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Drift CLI includes built-in update management to ensure you always have access to the latest features, improvements, and bug fixes.

Current version

The latest stable release of Drift CLI is version 1.0.12. You can check your installed version at any time:
drift> /version

Automatic update detection

Drift CLI automatically checks for new versions when you start the application. If an update is available, you’ll see a notification:
ℹ️  A new version (1.1.0) is available. Type /update to install.
Update checks happen automatically on startup. You don’t need to manually check for updates, but you can control when to install them.

How it works

Drift’s update detection:
  • Checks for new releases on startup
  • Compares your current version with the latest release
  • Shows a notification if an update is available
  • Does not interrupt your work or force updates
Update notifications only appear at startup. If you keep Drift running for extended periods, restart it occasionally to check for updates.

Using the /update command

The simplest way to update Drift CLI is using the built-in update command:
drift> /update
This command:
  1. Downloads the latest version
  2. Installs the update automatically
  3. Handles all dependencies
  4. Preserves your configuration
The /update command will exit Drift CLI to complete the installation. You’ll need to restart Drift after the update finishes.

Update process

When you run /update, Drift will:
  1. Download - Fetch the latest .deb package from GitHub releases
  2. Verify - Confirm the download is complete and valid
  3. Install - Use dpkg to install the new version
  4. Cleanup - Remove temporary files
  5. Complete - Exit so you can restart with the new version

Manual update process

If the /update command fails or you prefer manual installation, you can update Drift CLI manually.

Step 1: Download the latest release

Visit the Drift CLI releases page and download the latest .deb package:
drift-cli_X.X.X_amd64.deb

Step 2: Install the package

Use dpkg to install the downloaded package:
sudo dpkg -i drift-cli_*.*.*_amd64.deb
You’ll need sudo privileges to install the .deb package manually.

Step 3: Verify the installation

Restart Drift CLI and check the version:
drift
Then verify:
drift> /version

Release notes

Detailed information about each release is available on GitHub: View Release Notes Release notes include:
  • New features - Major functionality additions
  • Improvements - Enhancements to existing features
  • Bug fixes - Resolved issues and problems
  • Breaking changes - Changes that may affect existing workflows
  • Known issues - Current limitations and workarounds
Before updating, check the release notes to understand what’s changed and whether any breaking changes might affect your projects.

Version numbering

Drift CLI follows semantic versioning (SemVer):
  • Major version (X.0.0) - Breaking changes or major new features
  • Minor version (0.X.0) - New features, backward compatible
  • Patch version (0.0.X) - Bug fixes and minor improvements
Example: 1.0.12
  • Major: 1
  • Minor: 0
  • Patch: 12
Patch updates (like 1.0.11 to 1.0.12) are always safe to install and don’t introduce breaking changes.

Troubleshooting updates

Update command fails

If /update fails:
  1. Check your internet connection
  2. Ensure you have sufficient disk space
  3. Verify you have proper permissions
  4. Try the manual update process instead
# Manual update if /update fails
sudo dpkg -i drift-cli_*.*.*_amd64.deb

Permission denied errors

The update process requires elevated privileges:
  • The /update command will prompt for your password if needed
  • Make sure your user account has sudo access
  • For manual installation, always use sudo dpkg

”Command not found” after update

If drift isn’t found after updating:
# Reload your shell configuration
source ~/.bashrc  # or ~/.zshrc

# Or restart your terminal
If problems persist after updating, try reinstalling Drift CLI completely using the installation script from the website.

Staying informed

To stay up to date with Drift CLI development:

Downgrading

If you need to downgrade to a previous version:
  1. Download the older .deb package from the releases page
  2. Install it using sudo dpkg -i drift-cli_OLD_VERSION_amd64.deb
  3. Restart Drift CLI
Downgrading is rarely necessary but can be useful if you encounter issues with a new release.

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