rbw

Log in to the vault

$ rbw login

$ rbw unlock

$ rbw list

$ rbw get "[entry_name]"

$ rbw get [[-f|--field]] username "[entry_name]"

$ rbw get [[-c|--clipboard]] "[entry_name]"

$ rbw generate [password_length]

$ rbw lock

rbw [OPTIONS] [ARGS...]

-h, --help
    Displays help information for rbw or a specific subcommand.

-V, --version
    Prints the rbw version string.

--debug
    Enables debug logging for troubleshooting.

rbw is a command-line interface (CLI) for the Bitwarden password manager, written in Rust. It provides a fast, secure, and user-friendly way to interact with your Bitwarden vault directly from the terminal. Users can unlock their vault, list stored items, and retrieve sensitive information like usernames, passwords, and TOTP codes, as well as manage their entries. Often preferred over the official Bitwarden CLI for its performance and streamlined interface, rbw integrates well into shell scripts and workflows, allowing for programmatic access to your passwords. It ensures data security by encrypting your vault locally and requiring a master password for decryption. rbw supports various Bitwarden features, including item management, synchronization, and handling diverse item types.

rbw is a third-party client, not officially supported by Bitwarden Inc., though it interacts with the official Bitwarden API. It requires an active Bitwarden account to function. The command relies on external programs like `pinentry` for secure password prompts, which must be correctly installed and configured. While the vault data is stored locally encrypted, its security ultimately depends on the strength of your Bitwarden master password and the overall security of your system. It may not immediately support all new advanced features introduced in official Bitwarden clients.

rbw is primarily installed via the Rust package manager, Cargo (`cargo install rbw`), which necessitates having Rust installed. It is also available in some Linux distribution repositories (e.g., `apt install rbw` on Debian/Ubuntu, `pacman -S rbw` on Arch Linux) or can be built directly from its source code.

The command utilizes a configuration file, typically located at `~/.config/rbw/config.json`. This file can be managed and modified through the `rbw config` subcommand, allowing users to set default behaviors for item creation, synchronization, and other preferences.

rbw operates on a subcommand structure to manage various aspects of your vault. Essential subcommands include `unlock` (to access your vault), `sync` (to update local data), `list` (to view items), `get` (to retrieve item details like passwords or TOTP), `add`, `edit`, `delete` (for item management), and `config` (for settings). Each subcommand typically has its own set of specific options and arguments, for instance, `rbw get --full` retrieves all details of a specific item.

The rbw project was initiated by Dominic van Essen ("doy") around 2020. Developed in Rust, it quickly gained traction as a performant and secure alternative to the official Bitwarden CLI (`bw`), primarily due to its speed and simpler, more Unix-like interface for common tasks. It is actively maintained and developed by a community of contributors, continually adding features and improving stability. Its design principles often draw parallels to the `pass` (Unix password manager) command, aiming for a robust and scriptable command-line experience for Bitwarden users.

bw(1) (official Bitwarden CLI), pass(1) (Unix password manager), gpg(1) (GnuPG encryption), pinentry(1) (secure passphrase entry)