1. Overview
  2. Node Operation
  3. Guide to Autheo CLI

Guide to Autheo CLI

Autheod

autheod is an all-in-one command-line interface. It supports wallet management, funds transfers and staking operations.

Build and configurations

Build Prerequisites

  • You can get the latest autheod binary here from the testnet page;

Using autheod

autheod is bundled with the Autheo Platform code. After you have obtained the latest autheod binary, run

$ autheod [command]

There is also a -h, --help command available

$ autheod -h

Config and data directory

By default, your configuration and data are stored in the folder located in the ~/.autheo directory. Ensure that you have backed up your wallet after creating it. Otherwise, your funds may be inaccessible in the event of an accident.

Configure autheod config and data directory

To specify the autheod config and data storage directory; you can add a global flag --home <directory>

Configuration Setting

We can view the default config setting by using autheod config command:

$ autheod config
{
"chain-id": "",
"keyring-backend": "os",
"output": "text",
"node": "tcp://localhost:26657",
"broadcast-mode": "sync"
}

We can make changes to the default settings upon our choices, so it allows users to set the configuration beforehand all at once, so it would be ready with the same config afterward.

For example, the chain-id can be changed to auth_ChainID-1 from a blank name by

$ autheod config "chain-id" auth_ChainID-1
$ autheod config
{
"chain-id": "auth_ChainID-1",
"keyring-backend": "os",
"output": "text",
"node": "tcp://localhost:26657",
"broadcast-mode": "sync"
}

Other values can be changed in the same way.

Alternatively, we can directly make the changes to the config values in one place at client.toml. It is under the path of .ethermint/config/client.toml in the folder where we installed ethermint:

############################################################################
### Client Configuration ###
############################################################################
 
# The network chain ID
chain-id = "auth_ChainID-1"
# The keyring's backend, where the keys are stored (os|file|kwallet|pass|test|memory)
keyring-backend = "os"
# CLI output format (text|json)
output = "number"
# <host>:<port> to Tendermint RPC interface for this chain
node = "tcp://localhost:26657"
# Transaction broadcasting mode (sync|async|block)
broadcast-mode = "sync"

After the necessary changes are made in the client.toml, then save. For example, if we directly change the chain-id from ethermint0 to ethermint-test1, and output to number, it would change instantly as shown below.

$ autheod config
{
"chain-id": "ethermint-test1",
"keyring-backend": "os",
"output": "number",
"node": "tcp://localhost:26657",
"broadcast-mode": "sync"
}

Options

A list of commonly used flags of autheod is listed below:

Option Description Type Default Value
--home Directory for config and data string ~/.autheo
--chain-id Full Chain ID string ---
--output Output format string "text"
--keyring-backend Select keyring's backend os/file/test os

 

Command list

A list of commonly used autheod commands.

Command Description List
keys Key management

add <wallet_name>

add <key_name> --recover

list

show <key_name>

delete <key_name>

export <key_name>

tx Transaction subcommands

bank send

staking delegate

staking unbond

staking create-validator

slashing unjail

query Query subcommands query bank balance

You may also add the flag -h, --help on autheod [command] to get more available commands and details.

Example: More details of subcommand - tx staking

$ autheod tx staking --help
Staking transaction subcommands
 
Usage:
autheod tx staking [flags]
autheod tx staking [command]
 
Available Commands:
create-validator create new validator initialized with a self-delegation to it
delegate Delegate liquid tokens to a validator
edit-validator edit an existing validator account
redelegate Redelegate illiquid tokens from one validator to another
unbond Unbond shares from a validator
 
Flags:
-h, --help help for staking
 
Global Flags:
--chain-id string The network chain ID
--home string directory for config and data (default "/Users/.autheo")
--log_format string The logging format (json|plain) (default "plain")
--log_level string The logging level (trace|debug|info|warn|error|fatal|panic) (default "info")
--trace

Key management - autheod keys

First of all, you will need an address to store and spend your THEO.

keys add <wallet_name> - Create a new key

You can create a new key with the name Default as in the following example:

Example: Create a new address

$ autheod keys add Default
- name: Default
type: local
address: tautheo1r4erhyx6jk8nsafhlw7263upnw9hja90gdgj5d
pubkey: '{"@type":"/ethermint.crypto.v1alpha1.ethsecp256k1.PubKey","key":"A3EzNez+oPwDnRTY9OWdVDSjOqikiP7zYncTyxil2SgO"}'
mnemonic: ""
 
**Important** write this mnemonic phrase in a safe place.
It is the only way to recover your account if you ever forget your password.
 
farm surround surround hunt shop glory fringe bag mountain clerk arch ankle announce turtle slide brisk carbon album immense drop example speed grain dutch

The key comes with a "mnemonic phrase", which is serialized into a human-readable 24-word mnemonic. User can recover their associated addresses with the mnemonic phrase.

