ibmcloud

Update ibmcloud to the latest version

$ ibmcloud update

$ ibmcloud cf install

$ ibmcloud regions

$ ibmcloud help

$ ibmcloud help [subcommand]

$ ibmcloud version

ibmcloud [GLOBAL_OPTIONS] COMMAND [ARGS...]

--help, -h
    Displays help information for the ibmcloud command or a specific subcommand.

--version, -v
    Outputs the current version of the ibmcloud CLI.

--debug
    Enables debug mode, providing verbose debug information during command execution.

--trace
    Enables HTTP trace mode, displaying detailed HTTP request and response information for API calls.

--quiet, -q
    Suppresses verbose output, showing only essential information or errors.

--output <FORMAT>
    Specifies the output format for command results, such as JSON, text, or table.

--color <true|false>
    Enables or disables colored output in the terminal.

--force, -f
    Forces an operation to proceed without requiring user confirmation.

--timeout <TIMEOUT_IN_SECONDS>
    Sets the maximum timeout duration for API requests in seconds.

The ibmcloud command-line interface (CLI) serves as the primary tool for interacting with and managing various resources, services, and applications within the IBM Cloud ecosystem. It provides a unified, consistent experience for developers and administrators to provision, configure, and monitor their cloud assets directly from the terminal. The CLI is designed with a core component that handles fundamental operations like authentication, region/resource group targeting, and plugin management.

Its functionality is extensively extended through a modular plugin architecture. Users can install specific plugins for services such as Kubernetes Service (IKS), Cloud Object Storage (COS), Functions (Cloud Functions/OpenWhisk), Code Engine, and many more, enabling fine-grained control over a vast array of IBM Cloud offerings. This approach ensures that the CLI remains lightweight while allowing users to customize their toolset based on their specific needs. It supports scripting and automation, making it an essential tool for CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure-as-code practices on IBM Cloud.

Authentication Required: Most commands require prior authentication using ibmcloud login to access IBM Cloud resources.
Plugin Dependency: Functionality for specific services is often provided by plugins that must be installed separately (e.g., ibmcloud plugin install kubernetes-service).
Targeting: Commands typically operate within a specific region and/or resource group, which can be set using ibmcloud target.
Internet Connectivity: An active internet connection is necessary to interact with IBM Cloud APIs.
Version Compatibility: Ensure the CLI and installed plugins are kept up-to-date for full feature access and compatibility.

The ibmcloud CLI is built on a robust plugin system. The core CLI provides foundational commands (e.g., login, target, plugin management), while service-specific functionalities are delivered through separate plugins (e.g., ibmcloud plugin install kubernetes-service). This design keeps the core CLI lightweight and allows users to install only the components they need, ensuring flexibility and efficient resource usage.

Users must authenticate using the ibmcloud login command before managing resources. The CLI also supports targeting specific regions, resource groups, or Cloud Foundry organizations/spaces via the ibmcloud target command, ensuring commands operate within the desired scope of the IBM Cloud environment.

The ibmcloud CLI is highly scriptable, making it ideal for automation tasks, continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines, and infrastructure-as-code workflows. Its consistent command structure and support for various output formats (like JSON) facilitate programmatic interaction.

The ibmcloud CLI evolved as a unified successor to earlier IBM Cloud management tools, notably integrating and expanding upon the capabilities of the Cloud Foundry CLI (cf CLI). It was introduced to provide a single, consistent interface for managing IBM's increasingly diverse portfolio of cloud services, extending beyond just Cloud Foundry applications to encompass IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS offerings. Its development emphasized a modular plugin architecture to ensure extensibility and adaptability to the rapid growth of IBM Cloud services, solidifying its position as the official and recommended command-line interface for IBM Cloud interactions.

awscli(1), az(1), gcloud(1), kubectl(1), cf(1)