Title: vip dev-env shell
Published: July 7, 2026

---

 1. [VIP-CLI command reference](https://docs.wpvip.com/vip-cli/commands/)
 2. [vip dev-env](https://docs.wpvip.com/vip-cli/commands/dev-env/)
 3. vip dev-env shell

#  vip dev-env shell

Create a shell and run commands against a local environment.

## Usage

    ```wp-block-preformatted
    vip dev-env shell [options]
    ```

## Options

| Option | Description | 
|  `-h`, `--help` |  Retrieve a description, examples, and available options for a (sub)command. (default: false) |  
|  `-v`, `--version` |  Retrieve the version number of VIP-CLI currently installed on the local machine. (default: false) |  
|  `-d`, `--debug` |  [value] Generate verbose output during command execution to help identify or fix errors or bugs. |  
|  `-s`, `--slug` |  [value] A unique name for a local environment. Default is “vip-local”. |  
|  `-r`, `--root` |  [value] Create with root privileges. –service [value] Restrict to a single service. |

## Examples

    ```wp-block-preformatted
    - Create and enter an SSH command shell for the PHP service (default) of the local environment named "example-site".$ vip dev-env shell --slug=example-site- Create and enter an SSH command shell with root privileges for the local environment.$ vip dev-env shell --root --slug=example-site- Create an SSH command shell for the local environment and run the command "ls -lha".
    * A double dash ("--") must separate the arguments of "vip" from those of the command.$ vip dev-env shell --slug=example-site -- ls -lha- Create an SSH command shell for the database service of the local environment and run the command "ls -lha".$ vip dev-env shell --service=database --slug=example-site -- ls -lha
    ```

Last updated: July 07, 2026