It is important that you keep the mnemonic for address secure, as there is no way to recover it. You would not be able to recover and access the funds in the wallet if you forget the mnemonic phrase.

keys add <key_name> --recover - Restore existing key by seed phrase

You can restore an existing key with the mnemonic.

Example: Restore an existing key

$ autheod keys add Default_restore --recover
> Enter your bip39 mnemonic
## Enter your 24-word mnemonic here ##

keys list - List your keys

Multiple keys can be created when needed. You can list all keys saved under the storage path.

Example: List all of your keys

$ autheod keys list
- name: Default
type: local
address: ## Address of "Default" ##
pubkey: ## Pubkey of "Default" ##
mnemonic: ""
threshold: 0
pubkeys: []
- name: Default_restore
type: local
address: ## Address of "Default_restore" ##
pubkey: ## Pubkey of "Default_restore" ##
mnemonic: ""
threshold: 0
pubkeys: []

keys show <key_name> - Retrieve key information

You can retrieve key information by its name:

Example: Retrieve key information - Account Address and its public key

$ autheod keys show mykey --bech acc
- name: mykey
type: local
address: tautheo1qsklxwt77qrxur494uvw07zjynu03dq9alwh37
pubkey: '{"@type":"/ethermint.crypto.v1alpha1.ethsecp256k1.PubKey","key":"A8nbJ3eW9oAb2RNZoS8L71jFMfjk6zVa1UISYgKK9HPm"}'
mnemonic: ""

Example: Retrieve key information - Validator Address and its public key

$ autheod keys show Default --bech val
$ autheod keys show test --bech val
- name: mykey
type: local
address: tautheovaloper1qsklxwt77qrxur494uvw07zjynu03dq9rdsrlq
pubkey: '{"@type":"/ethermint.crypto.v1alpha1.ethsecp256k1.PubKey","key":"A8nbJ3eW9oAb2RNZoS8L71jFMfjk6zVa1UISYgKK9HPm"}'
mnemonic: ""

Example: Retrieve key information - Consensus nodes Address and its public key

$ autheod keys show Default --bech cons
$ autheod keys show test --bech cons
- name: mykey
type: local
address: ethvalcons1qsklxwt77qrxur494uvw07zjynu03dq9h7rlnp
pubkey: '{"@type":"/ethermint.crypto.v1alpha1.ethsecp256k1.PubKey","key":"A8nbJ3eW9oAb2RNZoS8L71jFMfjk6zVa1UISYgKK9HPm"}'
mnemonic: ""

keys delete <key_name> - Delete a key

You can delete a key in your storage path.

Make sure you have backed up the key mnemonic before removing any of your keys, as there will be no way to recover your key without the mnemonic.

Example: Remove a key

$ autheod keys delete Default_restore1
Key reference will be deleted. Continue? [y/N]: y
Key deleted forever (uh oh!)

keys export <key_name> - Export private keys

You can export and backup your key by using the export subcommand:

Example: Export your keys Exporting the key Default :

$ autheod keys export Default
Enter passphrase to encrypt the exported key: ## Insert passphrase (must be at least 8 characters)##
-----BEGIN TENDERMINT PRIVATE KEY-----
kdf: bcrypt
salt: ## Salt of the key ##
type: secp256k1
 
## Tendermint private key ##
-----END TENDERMINT PRIVATE KEY-----

The keyring --keyring-backend option

Interacting with a node requires a public-private key pair. Keyring is the place holding the keys. The keys can be stored in different locations with specified backend type.

$ autheod keys [subcommands] --keyring-backend [backend type]

1. os backend

The default os backend stores the keys in operating system's credential sub-system, which are comfortable to most users, yet without compromising on security.

Here is a list of the corresponding password managers in different operating systems:

2. file backend

The file backend stores the encrypted keys inside the app's configuration directory. A password entry is required every time a user access it, which may also occur multiple times of repeated password prompts in one single command.

3. test backend

The test backend is a password-less variation of the file backend. It stores unencrypted keys inside the app's configuration directory. It should only be used in testing environments and never be used in production.

Transaction subcommands - autheod tx

tx bank send - Transfer operation

Transfer operation involves the transfer of tokens between two addresses.

