Managing Apps with the Dash Enterprise CLI

Dash Enterprise features a command line interface (CLI) that allows you to perform some app management actions from the command line.

The CLI commands that you can run, as well as the output of some commands, are determined by your roles and app ownership on Dash Enterprise. Your permissions correspond to the
same as those applied when performing actions in the Dash Enterprise App Manager UI. To review the permissions that each role grants, go to Roles and Permissions.

The Dash Enterprise CLI notably simplifies app deployment, but also allows you to list, initialize, and update apps—among other actions—without opening the App Manager.

App deployment using the CLI is based on Git and is available regardless of how your administrator has configured authentication for Dash Enterprise. It uses HTTPS, so there is no need to set up SSH keys.

Prerequisites

Before you install the Dash Enterprise CLI, make sure you have the following: * Python 3.6 - 3.11 * Git (required for app deployment)

In Dash Enterprise Workspaces, these prerequisites are already met.

Installing the CLI

To begin using the CLI from your workstation, install the latest version with:

pip install dash-enterprise --extra-index-url <a href="https://&lt;your-dash-enterprise-server&gt;/packages">https://&lt;your-dash-enterprise-server&gt;/packages</a>

This also installs the latest versions of the following Dash Enterprise libraries: * Snapshot Engine * Dash Design Kit * Dash Enterprise Auth * Dash Embedded * Dash Notes * Dash User Analytics

In Dash Enterprise Workspaces, the --extra-index-url is provided automatically, so you can run:

pip install dash-enterprise

You can use the CLI from any directory in the environment that you install it in. Note that no new files are added to the directory in which you install it.

Updating the CLI

Plotly releases new versions of the CLI that add and improve functionalities. You don’t need to wait for your administrator to upgrade Dash Enterprise in order to update the CLI.

Check your CLI version with:

de --version

The output is similar to:

de_client, version 1.1.0

Update the CLI by running:

pip install dash-enterprise --upgrade --extra-index-url <a href="https://&lt;your-dash-enterprise-server&gt;/packages">https://&lt;your-dash-enterprise-server&gt;/packages</a>

Getting Started

The entry point to the CLI is

de

The output is similar to

Usage: de [OPTIONS] COMMAND [ARGS]...

   ___          _      ___     _                    _
  |   \ __ _ __| |_   | __|_ _| |_ ___ _ _ _ __ _ _(_)___ ___
  | |) / _` (_-< ' \  | _|| ' \  _/ -_) '_| '_ \ '_| (_-</ -_)
  |___/\__,_/__/_||_| |___|_||_\__\___|_| | .__/_| |_/__/\___|
                                          |_|

  Get started by logging into your Dash Enterprise instance with:

  $ de --host &lt;HOST&gt; login

Options:
  --host TEXT     Required if logging in for the first time
  --keyfile TEXT  Default: ~/.dash_enterprise/credentials.json
  --no-keyfile    Use $DASH_ENTERPRISE_USERNAME and $DASH_ENTERPRISE_PASSWORD
                  for authentication. Only supports native Keycloak accounts.
  --version       Show the version and exit.
  --help          Show this message and exit.

Commands:
  apps      Commands related to app management on Dash Enterprise.
  deploy    Deploy an app at a given path.
  docs      Open docs in browser.
  login     Log in to Dash Enterprise
  logout    Log out from Dash Enterprise
  run       Start a Dash development server for a given app.
  services  Commands related to service management on Dash Enterprise.
  whoami    Get information on the current logged-in user

Authentication and Authorization

Running CLI commands calls the Dash Enterprise Platform API. The Dash Enterprise Platform API is protected, and you can only call it if you are authorized. The authorization server is Keycloak. Over OAuth/Open ID Connect (OIDC), the CLI requests access and offline tokens from Keycloak for authorization. The access token lifespan is defined by the access token and offline token settings that your administrator has configured in Keycloak. By default, access tokens are valid for 24 hours and refreshed for 30 days.

Logging Your Device into the CLI

There are two ways to log in to the CLI: via a browser-based flow, or by providing a username and password.

We recommend the username and password method for CI/CD workflows, and the browser-based flow otherwise. Note that the username and password method is only compatible with users who were created natively in Keycloak (not brokered from an identity provider).

Once logged in, you no longer need to specify your Dash Enterprise host name when using the CLI.

Checking the Logged In User

To check which user is currently logged in:

de whoami

The output is similar to

Logged in as [jessica] to [example.plotly.host].

Logging Out

To log out:

de logout

Or, if you logged in using a credentials file other than ~/.dash_enterprise/credentials.json:

de --keyfile &lt;path-to-keyfile&gt; logout

where <path-to-keyfile> is the path to the credentials file you used to log in.

Logging out clears the contents of the credentials.json file (but does not delete it) if you logged in using the browser-based flow.

