README.md
author Mikael Berthe <mikael@lilotux.net>
Sun, 11 Jul 2021 10:35:56 +0200
changeset 256 6d9efbef00a9
parent 253 c4f59affc597
child 264 8f478162d991
permissions -rw-r--r--
Update dependencies

# madonctl

Golang command line interface for the Mastodon API

[![license](https://img.shields.io/badge/license-MIT-blue.svg?style=flat)](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/McKael/madonctl/master/LICENSE)
[![Build Status](https://travis-ci.org/McKael/madonctl.svg?branch=master)](https://travis-ci.org/McKael/madonctl)

`madonctl` is a [Go](https://golang.org/) CLI tool to use the Mastodon REST API.

It is built on top of [madon](https://github.com/McKael/madon), my Golang
implementation of the API.

## Installation

### Download

Check the [Release page](https://github.com/McKael/madonctl/releases) for some
pre-built binaries.

More pre-built binaries might be available from the [Homepage](https://lilotux.net/~mikael/pub/madonctl/)
(development version and builds for a few other platforms).

### From source

madonctl now uses Go modules introduced with Go v1.11.

For backward compatibility, dependencies have been vendored and you should
still be able to build it "the old way" with:

    go get github.com/McKael/madonctl

Alternatively, with Go >= 1.11:

    git clone https://github.com/McKael/madonctl
    cd madonctl
    go build    # (or go install)

and you should be able to use `madonctl`.

Travis automated testing is run for Go versions 1.11 - 1.13.

## Usage

### Configuration

In order to use madonctl, you need to specify the instance name or URL, and
usually provide an account login/password (or a token).

These settings can be passed as command line arguments or environment variables,
but the easiest way is to use a configuration file.

Note that you can **generate a configuration file** for your settings with

`madonctl config dump -i mastodon.social -L username@domain -P password`

(You can redirect the output to a configuration file.)

If you don't want to use the password or if you have enabled *Two-factor
authentication*, you can also use **OAuth2** with the `oauth2` command:

`madonctl -i mastodon.social oauth2 > madonctl.yaml`

For details on the configuration, please check the [configuration](configuration.md) page.

### Usage

The complete list of commands is available in the online help (`madonctl help`,
`madonctl command --help`...) or in the
[manpages](https://lilotux.net/~mikael/pub/madonctl/manual/html/).

### Examples

This is a non-exhaustive list of commands, showing how madonctl works.

To post a simple "toot":
``` sh
% madonctl toot "Hello, World"
```

You can change the toot visibility, add a Content Warning (a.k.a. spoiler)
or send a media file:
``` sh
% madonctl toot --visibility direct "@McKael Hello, you"
% madonctl toot --visibility private --spoiler CW "The answer was 42"
% madonctl post --file image.jpg Selfie # Send a media file
```
Note: The default toot visibility can be set in the configuration file with
the `default_visibility` setting or with the environment variable (example
`export MADONCTL_DEFAULT_VISIBILITY=unlisted`).

Send (text) file content as new message:
```
% madonctl toot --text-file message.txt
```

... or read message from standard input:
```
% echo "Hello from #madonctl" | madonctl toot --stdin
```

Reply to a message:
``` sh
% madonctl toot --in-reply-to 1234 --visibility direct "@user1 @user2 response"
% madonctl toot --in-reply-to 1234 --add-mentions "response"
```
The flag `--add-mentions` automatically adds mentions based on the toot you're
replying to.

Some **account-related commands**:
``` sh
% madonctl accounts blocked                       # List blocked accounts
% madonctl accounts muted                         # List muted accounts

% madonctl account notifications --list --all    # List really all notifications
% madonctl account notifications --list --clear  # List and clear notifications
% madonctl account notifications --notification-id 1234 # Display notification
% madonctl account notifications --dismiss --notification-id 1234
```

Note: By default, madonctl will send a single query.  If you want all available
results you should use the `--all` flag.  If you use a `--limit` value,
madonctl might send several queries until the number of results reaches this
value.

**Update** your account information:
``` sh
% madonctl account update --display-name "John"  # Update display name
% madonctl account update --note "Newcomer"      # Update user note (bio)
% madonctl account update --note ""              # Clear note
% madonctl account update --avatar me.png        # Update avatar

% madonctl account update --bot               # Advertise account as automated
% madonctl account update --default-sensitive # Set medias sensitive by default
% madonctl account update --default-language fra    # Set default toot language
% madonctl account update --default-privacy private # Set default toot privacy
```

See your own **posts**:
``` sh
% madonctl account statuses                      # See last posts
% madonctl account statuses --all                # See all statuses
```

Display accounts you're **following** or your **followers**:
``` sh
% madonctl accounts following                     # See last following
% madonctl accounts following --all               # See all followed accounts
% madonctl accounts followers --limit 30          # Last 30 followers
```

Add/remove a **favourite**, **boost** a status...
``` sh
% madonctl status --status-id 416671 favourite    # Fave a status
% madonctl status --status-id 416671 boost        # Boost (reblog) a status

% madonctl status --status-id 416671 unboost       # Cancel a boost
% madonctl status --status-id 416671 boost --unset # Cancel a boost (deprecated)
```