Send Funds [tx bank send <from_key_or_address> <to_address> <amount> <network_id>]

Example: Send 10aauth from one address to another.

$ autheod tx bank send Default tautheo1gjdxrv77zfpq6cywcs8kg6gqyfhl5768ucel6t 10aauth --chain-id auth_ChainID-1
## Transaction payload##
{"body":{"messages":[{"@type":"/cosmos.bank.v1beta1.MsgSend","from_address"....}
confirm transaction before signing and broadcasting [y/N]: y

tx staking - Staking operations

Staking operations involve the interaction between an address and a validator. It allows you to create a validator and lock/unlocking funds for staking purposes.

Delegate your funds to a validator [tx staking delegate <validator-addr> <amount>]

To bond funds for staking, you can delegate funds to a validator by the delegate command

Example: Delegate funds from mykey to a validator under the address tautheovaloper....lq

$ autheod tx staking delegate tautheovaloper1qsklxwt77qrxur494uvw07zjynu03dq9rdsrlq 100aauth --from mykey --chain-id auth_ChainID-1
## Transactions payload##
{"body":{"messages":[{"@type":"/cosmos.staking.v1beta1.MsgDelegate"....}
confirm transaction before signing and broadcasting [y/N]: y

Unbond your delegated funds [tx staking unbond <validator-addr> <amount>]

On the other hand, we can create a Unbond transaction to unbond the delegated funds

Example: Unbond funds from a validator under the address tautheovaloper...lq

$ autheod tx staking unbond tautheovaloper1qsklxwt77qrxur494uvw07zjynu03dq9rdsrlq 100aauth --from mykey --chain-id auth_ChainID-1
## Transaction payload##
{"body":{"messages":[{"@type":"/cosmos.staking.v1beta1.MsgUndelegate"...}
confirm transaction before signing and broadcasting [y/N]: y
Once your funds are unbonded, it will be locked until the unbonding_time has passed.

Balance & transaction history - autheod query

query bank balances - Check your transferable balance

You can check your transferable balance with the balances command under the bank module.

Example: Check your address balance

$ autheod query bank balances tautheo1a303tt49l5uhe87yaneyggly83g7e4uncdxqtl --output json | jq
 
{
"balances": [
{
"denom": "aauth",
"amount": "99999000000000000000000000"
}
],
"pagination": {
"next_key": null,
"total": "0"
}
}

Advanced operations and transactions

rollback

To recover from an app-hash mismatch failure, it would take hours to re-run an archive node, a faster way to do it would be to use rollback.

autheod rollback
//rollback example at current height 6569206
Rolled back state to height 6569205 and hash 5BFA3A9FA0C207B83D327330ADE77C46A5E688A24864614843C743FDFD968BCD%

tx staking create-validator - Joining the network as a validator

Anyone who wishes to become a validator can submit a create-validator transaction by

Copy

$ autheod tx staking create-validator [flags]

Example: Joining the network as a validator

$ autheod tx staking create-validator \
--amount="100theo" \
--pubkey='{"@type":...,"key":...}' \
--moniker="The_new_node" \
--chain-id="auth_ChainID-1" \
--commission-rate="0.10" \
--commission-max-rate="0.20" \
--commission-max-change-rate="0.01" \
--min-self-delegation="1" \
--from=node1
## Transactions payload##
{"body":{"messages":[{"@type":"/cosmos.staking.v1beta1.MsgCreateValidator"...}
confirm transaction before signing and broadcasting [y/N]: y

tx slashing unjail - Unjail a validator

Validator could be punished and jailed due to network misbehavior, for example, if we check the validator set:

$ autheod query staking validators -o json | jq
................................
"operator_address": "tautheovaloper1zwm45n5r3u3xcpsd00d3arwzhz7250rtsadv65",
"consensus_pubkey": {
"@type": "/cosmos.crypto.ed25519.PubKey",
"key": "fD6cWVYv5rsNbXDw3hVIbB3nd9x57HsTyeMgwmH472U="
},
"jailed": false,
"status": "BOND_STATUS_BONDED",
................................

After the jailing period has passed, one can broadcast a unjail transaction to unjail the validator and resume its normal operations by

$ autheod tx slashing unjail --from node1 --chain-id auth_ChainID-1
{"body":{"messages":[{"@type":"/cosmos.slashing.v1beta1.MsgUnjail"...}]}
confirm transaction before signing and broadcasting [y/N]: y

 

Related Articles


Was this article helpful?
©AUTHEO LLC 2025