App Management Commands

You must have a license seat to run the commands below.

Initializing Apps

To initialize an app on Dash Enterprise:

de apps create --name &lt;app-name&gt;

where <app-name> is the name you want to give to the app.

The output is similar to

App &lt;app-name&gt; was initialized on [example.plotly.host].

Deploying Apps

The instructions below assume that you are using the CLI on your workstation. While CLI-based deployment works in Workspaces, we recommend one-click deploy to deploy from a workspace because it’s a single button click.

You can deploy an app to Dash Enterprise using the CLI even if the app is not initialized.

To deploy or redeploy an app:

de deploy &lt;path&gt; --name &lt;app-name&gt;

where <path> is the path to the app folder on your workstation and <app-name> is the name of the new or existing app (both are optional). If you don’t provide a path, Dash Enterprise uses the current directory. If you don’t provide an app name, Dash Enterprise uses the name of your app folder. Remember that the name is used in the app URL and cannot be changed later.

The behavior is as follows: * If the app isn’t initialized (and the name is available), you are prompted to confirm that you want to initialize it. It is then initialized and deployed, and you become the app owner. * If the app is initialized and not deployed, and you are its owner or co-owner, you are prompted to confirm that you want to overwrite it, and it is deployed. * If the app is initialized and deployed, and you are its owner or co-owner, you are prompted to confirm that you want to overwrite it, and it is redeployed.

Tip: You can use the -y flag (de deploy -y) to automatically answer “Yes” to all prompts, which may be useful as part of a CI workflow.

All app deployments from the CLI are over HTTPS.

Internally, to deploy your app, the Dash Enterprise CLI creates a copy of your app folder in ~/AppData/Local/Temp, then runs git init, git add ., git commit, and git push -f in the temporary directory. This force pushes the files in your app folder such that if the app already exists on Dash Enterprise, it is fully overwritten to match your local app files. Any .gitignore files are respected. The temporary directory is then deleted.

Run de deploy --help for additional options.

Listing and Checking Apps

To list the apps on Dash Enterprise:

de apps list

A list of apps that you own and co-own is displayed. If you have the admin role, then all apps are listed, regardless of which ones you own.

To check whether an app with the specified name exists:

de apps exists --name &lt;app-name&gt;

where <app-name> is the name you want to check.

Listing and Checking Services

To list the Redis databases on Dash Enterprise:

de services list --type redis

To list the Postgres databases on Dash Enterprise:

de services list --type postgres

To list all services (Redis and Postgres databases combined) on Dash Enterprise:

de services list --type all

A list of services attached to apps that you own and co-own is displayed. If you have the admin role, then all services of the specified type are listed, regardless of which apps you own.

To check whether a specific app has a Redis database attached:

de services exists --name &lt;app-name&gt; --type redis

where <app-name> is the name of the app.

To check whether a specific app has a Postgres database attached:

de services exists --name &lt;app-name&gt; --type postgres

where <app-name> is the name of the app.

The output is True when the app has the specified type of service attached and False when it does not.

Updating Apps

You must be the app owner or a co-owner, or have the admin role, to run the commands below.

Attaching Services

To attach a Redis database to an app:

de services create --app-name &lt;app-name&gt; --type redis

where <app-name> is the name of the app that you want to attach the service to.

To attach a Postgres database to an app:

de services create --app-name &lt;app-name&gt; --type postgres

where <app-name> is the name of the app that you want to attach the service to.

Adding, Updating, and Removing Environment Variables

To add an environment variable:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --add-environment-variable &lt;env-var&gt;

where <app-name> is the name of the app that you want to edit and <env-var> is the key and value of the environment variable you want to add, in the format KEY=VALUE.

To update an environment variable:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --add-environment-variable &lt;env-var&gt;

where <app-name> is the name of the app that you want to edit and <env-var> is the key and new value of the environment variable you want to update, in the format KEY=VALUE.

To remove an environment variable:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --remove-environment-variable &lt;env-var-key&gt;

where <app-name> is the name of the app that you want to edit and <env-var-key> is the key of the environment variable you want to remove.

Enabling and Disabling the Persistent Filesystem

To enable the persistent filesystem:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --persistent-filesystem

where <app-name> is the name of the app that you want to edit.

To disable the persistent filesystem:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --no-persistent-filesystem

where <app-name> is the name of the app that you want to edit.

Changing the App Viewer Access Level

To change the viewer access level to Restricted:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --view-access restricted

where <app-name> is the name of the app whose viewer access level you want to change.

To change the viewer access level to Authenticated:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --view-access authenticated

where <app-name> is the name of the app whose viewer access level you want to change.

To change the viewer access level to Unauthenticated:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --view-access unauthenticated

where <app-name> is the name of the app whose viewer access level you want to change.

