

> /terminal --width 1000
  Terminal width set to 1000px.

> /terminal --width 80%
  Terminal width set to 80%.

> /terminal --width reset
  Terminal width reset to default (800px).

Width is stored in localStorage and restored on next visit. On mobile, the terminal is always 100% width.

/close

Close the left panel.

> /close

/settings cli [position]

Move the terminal input line. Positions: bottom (default), top, right, left, middle.

> /settings cli top
  CLI position set to top.

> /settings cli
  CLI position: top

Position persists across sessions. On mobile, always bottom.

/config export

Download your current config as a JSON file.

> /config export
  Config downloaded.

/config import

Load config from a JSON file. Opens a file picker.

> /config import
  [file picker opens]
  Config imported.

/config reset

Reset all client-side config overrides to server defaults.

> /config reset
  Config reset to defaults.

The config system merges localStorage overrides with server defaults. Export/import lets you back up or transfer your settings.

/read [path]

Read a documentation file. Renders markdown inline in the terminal.

> /read about
> /read api
> /read commands

Without arguments, lists all available docs.

> /read

/tree -cat

Browse categories and their tags. Click a tag to search for posts with it.

> /tree -cat

  coding/
    [rust]  [python]  [wasm]  [js]  [frontend]  [backend]
  creative/
    [music]  [art]  [writing]  [gamedev]
  meta/
    [motd]  [bugs]  [ideas]  [feedback]
  general/
    [offtopic]  [introductions]  [showcase]

/link [target]

Universal navigation. Resolves the target and takes you there.

> /link @alice        → opens alice's profile
> /link rust          → searches for [rust] posts
> /link a3kf9x       → shows a specific post
> /link docs/api      → reads the API doc

Resolution order: user > tag > post > doc.

Auth

/register

Create an account. Interactive prompts for username and password.

> /register
  username: alice
  password: ********
  Registered as alice.

/login

Log in. Session lasts until you close the tab.

> /login
  username: alice
  password: ********
  Logged in as alice.

/login-permanently

Log in with a persistent session. Survives tab closes and browser restarts.

> /login-permanently
  username: alice
  password: ********
  Logged in as alice (persistent).

/logout

End your session.

> /logout
  Logged out.

Profile

/profile

View your own profile.

> /profile

  ████      ████
    ████████
  ████████████
    ████████
  ██  ████  ██

  @alice (Alice)
  building things
  Posts: 42
  Joined: 2026-03-15

/profile @user

View another user's profile.

> /profile @bob

/settings

Edit your display name and bio. Interactive prompts.

> /settings
  display_name (Alice): Alice W.
  bio (building things): shipping code
  Settings updated.

Posts

/post [text]

Publish a post. Max 500 characters. Tags use [brackets].

> /post just shipped the wasm compiler [rust] [wasm]

  @alice · just shipped the wasm compiler [rust] [wasm]
  a3kf9x · just now

/post [text] /attach [media_id]

Publish a post with media attached. Upload first with /upload, then attach the returned ID.

> /post screenshot of the new UI /attach x7km2p [showcase]

/feed

Show recent posts. Chronological. Filtered by your kill list.

> /feed

  @alice · just shipped the wasm compiler [rust] [wasm]
  a3kf9x · 2m ago

  @bob · working on a new side project [coding]
  c9xk4m · 15m ago

/reply [post_id] [text]

Reply to a post.

> /reply a3kf9x nice work! what was the hardest part?

/thread [post_id]

View a post and its replies.

> /thread a3kf9x

/goto [post_id]

Jump to a specific post.

> /goto a3kf9x

Discovery

/find [query]

Search users and posts.

> /find rust
> /find @alice
> /find [wasm]

Brackets optional — /find rust and /find [rust] both work.

/find --archive [query]

Search archived posts (30-120 days old).

> /find --archive old project

/tree -cat

Browse the category tree. See the Shell section above.

/link [target]

Universal navigation. See the Shell section above.

Media

/upload

Upload a file. Opens a file picker. Accepted: PNG (max 5MB), MP3 (max 10MB), MP4 (max 25MB).

> /upload
  [file picker opens]
  Uploaded: x7km2p (png)

PNG images are processed into: original (max 1MB), thumbnail (80px), large (800px), ASCII art.

/attach [media_id]

Attach media to a post. Used inline with /post:

> /post check this out /attach x7km2p

/view [media_id]

View the original media file.

> /view x7km2p

/play [media_id]

Play audio or video.

> /play x7km2p

/pause

Pause current playback.

> /pause

/expand [media|nada|id]

Expand or collapse media inline in the terminal.

> /expand media        expand all media in view
> /expand              same as /expand media
> /expand a3kf9x       expand media from a specific post
> /expand nada         collapse all inline media, stop playback

/rmedia [media_id]

Delete a media file you uploaded. Removes from disk, clears from posts and avatar.

> /rmedia x7km2p
  Media deleted.

Moderation

/kill @user

Hide a user from your feed. They won't know. Their posts disappear from your view.

> /kill @spammer
  Process @spammer terminated.

/kill [post_id]

Hide a specific post.

> /kill b7xm2k
  Process b7xm2k terminated.

Kills are private. The /kill command maps to the filter system internally — the word "kill" never touches the database.

When enough users filter the same person, their posts get silently suppressed from everyone's feed. No ban. No notification. They just fade out.

Bookmarks

/bookmark [target]

Bookmark a user, tag, post, or doc. Bookmarks are private — nobody sees them.

> /bookmark @alice
  Bookmarked @alice.

> /bookmark rust
  Bookmarked [rust].

> /bookmark a3kf9x
  Bookmarked post a3kf9x.

> /bookmark docs/api
  Bookmarked doc api.

The system auto-detects what you're bookmarking:

/unbookmark [target]

Remove a bookmark.

> /unbookmark @alice
  Unbookmarked @alice.

/bookmarks

View all your bookmarks, grouped by type.

> /bookmarks

  users/
    [@alice]  [@bob]

  tags/
    [rust]  [wasm]  [frontend]

  posts/
    [a3kf9x] @alice · "just shipped the wasm compiler..."
    [b7xm2k] @carol · "demo of the new feature..."

  docs/
    [api]  [plugins]

/bookmarks --users

Show only bookmarked users.

> /bookmarks --users

Same for --tags, --posts, --docs.

Account

/terminate-account

Permanently delete your account. All posts, media, sessions, and data are wiped. Irreversible.

> /terminate-account
  Type your username to confirm: alice
  Account terminated.

Telegram

/connect telegram

Link your Telegram account. Generates a one-time deep link.

> /connect telegram

Connect Telegram:

  https://t.me/motdsocial_bot?start=alice_a8f3k2

  Click the link. Tap Start in Telegram. Done.

Click the link, tap Start in Telegram. Done. The link expires after 10 minutes.

/disconnect telegram

Unlink your Telegram account.

> /disconnect telegram
  ✓ Telegram disconnected.

See /read telegram for full details on the Telegram bridge.

Email

/connect email

Link your email address. Sends a verification email.

> /connect email

  Enter your email address: you@gmail.com

  Verification email sent to you@gmail.com
  Click the link in the email to confirm.

/disconnect email

Unlink your email address.

> /disconnect email
  ✓ Email disconnected.

See /read email for full details on the email bridge.

Right-Click Context Menu

Right-clicking interactive elements (usernames, tags, posts, doc links, media) shows a terminal-styled context menu with relevant actions. Each menu item writes the corresponding command into the input and executes it.

Right-clicking empty space shows the normal browser menu.

← Open motd.social terminal