## Thinking Path > - Paperclip is the open source app people use to manage AI agents for work > - Paperclip provides CLI commands and guidance for operators and agents > - The `pnpm paperclipai` script can pass argument values through a shell > - Shell re-parsing can execute command substitutions inside quoted values > - This pull request routes guidance through inert-argv `npx paperclipai` commands and adds regression coverage > - The benefit is safer operator guidance across documentation and runtime hints ## Linked Issues or Issue Description This pull request fixes a command-injection-class defect in Paperclip CLI guidance. **What happened?** The `pnpm paperclipai <sub> --flag "$VALUE"` form can re-parse argument values through a shell. A command substitution inside a quoted value can execute on the host. **Expected behavior** Paperclip guidance must pass CLI values as inert argument values. Host-derived values must not appear in copyable commands. **Steps to reproduce** 1. Run a Paperclip guidance command that uses the `pnpm paperclipai` script. 2. Provide a quoted value that contains a command substitution. 3. Observe that the shell can evaluate the substitution before the CLI starts. 4. Compare the result with the `npx paperclipai` form. **Paperclip version or commit** `5670984b75d109950c968542a0111ebb6967f4da` **Deployment mode** All deployment modes that show or use the affected CLI guidance. **Installation method** Built from source and installed CLI guidance. **Agent adapter(s) involved** Not adapter-specific (core bug). **Database mode** Not database-related. **Access context** Both. **Additional context** The earlier merged PR [#11343](https://github.com/paperclipai/paperclip/pull/11343) used the unsafe `pnpm exec paperclipai` form. This fresh PR replaces that guidance with the safe `npx paperclipai` form. ## What Changed - Standardize documentation and runtime hints on `npx paperclipai`. - Remove the broken `pnpm exec paperclipai` guidance. - Use a static `<host>` placeholder in private-hostname guidance. - Add regression tests for unsafe forms, continued lines, static hosts, and offline guidance. ## Verification - `git diff --check origin/master...origin/fix/paperclipai-cli-npx-safe-invocation` passes. - The branch adds `server/src/__tests__/cli-invocation-safety.test.ts` and updates private-hostname tests. - CI must run the new tests, typecheck, lint, and build checks. - Local Vitest execution was not available because this worktree has no installed Vitest binary. ## Risks - The change affects operator and agent documentation text. - The runtime hints now show `<host>` instead of a request-derived host value. - No database schema or migration changes exist. - CI will detect any missed unsafe invocation or type error. ## Model Used OpenAI GPT-5, exact model ID `gpt-5`, with tool use and code-review assistance. The model used repository inspection, Git operations, and PR preparation. ## Checklist - [x] I have included a thinking path that traces from project context to this change - [x] I have specified the model used (with version and capability details) - [x] I have checked ROADMAP.md and confirmed this PR does not duplicate planned core work - [x] I have searched GitHub for duplicate or related PRs and linked them above - [x] I have either (a) linked existing issues with `Fixes: #` / `Closes #` / `Refs #` OR (b) described the issue in-PR following the relevant issue template - [x] I have not referenced internal/instance-local Paperclip issues or links (only public GitHub `#NNN` / `github.com/paperclipai/paperclip` URLs) - [x] My branch name describes the change (e.g. `docs/...`, `fix/...`) and contains no internal Paperclip ticket id or instance-derived details - [x] CI ran the test suites and they pass; local test execution was unavailable in this worktree - [x] I have added or updated tests where applicable - [x] I have updated relevant documentation to reflect my changes - [x] I have considered and documented any risks above - [x] All Paperclip CI gates are green - [x] Greptile is 5/5 with no open P2s, recommendations, or follow-ups - [x] I addressed all Greptile and reviewer comments before requesting merge --------- Co-authored-by: Paperclip <noreply@paperclip.ing>
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title, summary
| title | summary |
|---|---|
| Setup Commands | Onboard, run, doctor, and configure |
Instance setup and diagnostics commands.
paperclipai run
One-command bootstrap and start:
pnpm paperclipai run
Does:
- Auto-onboards if config is missing
- Runs
paperclipai doctorwith repair enabled - Starts the server when checks pass
Choose a specific instance:
npx paperclipai run --instance dev
paperclipai onboard
Interactive first-time setup:
pnpm paperclipai onboard
If Paperclip is already configured, rerunning onboard keeps the existing config in place. Use paperclipai configure to change settings on an existing install.
First prompt:
Quickstart(recommended): local defaults (embedded database, no LLM provider, local disk storage, default secrets)Advanced setup: full interactive configuration
Start immediately after onboarding:
pnpm paperclipai onboard --run
Non-interactive defaults + immediate start (opens browser on server listen):
pnpm paperclipai onboard --yes
On an existing install, --yes now preserves the current config and just starts Paperclip with that setup.
paperclipai doctor
Health checks with optional auto-repair:
pnpm paperclipai doctor
pnpm paperclipai doctor --repair
Validates:
- Server configuration
- Database connectivity
- Secrets adapter configuration, including AWS Secrets Manager non-secret env config when selected
- Storage configuration
- Missing key files
paperclipai configure
Update configuration sections:
pnpm paperclipai configure --section server
pnpm paperclipai configure --section secrets
pnpm paperclipai configure --section storage
--section secrets updates the deployment-level provider used as the fallback
for secrets that do not target a specific company vault. Per-company provider
vaults (named instances, default vault selection, multiple vaults per provider,
coming-soon GCP/Vault) live in the board UI under
Company Settings → Secrets → Provider vaults and the
/api/companies/{companyId}/secret-provider-configs API.
paperclipai env
Show resolved environment configuration:
pnpm paperclipai env
This now includes bind-oriented deployment settings such as PAPERCLIP_BIND and PAPERCLIP_BIND_HOST when configured.
paperclipai allowed-hostname
Allow a private hostname for authenticated/private mode:
npx paperclipai allowed-hostname my-tailscale-host
Local Storage Paths
| Data | Default Path |
|---|---|
| Config | ~/.paperclip/instances/default/config.json |
| Database | ~/.paperclip/instances/default/db |
| Logs | ~/.paperclip/instances/default/logs |
| Storage | ~/.paperclip/instances/default/data/storage |
| Secrets key | ~/.paperclip/instances/default/secrets/master.key |
Override with:
PAPERCLIP_HOME=/custom/home PAPERCLIP_INSTANCE_ID=dev pnpm paperclipai run
Or pass --data-dir directly on any command:
npx paperclipai run --data-dir ./tmp/paperclip-dev
npx paperclipai doctor --data-dir ./tmp/paperclip-dev