A minimal CLI that wraps AnkiConnect's HTTP API. Designed for LLM agents (Claude Code, etc.) but works fine for humans too.
- JSON output by default,
--humanfor readable output - Auto-launches Anki if not running
- Single binary, zero dependencies (Go stdlib only)
- macOS (auto-launch uses
open -a Anki) - Go 1.21+ (build only)
- Anki with AnkiConnect plugin installed
- AnkiConnect listening on
localhost:8765(default)
go install github.com/egrm/ak@latestOr build from source:
git clone https://github.com/egrm/ak
cd ak
go build -o ak .
cp ak ~/.local/bin/ # or whereverak add "What is a compressor?" "A dynamics processor that reduces dynamic range" \
-d "Music Production" -t mixing,dynamics
ak add -m Cloze "{{c1::Compression ratio}} controls how much gain reduction is applied" \
-d "Music Production" -t mixing
ak add "What does this waveform show?" "Clipping" \
--image ./clipping.png -d "Music Production"
ak add -f cards.md # batch add from fileak search 'deck:"Music Production"' # notes in a deck (quote names with spaces)
ak search "tag:synthesis" # by tag
ak search "added:7" # added in last 7 days
ak info 1234567890 # full note details
ak info 111 222 333 # multiple notesak update 1234567890 -F Front="Updated question"
ak update 1234567890 -F Front="New front" -F Back="New back"
ak tag add 1234567890 newTag1,newTag2
ak tag remove 1234567890 oldTag
ak delete 1234567890
ak delete 111 222 333ak decks # list all decks
ak decks --stats # with new/learn/review/total counts
ak deck create "My Deck" # create (supports :: nesting)
ak models # list note types
ak models -m "Basic" # show fields for a model
ak tags # list all tagsak browse "tag:synthesis" # open Anki's browser GUI
ak sync # trigger AnkiWeb sync
ak version # AnkiConnect version
ak help # full command referenceMarkdown with --- separators. A header block sets defaults for all cards:
deck: Music Production
tags: synthesis, sound-design
model: Basic
---
Q: What does the cutoff frequency control?
A: The point at which the filter begins attenuating frequencies.
---
Q: What is resonance?
A: Emphasis of frequencies near the cutoff point, creating a peak.
---
model: Cloze
Q: A {{c1::low-pass filter}} removes frequencies above the cutoff.Q:maps to the first field (Front for Basic, Text for Cloze)A:maps to the second field (Back for Basic, Extra for Cloze)- Per-card
model:,deck:,tags:override the header - Without
Q:/A:prefixes: first line = front, rest = back
JSON to stdout by default (agent-optimized). Errors go to stderr as {"error": "message"}.
$ ak add "Question" "Answer" -d "Default"
{
"id": 1234567890
}
$ ak search "tag:math"
[
1234567890,
1234567891
]Use --human for readable output:
$ ak decks --stats --human
Deck New Learn Review Total
Default 0 0 0 0
Music Production 5 2 8 120If Anki isn't running, ak launches it automatically and polls AnkiConnect for up to 15 seconds. Transparent to the caller.
Tests run against an isolated Anki "Test" profile to protect your real collection:
# First: create a "Test" profile in Anki (File > Switch Profile > Add)
cd ~/Code/ak
go build -o ak .
bash test.shThe test script switches to the Test profile, runs all tests, and restores your original profile on exit (even on failure/interrupt).