Skip to main content

​
Virtual Machine Commands

NikCLI provides comprehensive virtual machine and container management for isolated development environments. These commands enable you to create, manage, and interact with containerized development environments.

​
Core VM Commands

​
/vm [action]

Main VM management command with multiple sub-actions. Syntax: 
/vm <action> [options]
Available Actions:
  • list - List all VMs
  • create - Create new VM
  • start - Start VM
  • stop - Stop VM
  • remove - Remove VM
  • connect - Connect to VM
  • status - Show VM status
  • logs - Show VM logs
Examples: 
# Show VM help and status
/vm

# List all VMs
/vm list

# Create new VM
/vm create node:18

# Connect to VM
/vm connect my-vm

# Show VM status
/vm status my-vm

​
/vm-create [config]

Create a new virtual machine with specified configuration. Syntax: 
/vm-create <image> [options]
Parameters:
  • image - Base Docker image or predefined template
  • options - VM configuration options
Predefined Templates:
  • node - Node.js development environment
  • python - Python development environment
  • go - Go development environment
  • rust - Rust development environment
  • java - Java development environment
  • php - PHP development environment
  • ruby - Ruby development environment
  • full-stack - Complete development stack
Examples: 
# Create Node.js VM
/vm-create node:18

# Create Python VM
/vm-create python:3.11

# Create custom VM
/vm-create ubuntu:22.04

# Create VM with specific configuration
/vm-create node:18 --name my-dev-env --port 3000:3000 --volume ./src:/app/src

# Create VM from GitHub repository
/vm-create --from-repo https://github.com/user/project

# Create VM with predefined template
/vm-create full-stack --name web-dev
Configuration Options:
  • --name <name> - VM name
  • --port <host:container> - Port mapping
  • --volume <host:container> - Volume mounting
  • --env <key=value> - Environment variables
  • --memory <size> - Memory limit
  • --cpu <count> - CPU limit
  • --network <network> - Network configuration

​
/vm-list

List all virtual machines with detailed information. Syntax: 
/vm-list [options]
Options:
  • --all - Show all VMs (including stopped)
  • --running - Show only running VMs
  • --json - Output in JSON format
Examples: 
# List all VMs
/vm-list

# List only running VMs
/vm-list --running

# List with JSON output
/vm-list --json
Output Format: 
🖥️  Virtual Machines:

┌──────────────┬─────────────┬─────────────┬─────────────┬──────────────┐
│ Name         │ Image       │ Status      │ Ports       │ Created      │
├──────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼──────────────┤
│ my-dev-env   │ node:18     │ Running     │ 3000:3000   │ 2h ago       │
│ python-ml    │ python:3.11 │ Stopped     │ 8000:8000   │ 1d ago       │
│ web-stack    │ full-stack  │ Running     │ 80:80,443   │ 3h ago       │
└──────────────┴─────────────┴─────────────┴─────────────┴──────────────┘

Total: 3 VMs (2 running, 1 stopped)

​
/vm-connect [id]

Connect to a running virtual machine. Syntax: 
/vm-connect <vm-name> [options]
Parameters:
  • vm-name - Name or ID of the VM to connect to
Options:
  • --shell <shell> - Shell to use (bash, zsh, sh)
  • --user <user> - User to connect as
  • --workdir <path> - Working directory
Examples: 
# Connect to VM with default shell
/vm-connect my-dev-env

# Connect with specific shell
/vm-connect my-dev-env --shell zsh

# Connect as specific user
/vm-connect my-dev-env --user developer

# Connect to specific directory
/vm-connect my-dev-env --workdir /app
Interactive Features:
  • Full terminal emulation
  • File system access
  • Port forwarding
  • Environment synchronization
  • Session persistence

​
/vm-stop [id]

Stop a running virtual machine. Syntax: 
/vm-stop <vm-name> [options]
Options:
  • --force - Force stop (kill)
  • --timeout <seconds> - Graceful shutdown timeout
Examples: 
# Graceful stop
/vm-stop my-dev-env

# Force stop
/vm-stop my-dev-env --force

# Stop with custom timeout
/vm-stop my-dev-env --timeout 30

​
/vm-remove [id]

Remove a virtual machine and its data. Syntax: 
/vm-remove <vm-name> [options]
Options:
  • --force - Skip confirmation
  • --volumes - Remove associated volumes
  • --images - Remove associated images
Examples: 
# Remove VM with confirmation
/vm-remove my-dev-env

# Force remove without confirmation
/vm-remove my-dev-env --force

# Remove VM and volumes
/vm-remove my-dev-env --volumes

# Remove everything
/vm-remove my-dev-env --force --volumes --images

​
Advanced VM Commands

​
/vm-logs [id]

