inline-chat · salmonumbrella · Feb 6, 2026 · Feb 13, 2026
diff --git a/cli/README.md b/cli/README.md
@@ -28,6 +28,87 @@ and paste the markdown.
 inline auth login
 ```
 
+## Alias-Aware JSON Querying
+
+The CLI now supports alias-aware query/path transforms on JSON output:
+
+- `--query-path <PATH>`: select value(s) by dot/bracket path (repeatable)
+- `--field <PATH>`: project paths from each item in an array (repeatable)
+- `--jsonpath <PATH>`: JSONPath-like dot/bracket selector (repeatable)
+- `--sort-path <PATH>`: sort current JSON array by a path
+- `--sort-desc`: descending sort order (with `--sort-path`)
+- `--jq <FILTER>`: apply jq filter (requires `jq` in PATH)
+
+Rules:
+
+- Aliases are rewritten only in selector/filter strings, never in API payload JSON keys.
+- Long-form canonical keys still work exactly as before.
+- Mixed-case tokens are not rewritten.
+- Quoted bracket keys are treated as literals and are not rewritten (for example: `users["fn"]`).
+
+## Before/After Examples
+
+```bash
+# Canonical path
+inline doctor --json --query-path config.apiBaseUrl
+
+# Short alias path (same result)
+inline doctor --json --query-path cfg.apiBaseUrl
+
+# Canonical user projection
+inline users list --json --query-path users --sort-path first_name --field id --field first_name
+
+# Short alias projection (same result)
+inline users list --json --query-path u --sort-path fn --field id --field fn
+
+# Preserve a literal key via quoted brackets (no alias rewrite of "fn")
+inline users list --json --query-path 'u["fn"]'
+```
+
+## Query Key Alias Table
+
+| Alias | Canonical key |
+| --- | --- |
+| `au` | `auth` |
+| `at` | `attachments` |
+| `c` | `chats` |
+| `cfg` | `config` |
+| `cid` | `chat_id` |
+| `d` | `dialogs` |
+| `dn` | `display_name` |
+| `em` | `email` |
+| `fid` | `from_id` |
+| `fn` | `first_name` |
+| `it` | `items` |
+| `lm` | `last_message` |
+| `lmd` | `last_message_relative_date` |
+| `lml` | `last_message_line` |
+| `ln` | `last_name` |
+| `m` | `message` |
+| `mb` | `member` |
+| `mbs` | `members` |
+| `md` | `media` |
+| `mid` | `message_id` |
+| `ms` | `messages` |
+| `par` | `participant` |
+| `ph` | `phone_number` |
+| `pid` | `peer_id` |
+| `ps` | `participants` |
+| `pt` | `peer_type` |
+| `pth` | `paths` |
+| `rd` | `relative_date` |
+| `rmi` | `read_max_id` |
+| `s` | `spaces` |
+| `sid` | `space_id` |
+| `sn` | `sender_name` |
+| `sys` | `system` |
+| `ti` | `title` |
+| `u` | `users` |
+| `uc` | `unread_count` |
+| `uid` | `user_id` |
+| `um` | `unread_mark` |
+| `un` | `username` |
+
 ## Notes
 
 The CLI is still early and may have bugs.
diff --git a/cli/build.rs b/cli/build.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 
 fn main() {
-    let manifest_dir = PathBuf::from(std::env::var("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR").expect("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR"));
+    let manifest_dir =
+        PathBuf::from(std::env::var("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR").expect("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR"));
     let proto_dir = manifest_dir.join("..").join("proto");
 
     let protos = [
@@ -19,5 +20,7 @@ fn main() {
 
     let mut config = prost_build::Config::new();
     config.type_attribute(".", "#[derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize)]");
-    config.compile_protos(&proto_paths, &include_paths).expect("compile protos");
+    config
+        .compile_protos(&proto_paths, &include_paths)
+        .expect("compile protos");
 }
diff --git a/cli/skill/SKILL.md b/cli/skill/SKILL.md
@@ -10,6 +10,64 @@ description: Explain and use the Inline CLI (`inline`) for authentication, chats
 - `--json`: Output JSON instead of human tables/details (available on all commands). This greatly increases the verbosity and information you can get. Most of the data is either not included or truncated/redacted in the default human readable mode. Use JSON mode when you need exact details of a chat, message, etc. You can start with default mode and switch to json mode for more details and form your response.
 - `--pretty`: Pretty-print JSON output (default).
 - `--compact`: Compact JSON output (no whitespace).
+- `--query-path <PATH>`: Select value(s) via dot/bracket path (repeatable, alias-aware).
+- `--field <PATH>`: Project field paths from each item in the current JSON array (repeatable, alias-aware).
+- `--jsonpath <PATH>`: Select value(s) via JSONPath-like dot/bracket path (repeatable, alias-aware).
+- `--sort-path <PATH>`: Sort current JSON array by the provided path (alias-aware).
+- `--sort-desc`: Sort descending when using `--sort-path`.
+- `--jq <FILTER>`: Apply jq filter to JSON output (requires `jq` installed; alias-aware for path tokens).
+
+## Query alias rules
+
+- Alias rewriting happens only in query/path strings (`--query-path`, `--field`, `--jsonpath`, `--sort-path`, `--jq`).
+- API payload JSON keys are never mutated.
+- Canonical long-form keys always remain valid.
+- Mixed-case tokens are not rewritten.
+- Quoted bracket keys are treated as literals and not rewritten (for example: `users["fn"]`).