For details on viewer access, see Viewer Access.

Adding and Removing Viewers

To add a single viewer:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --add-viewer &lt;username&gt;

where <app-name> is the name of the app that you want to edit and <username> is the username of the user that you want to add as a viewer.

To add all the members of a group as viewers:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --add-group-viewer &lt;group-name&gt;

where <app-name> is the name of the app that you want to edit and <group-name> is the name of the group whose members you want to add as viewers.

To remove a single viewer:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --remove-viewer &lt;username&gt;

where <app-name> is the name of the app that you want to edit and <username> is the username of the user that you want to remove as a viewer.

To remove all the members of a group as viewers:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --remove-group-viewer &lt;group-name&gt;

where <app-name> is the name of the app that you want to edit and <group-name> is the name of the group whose members you want to remove as viewers.

Adding and Removing Co-Owners

To add a single co-owner:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --add-co-owner &lt;username&gt;

where <app-name> is the name of the app that you want to edit and <username> is the username of the user that you want to add as a co-owner. This user must have a license seat.

To add all the members of a group as co-owners:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --add-group-co-owner &lt;group-name&gt;

where <app-name> is the name of the app that you want to edit and <group-name> is the name of the group whose members you want to add as co-owners. All group members must have license seats.

To remove a single co-owner:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --remove-co-owner &lt;username&gt;

where <app-name> is the name of the app that you want to edit and <username> is the username of the user that you want to remove as a co-owner.

To remove all the members of a group as co-owners:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --remove-group-co-owner &lt;group-name&gt;

where <app-name> is the name of the app that you want to edit and <group-name> is the name of the group whose members you want to remove as co-owners.

Changing the App Title

To change an app’s title:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --title &lt;new-title&gt;

where <app-name> is the name of the app that you want to edit and <new-title> is the title that you want to set. If the title contains spaces, be sure to use quotes (for example, --title "my title with spaces").

The current title, if any, is changed to the new title.

Changing the App Description

To change an app’s description:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --description &lt;new-description&gt;

where <app-name> is the name of the app that you want to edit and <new-description> is the description that you want to set.

The current description, if any, is changed to the new description.

Changing the App Visibility in the Portal

To make an app visible in the Portal:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --visible-on-portal

where <app-name> is the name of the app whose portal visibility you want to change.

To make an app not visible in the Portal:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --not-visible-on-portal

where <app-name> is the name of the app whose portal visibility you want to change.

Changing the Thumbnail

To change an app’s thumbnail:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --thumbnail &lt;path-to-file&gt;

where <app-name> is the name of the app that you want to edit and <path-to-file> is the path to the image file you want to set as the thumbnail (must be a PNG or JPEG file of 100 KB or less).

The current thumbnail, if any, is changed to the new thumbnail.

Changing the Portal Rank

To change an app’s rank in the Portal:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --portal-rank &lt;rank&gt;

where <app-name> is the name of the app that you want to edit and <rank> is the rank that you want to set (must be an integer).

Changing the Maintainer Email Address

To change the maintainer email for an app:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --maintainer-email your_email@example.com

where <app-name> is the name of the app you want to edit, and replacing the example email address with the maintainer email address you want to set.

The current maintainer email address, if any, is changed to the new maintainer email address.

Adding and Removing Tags

To add a tag:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --tag &lt;tag-name&gt;

where <app-name> is the name of the app you want to edit and <tag-name> is the name of the tag you want to add.

You can only add one tag at a time.

To remove a tag:

de apps update --name &lt;app-name&gt; --remove-tag &lt;tag-name&gt;

where <app-name> is the name of the app you want to edit and <tag-name> is the name of the tag you want to remove.

You can only remove one tag at a time.

Deleting Apps

To delete an app:

de apps delete --name &lt;app-name&gt;

where <app-name> is the name of the app you want to delete.

Deleting Services

To delete a Redis database:

de services delete --app-name &lt;app-name&gt; --type redis

where <app-name> is the name of the app that the Redis database is attached to.

To delete a Postgres database:

de services delete --app-name &lt;app-name&gt; --type postgres

where <app-name> is the name of the app that the Postgres database is attached to.

Limitations and Known Issues

Not all actions available in the App Manager UI have corresponding CLI commands.
It is not possible to initialize an app from the App Catalog using the CLI.
Apps initialized with the CLI are given a title corresponding to the name that you set. You can remove the title in the Settings tab of the App Info.
Attempting to exit after beginning the browser-based login doesn’t always correctly abort. You may need to try again or close the terminal.
During app deployment, the CLI creates a temporary directory for the Git repository. On Windows computers, this directory is not removed after the deployment succeeds.

Uninstalling the CLI

To uninstall the CLI:

pip uninstall dash-enterprise