a7 CLI

a7 is a separately installed command-line tool for configuring and inspecting API7 Gateway. It calls API7 Gateway control-plane and Admin API endpoints to manage gateway groups, routes, services, consumers, and other gateway resources without requiring users to construct individual HTTP requests.

a7 contexts store connection details and a default gateway group. The CLI also supports structured output for scripts, declarative configuration, and debugging commands. These capabilities support interactive administration, automation, and troubleshooting. The AI Agent Skills for API7 Gateway also use a7 to perform gateway operations.

a7 is optional; API7 Gateway does not require it for installation or operation. The Dashboard provides a graphical management interface. Install a7 when a command-line workflow is preferred or when using the agent skills.

For a comparison of the Dashboard, Admin API, ADC, a7, and API7-MCP, see Management Options. Gateway resource operations in a7 are scoped to a gateway group.

CLI Repository

The a7 repository contains the source code and maintained CLI documentation. See the Getting Started guide to install a7 and configure a connection context. The a7 user guide covers gateway groups, resource commands, contexts, and declarative configuration.

See the a7 releases page for published versions. a7 requires an access token; see Obtain a Token from the Dashboard to create one.

Use a7 with Agent Skills

The AI Agent Skills for API7 Gateway provide instructions for using a7 to operate API7 Gateway.

caution

Installing the skills does not install the a7 executable. Install a7 separately and verify that the a7 command is available on the agent's PATH.

The agent must have network access to the control plane and Admin APIs and must have an access token.