# Install and authenticate the SmallForce CLI

Install the npm package globally:

```bash
npm install --global smallforce
smallforce --help
```

Or run the latest published package without a global installation:

```bash
npx smallforce --help
```

Set the organization API key in the environment and verify which organization it authenticates:

```bash
export SMALLFORCE_API_KEY="sf_..."
smallforce org get
```

The production backend defaults to `https://backend.smallforcehq.com`. Local or staging environments can override it with `SMALLFORCE_BACKEND_URL` or `--backend-url`.

## Global options

| Option | Purpose |
| --- | --- |
| `--api-key <key>` | Override `SMALLFORCE_API_KEY` for one command |
| `--backend-url <url>` | Override `SMALLFORCE_BACKEND_URL` |
| `--json` | Print stable machine-readable output |
| `--text` | Force human-readable output |
| `--format text\|json` | Select an output format explicitly |
| `--help` | Show the current command contract |
| `--version` | Print the installed CLI version |

Do not place API keys directly in scripts, documentation, chat messages, or version-controlled files. Prefer environment or secret-management facilities.