# Command Line - Hot Chocolate

> Manage GraphQL schemas from the CLI with the HotChocolate.AspNetCore.CommandLine package: run schema export for CI/CD pipelines and schema registry workflows.

Canonical source: https://chillicream.com/docs/hotchocolate/server/command-line

The `HotChocolate.AspNetCore.CommandLine` package extends the `IHostBuilder` interface with a command-line interface for managing GraphQL schemas. This extension lets you export schemas directly from the command line, which is useful for CI/CD pipelines and schema registry workflows.

## Setup

Here is an example of using the `HotChocolate.AspNetCore.CommandLine` package with a minimal API:

C#

```
var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);

builder.AddGraphQL().AddQueryType<Query>();

var app = builder.Build();

app.MapGraphQL();

return await app.RunWithGraphQLCommandsAsync(args);
```

`RunWithGraphQLCommandsAsync` returns a `Task<int>` (and the synchronous `RunWithGraphQLCommands` returns `int`). Return this exit code from your `Program.cs` so that command failures signal an error to shell scripts, CI/CD pipelines, and other tools.

## Commands

### Schema Export Command

The `schema export` command exports the GraphQL schema. By default, the schema is printed to the console. You can specify an output file using the `--output` option.

```
dotnet run -- schema export --output schema.graphql
```

**Options**

- `--output`: The path to the file where the schema is exported. If no output path is specified, the schema prints to the console.
- `--schema-name`: The name of the schema to export. If no schema name is specified, the default schema is exported.
- `--semantic-non-null`: Rewrites the exported schema to strip non-null wrappers from output fields and apply the `@semanticNonNull` directive instead. Useful for clients that still rely on `@semanticNonNull` annotations.

## Next Steps

- [Warmup](https://chillicream.com/docs/hotchocolate/server/warmup) for details on startup behavior and schema initialization.
- [Migrate from v15 to v16](https://chillicream.com/docs/hotchocolate/migrating/migrate-from-15-to-16#noteworthy-changes) for the full list of changes to `RunWithGraphQLCommandsAsync`.
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Last updated on **June 30, 2026** by **Tobias Tengler**