View logs from a virtual machine. Syntax: 
/vm-logs <vm-name> [options]
Options:
  • --follow - Follow logs in real-time
  • --tail <lines> - Show last N lines
  • --since <time> - Show logs since timestamp
Examples: 
# Show recent logs
/vm-logs my-dev-env

# Follow logs in real-time
/vm-logs my-dev-env --follow

# Show last 100 lines
/vm-logs my-dev-env --tail 100

# Show logs from last hour
/vm-logs my-dev-env --since 1h

​
/vm-status [id]

Show detailed status information for a VM. Syntax: 
/vm-status <vm-name> [options]
Options:
  • --json - Output in JSON format
  • --detailed - Show detailed information
Examples: 
# Show basic status
/vm-status my-dev-env

# Show detailed status
/vm-status my-dev-env --detailed

# JSON output
/vm-status my-dev-env --json
Status Information:
  • Container state and health
  • Resource usage (CPU, memory, disk)
  • Network configuration
  • Volume mounts
  • Environment variables
  • Process list
  • Port mappings

​
/vm-exec [id] [command]

Execute commands inside a virtual machine. Syntax: 
/vm-exec <vm-name> "<command>" [options]
Options:
  • --user <user> - Execute as specific user
  • --workdir <path> - Set working directory
  • --env <key=value> - Set environment variables
  • --interactive - Interactive mode
Examples: 
# Execute simple command
/vm-exec my-dev-env "ls -la"

# Execute with specific user
/vm-exec my-dev-env "whoami" --user root

# Execute in specific directory
/vm-exec my-dev-env "npm install" --workdir /app

# Interactive command execution
/vm-exec my-dev-env "bash" --interactive

# Execute with environment variables
/vm-exec my-dev-env "echo $NODE_ENV" --env NODE_ENV=production

​
/vm-dashboard

Show a comprehensive dashboard of all VMs. Syntax: 
/vm-dashboard [options]
Options:
  • --refresh <seconds> - Auto-refresh interval
  • --compact - Compact view
Examples: 
# Show VM dashboard
/vm-dashboard

# Auto-refresh every 5 seconds
/vm-dashboard --refresh 5

# Compact view
/vm-dashboard --compact
Dashboard Features:
  • Real-time resource usage
  • VM status overview
  • Network activity
  • Performance metrics
  • Quick action buttons

​
VM Management Commands

​
/vm-mode

Switch to VM development mode. Syntax: 
/vm-mode [options]
Features:
  • Automatic VM selection
  • Context switching
  • Resource optimization
  • Session management
Examples: 
# Enter VM mode
/vm-mode

# VM mode with specific VM
/vm-mode --vm my-dev-env

​
/vm-switch

Switch between different VMs. Syntax: 
/vm-switch [vm-name]
Examples: 
# Interactive VM selection
/vm-switch

# Switch to specific VM
/vm-switch my-dev-env

​
/vm-select [args]

Select and configure active VM. Syntax: 
/vm-select <vm-name> [options]
Examples: 
# Select VM
/vm-select my-dev-env

# Select with configuration
/vm-select my-dev-env --auto-connect

​
VM Utility Commands

​
/vm-ls [id]

List files in VM filesystem. Syntax: 
/vm-ls <vm-name> [path] [options]
Examples: 
# List root directory
/vm-ls my-dev-env /

# List specific directory
/vm-ls my-dev-env /app

# List with details
/vm-ls my-dev-env /app -la

​
/vm-broadcast [message]

Send message to all running VMs. Syntax: 
/vm-broadcast "<message>" [options]
Examples: 
# Broadcast message
/vm-broadcast "System maintenance in 10 minutes"

# Broadcast command
/vm-broadcast "npm update" --execute

​
/vm-health

Check health of all VMs. Syntax: 
/vm-health [options]
Examples: 
# Check all VM health
/vm-health

# Detailed health check
/vm-health --detailed

# Health check with auto-repair
/vm-health --repair

​
/vm-backup [id]

Create backup of VM state. Syntax: 
/vm-backup <vm-name> [options]
Options:
  • --name <backup-name> - Backup name
  • --compress - Compress backup
  • --exclude <patterns> - Exclude patterns
Examples: 
# Create backup
/vm-backup my-dev-env

# Named backup
/vm-backup my-dev-env --name "before-update"

# Compressed backup
/vm-backup my-dev-env --compress

# Backup excluding node_modules
/vm-backup my-dev-env --exclude "node_modules,*.log"

​
/vm-stats [id]

Show VM statistics and metrics. Syntax: 
/vm-stats [vm-name] [options]
Options:
  • --real-time - Real-time monitoring
  • --history - Historical data
  • --export - Export data
Examples: 
# Show stats for all VMs
/vm-stats

