Curated OpenAPI description for Namecheap's XML API. The real API uses a single
endpoint (/xml.response) with a Command query parameter plus Namecheap's
query-string authentication parameters (ApiUser, ApiKey, UserName, ClientIp).
Generation uses command-shaped pseudo paths that are normalized back to /xml.response
by the Namecheap printed CLI patch layer.
Created by @cathryn-lavery (Cathryn Lavery).
Quick Start
1. Install
See Install above.
2. Set Up Credentials
Get your API key from your API provider's developer portal. The key typically looks like a long alphanumeric string.
export NAMECHEAP_API_KEY="<paste-your-key>"
You can also persist this in your config file at ~/.config/namecheap-pp-cli/config.toml.
3. Verify Setup
namecheap-pp-cli doctor
This checks your configuration and credentials.
4. Try Your First Command
namecheap-pp-cli dns get-email-forwarding
Usage
Run namecheap-pp-cli --help for the full command reference and flag list.
Commands
dns
Manage dns
namecheap-pp-cli dns get-email-forwarding - Runs namecheap.domains.dns.getEmailForwarding.
namecheap-pp-cli dns get-hosts - Runs namecheap.domains.dns.getHosts.
namecheap-pp-cli dns get-list - Get DNS nameserver type and nameservers.
namecheap-pp-cli dns set-custom - Runs namecheap.domains.dns.setCustom.
namecheap-pp-cli dns set-default - Switch a domain to Namecheap default DNS.
namecheap-pp-cli dns set-hosts - Runs namecheap.domains.dns.setHosts; HostName1/RecordType1/Address1/TTL1 style parameters can be passed via --param-json in the patched CLI.
domains
Manage domains
namecheap-pp-cli domains check - Check domain availability for one or more domains.
namecheap-pp-cli domains create - Runs namecheap.domains.create. This is a mutating paid operation; use dry-run unless intentionally registering.
namecheap-pp-cli domains get-contacts - Runs namecheap.domains.getContacts.
namecheap-pp-cli domains get-info - Runs namecheap.domains.getInfo for a domain.
namecheap-pp-cli domains get-list - Runs namecheap.domains.getList with paging and optional filters.
namecheap-pp-cli domains get-registrar-lock - Runs namecheap.domains.getRegistrarLock.
namecheap-pp-cli domains get-tld-list - Runs namecheap.domains.getTldList.
namecheap-pp-cli domains renew - Runs namecheap.domains.renew. Mutating paid operation.
namecheap-pp-cli domains set-registrar-lock - Runs namecheap.domains.setRegistrarLock.
ssl
Manage ssl
namecheap-pp-cli ssl get-info - Get SSL certificate information.
namecheap-pp-cli ssl get-list - Runs namecheap.ssl.getList.
namecheap-pp-cli ssl parse-csr - Parse a certificate signing request.
users
Manage users
namecheap-pp-cli users address-get-info - Runs namecheap.users.address.getInfo.
namecheap-pp-cli users address-get-list - Runs namecheap.users.address.getList.
namecheap-pp-cli users get-balances - Runs namecheap.users.getBalances.
namecheap-pp-cli users get-pricing - Runs namecheap.users.getPricing.
Output Formats
# Human-readable table (default in terminal, JSON when piped)
namecheap-pp-cli dns get-email-forwarding
# JSON for scripting and agents
namecheap-pp-cli dns get-email-forwarding --json
# Filter to specific fields
namecheap-pp-cli dns get-email-forwarding --json --select id,name,status
# Dry run — show the request without sending
namecheap-pp-cli dns get-email-forwarding --dry-run
# Agent mode — JSON + compact + no prompts in one flag
namecheap-pp-cli dns get-email-forwarding --agent
Agent Usage
This CLI is designed for AI agent consumption:
- Non-interactive - never prompts, every input is a flag
- Pipeable -
--json output to stdout, errors to stderr
- Filterable -
--select id,name returns only fields you need
- Previewable -
--dry-run shows the request without sending
- Read-only by default - this CLI does not create, update, delete, publish, send, or mutate remote resources
- Offline-friendly - sync/search commands can use the local SQLite store when available
- Agent-safe by default - no colors or formatting unless
--human-friendly is set
Exit codes: 0 success, 2 usage error, 3 not found, 4 auth error, 5 API error, 7 rate limited, 10 config error.
Health Check
namecheap-pp-cli doctor
Verifies configuration, credentials, and connectivity to the API.
Configuration
Config file: ~/.config/namecheap-pp-cli/config.toml
Static request headers can be configured under headers; per-command header overrides take precedence.
Environment variables:
| Name | Kind | Required | Description |
|---|
NAMECHEAP_API_KEY | per_call | Yes | Set to your API credential. |
Troubleshooting
Authentication errors (exit code 4)
- Run
namecheap-pp-cli doctor to check credentials
- Verify the environment variable is set:
echo $NAMECHEAP_API_KEY
Not found errors (exit code 3)
- Check the resource ID is correct
- Run the
list command to see available items
Generated by CLI Printing Press