+
+## Query key aliases
+
+| Alias | Canonical key |
+| --- | --- |
+| `au` | `auth` |
+| `at` | `attachments` |
+| `c` | `chats` |
+| `cfg` | `config` |
+| `cid` | `chat_id` |
+| `d` | `dialogs` |
+| `dn` | `display_name` |
+| `em` | `email` |
+| `fid` | `from_id` |
+| `fn` | `first_name` |
+| `it` | `items` |
+| `lm` | `last_message` |
+| `lmd` | `last_message_relative_date` |
+| `lml` | `last_message_line` |
+| `ln` | `last_name` |
+| `m` | `message` |
+| `mb` | `member` |
+| `mbs` | `members` |
+| `md` | `media` |
+| `mid` | `message_id` |
+| `ms` | `messages` |
+| `par` | `participant` |
+| `ph` | `phone_number` |
+| `pid` | `peer_id` |
+| `ps` | `participants` |
+| `pt` | `peer_type` |
+| `pth` | `paths` |
+| `rd` | `relative_date` |
+| `rmi` | `read_max_id` |
+| `s` | `spaces` |
+| `sid` | `space_id` |
+| `sn` | `sender_name` |
+| `sys` | `system` |
+| `ti` | `title` |
+| `u` | `users` |
+| `uc` | `unread_count` |
+| `uid` | `user_id` |
+| `um` | `unread_mark` |
+| `un` | `username` |
 
 ## Subcommands
 
@@ -124,6 +182,15 @@ description: Explain and use the Inline CLI (`inline`) for authentication, chats
   - `inline auth me`
 - Check diagnostics:
   - `inline doctor`
+- Query-path canonical vs alias (same result):
+  - `inline doctor --json --query-path config.apiBaseUrl`
+  - `inline doctor --json --query-path cfg.apiBaseUrl`
+- Project and sort with canonical keys:
+  - `inline users list --json --query-path users --sort-path first_name --field id --field first_name`
+- Project and sort with short aliases:
+  - `inline users list --json --query-path u --sort-path fn --field id --field fn`
+- Preserve literal keys using quoted bracket syntax:
+  - `inline users list --json --query-path 'u["fn"]'`
 - Search messages in a chat:
   - `inline messages search --chat-id 123 --query "design review"`
   - JSON: `inline messages search --chat-id 123 --query "design review" --json`

diff --git a/cli/src/api.rs b/cli/src/api.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 use reqwest::Client;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
-use serde_json::{json, Value};
-use thiserror::Error;
+use serde_json::{Value, json};
 use std::fs;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
+use thiserror::Error;
 
 #[derive(Debug, Error)]
 pub enum ApiError {
@@ -85,7 +85,11 @@ impl ApiClient {
         self.post(url, payload).await
     }
 
-    pub async fn upload_file(&self, token: &str, input: UploadFileInput) -> Result<UploadFileResult, ApiError> {
+    pub async fn upload_file(
+        &self,
+        token: &str,
+        input: UploadFileInput,
+    ) -> Result<UploadFileResult, ApiError> {
         let url = format!("{}/uploadFile", self.base_url);
         let mut form = reqwest::multipart::Form::new().text("type", input.file_type.as_str());
         let bytes = fs::read(&input.path)?;
@@ -118,9 +122,7 @@ impl ApiClient {
         match api_response {
             ApiResponse::Ok { result, .. } => Ok(result),
             ApiResponse::Err {
-                error,
-                description,
-                ..
+                error, description, ..
             } => Err(ApiError::Api {
                 error,
                 description: description.unwrap_or_else(|| "Unknown error".to_string()),
@@ -221,9 +223,7 @@ impl ApiClient {
         match api_response {
             ApiResponse::Ok { result, .. } => Ok(result),
             ApiResponse::Err {
-                error,
-                description,
-                ..
+                error, description, ..
             } => Err(ApiError::Api {
                 error,
                 description: description.unwrap_or_else(|| "Unknown error".to_string()),
@@ -252,9 +252,7 @@ impl ApiClient {
         match api_response {
             ApiResponse::Ok { result, .. } => Ok(result),
             ApiResponse::Err {
-                error,
-                description,
-                ..
+                error, description, ..
             } => Err(ApiError::Api {
                 error,
                 description: description.unwrap_or_else(|| "Unknown error".to_string()),

diff --git a/cli/src/config.rs b/cli/src/config.rs
@@ -45,14 +45,24 @@ impl Config {
 
         let release_base_url = env::var("INLINE_RELEASE_BASE_URL")
             .ok()
-            .or_else(|| if debug { None } else { Some(DEFAULT_RELEASE_BASE_URL.to_string()) })
+            .or_else(|| {
+                if debug {
+                    None
+                } else {
+                    Some(DEFAULT_RELEASE_BASE_URL.to_string())
+                }
+            })
             .map(|url| url.trim_end_matches('/').to_string());
-        let release_manifest_url = env::var("INLINE_RELEASE_MANIFEST_URL")
-            .ok()
-            .or_else(|| release_base_url.as_ref().map(|base| format!("{base}/manifest.json")));
-        let release_install_url = env::var("INLINE_RELEASE_INSTALL_URL")
-            .ok()
-            .or_else(|| release_base_url.as_ref().map(|base| format!("{base}/install.sh")));
+        let release_manifest_url = env::var("INLINE_RELEASE_MANIFEST_URL").ok().or_else(|| {
+            release_base_url
+                .as_ref()
+                .map(|base| format!("{base}/manifest.json"))
+        });
+        let release_install_url = env::var("INLINE_RELEASE_INSTALL_URL").ok().or_else(|| {
+            release_base_url
+                .as_ref()
+                .map(|base| format!("{base}/install.sh"))
+        });
 
         Self {
             api_base_url,