# Show stats for specific VM
/vm-stats my-dev-env

# Real-time monitoring
/vm-stats my-dev-env --real-time

# Historical data
/vm-stats my-dev-env --history 24h

​
VM Templates and Presets

​
Predefined Templates

Node.js Development: 
/vm-create node-dev --template nodejs
# Includes: Node.js, npm, yarn, git, common dev tools
Python Data Science: 
/vm-create python-ds --template data-science
# Includes: Python, Jupyter, pandas, numpy, matplotlib
Full-Stack Web: 
/vm-create web-stack --template fullstack
# Includes: Node.js, Python, PostgreSQL, Redis, nginx
Mobile Development: 
/vm-create mobile-dev --template mobile
# Includes: Node.js, React Native CLI, Android SDK

​
Custom Templates

Create custom VM templates: 
# Create template from existing VM
/vm-create-template my-dev-env --name custom-node

# Use custom template
/vm-create new-env --template custom-node

​
VM Networking

​
Port Management

# Map additional ports
/vm-port-add my-dev-env 8080:8080

# Remove port mapping
/vm-port-remove my-dev-env 8080

# List port mappings
/vm-port-list my-dev-env

​
Network Configuration

# Create custom network
/vm-network-create dev-network

# Connect VM to network
/vm-network-connect my-dev-env dev-network

# List networks
/vm-network-list

​
VM Storage

​
Volume Management

# Create volume
/vm-volume-create my-data

# Mount volume to VM
/vm-volume-mount my-dev-env my-data:/data

# List volumes
/vm-volume-list

# Backup volume
/vm-volume-backup my-data

​
File Synchronization

# Sync local directory to VM
/vm-sync ./src my-dev-env:/app/src

# Sync VM directory to local
/vm-sync my-dev-env:/app/dist ./dist

# Real-time sync
/vm-sync ./src my-dev-env:/app/src --watch

​
Performance Optimization

​
Resource Limits

# Set CPU limit
/vm-limit my-dev-env --cpu 2

# Set memory limit
/vm-limit my-dev-env --memory 4g

# Set disk limit
/vm-limit my-dev-env --disk 20g

​
Performance Monitoring

# Monitor performance
/vm-monitor my-dev-env

# Performance profiling
/vm-profile my-dev-env --duration 60s

# Resource usage alerts
/vm-alert my-dev-env --cpu 80 --memory 90

​
Integration Examples

​
Development Workflow

# 1. Create development environment
/vm-create node:18 --name project-dev --port 3000:3000

# 2. Connect and setup
/vm-connect project-dev
# Inside VM: git clone, npm install, etc.

# 3. Start development
/vm-exec project-dev "npm run dev"

# 4. Monitor and debug
/vm-logs project-dev --follow
/vm-stats project-dev --real-time

​
Team Collaboration

# 1. Create shared template
/vm-create-template team-env --from project-dev

# 2. Team members create VMs from template
/vm-create team-member-1 --template team-env

# 3. Share configurations
/vm-export-config project-dev > team-config.json
/vm-import-config team-config.json --vm team-member-2

​
CI/CD Integration

# 1. Create CI environment
/vm-create ci-env --template nodejs --ephemeral

# 2. Run tests
/vm-exec ci-env "npm test"

# 3. Build application
/vm-exec ci-env "npm run build"

# 4. Cleanup
/vm-remove ci-env --force

​
Troubleshooting

​
Common Issues

VM won’t start: 
# Check Docker daemon
/run docker info

# Check VM configuration
/vm-status my-dev-env --detailed

# Check resource availability
/vm-health --system
Connection issues: 
# Check VM status
/vm-status my-dev-env

# Check port mappings
/vm-port-list my-dev-env

# Test connectivity
/vm-exec my-dev-env "ping host.docker.internal"
Performance issues: 
# Check resource usage
/vm-stats my-dev-env

# Adjust resource limits
/vm-limit my-dev-env --memory 8g --cpu 4

# Clean up unused resources
/vm-cleanup --unused

​
Debug Commands

# VM system diagnostics
/diagnostic vm

# VM-specific debugging
/debug vm my-dev-env

# Container inspection
/vm-inspect my-dev-env

# System resource check
/vm-health --system

​
Best Practices

​
VM Management

  • Use descriptive VM names
  • Regular backup of important VMs
  • Monitor resource usage
  • Clean up unused VMs regularly

​
Development

  • Use appropriate base images
  • Mount source code as volumes
  • Use environment variables for configuration
  • Implement proper logging

​
Security

  • Use non-root users when possible
  • Limit resource usage
  • Regular security updates
  • Network isolation when needed

​
Performance

  • Optimize Docker images
  • Use appropriate resource limits
  • Monitor and profile regularly
  • Use caching strategies