**Pin/unpin** a status...
``` sh
% madonctl status --status-id 533769 pin          # Pin a status
% madonctl status --status-id 533769 unpin        # Unpin a status
% madonctl status --status-id 533769 pin --unset  # Unpin a status (deprecated)
```

**Pin/unpin** an account (i.e., account endorsement)...
``` sh
% madonctl status --account-id 1234 pin           # Pin (endorse) an account
% madonctl status --account-id 1234 unpin         # Unpin an account

% madonctl status pin @Gargron@mastodon.social
```

Search for an account (only accounts known to your instance):
``` sh
% madonctl accounts search gargron
```

**Follow** an account with known ID:
``` sh
% madonctl account follow --account-id 1234
```

Follow a remote account:
``` sh
% madonctl account follow --remote Gargron@mastodon.social
```

madonctl 2.3.0+ is able to recognize the kind of argument to specify and to
use the relevant API calls, so the previous commands could be written as:
``` sh
% madonctl account follow 1234
% madonctl account follow Gargron@mastodon.social
% madonctl account follow https://mastodon.social/@Gargron
```

Note: If you know the numeric account ID, you should use it to save extra API
calls.

**Search** for accounts, statuses or hashtags:
``` sh
% madonctl search gargron
% madonctl search mastodon
```

When the account ID is unknown, --user-id can be useful.\
You can specify the (instance-specific) account ID number (--account-id) or
the user ID (--user-id).  In the later case, madonctl will search for the
user so it must match exactly the ID known to your instance (without the
@domain suffix if the user is on the same instance).  The --user-id flag can
also contain an HTTP account URL.
``` sh
% madonctl account --user-id Gargron@mastodon.social -l5 statuses # Last 5 statuses
% madonctl account --user-id https://mastodon.social/@Gargron -l5 statuses # Same
```

With madonctl 2.3.0+, you can use the shorter forms:
``` sh
% madonctl account statuses -l5 Gargron@mastodon.social
% madonctl account statuses -l5 https://mastodon.social/@Gargron
% madonctl account statuses -l5 1   # (account ID)
```

Please note that the form "Gargron@mastodon.social" will only work if this
account is known by the instance.  If it is unknown, the https link should work
(and the Mastodon server will learn about the account).

Read **timelines**:
``` sh
% madonctl timeline                 # Display home timeline
% madonctl timeline home            # (same as previous command)
% madonctl timeline public          # Display federated timeline
% madonctl timeline public --local  # Display public local timeline
% madonctl timeline direct          # Display timeline of direct messages

% madonctl timeline --limit 3       # Display 3 latest home timeline messages
```

Use the **streaming API** and fetch timelines and notifications:
``` sh
% madonctl stream                   # Stream home timeline and notifications
% madonctl stream local             # Stream local timeline
% madonctl stream public            # Stream federated timeline
% madonctl stream direct            # Stream direct messages
```

You can also use **hashtag streams**:
``` sh
% madonctl stream :mastodon         # Stream for hastag 'mastodon'
% madonctl stream :madonctl,golang  # Stream for several hashtags
```

Please note that madonctl will use one socket per stream, so the number of
concurrent hashtags is currently limited to 4 for "politeness".

It is also possible to send every stream event (notification or status) to
an **external command**.  You can can even combine it with a customized theme.
The contents will be sent to the standard input of this command:
``` sh
madonctl stream --command gateway.sh --theme gateway
```

(Almost) All commands have a **customizable output**:
``` sh
% madonctl account show            # Display an account
% madonctl account show -o yaml    # Display an account, in yaml
% madonctl account show -o json    # Display an account, in json
% madonctl stream local -o json     # Stream local timeline and output to JSON
```

You can also use Go (Golang) **templates**:
``` sh
% madonctl account --account-id 1 followers --template '{{.acct}}{{"\n"}}'
```

You can write and use [themes](templates) as well:
```
madonctl --theme=ansi timeline
```

There are many more commands, you can find them in the online help or the manpage.


### Shell completion

If you want **shell completion**, you can generate scripts with the following command: \
`madonctl completion bash` (or zsh)

Then, just source the script in your shell.

For example, I have this line in my .zshrc:

`source <(madonctl completion zsh)`

### Commands output

The output can be set to **json**, **yaml** or to a **Go template** for all commands.\
If you are familiar with Kubernetes' kubectl, it is very similar.

For example, you can display your user token with:\
`madonctl config whoami --template '{{.access_token}}'`\
or the application ID with:\
`madonctl config dump --template '{{.ID}}'`

All the users that have favorited a given status:\
`madonctl status --status-id 101194 favourited-by --template '{{.username}}{{"\n"}}'`

Sets of templates can be grouped as **themes**.

For more complex templates, one can use the `--template-file` option.\
See the [themes & templates](templates) folder.

## References

- [madonctl manpages](https://lilotux.net/~mikael/pub/madonctl/manual/html/)
- [madon](https://github.com/McKael/madon), the Go library for Mastodon API
- [Mastodon API documentation](https://github.com/tootsuite/documentation/blob/master/Using-the-API/API.md)
- [Mastodon repository](https://github.com/tootsuite/mastodon)