Command Line Interface

PyBA includes a CLI for running automations directly from your terminal.

Installation 

The CLI is installed automatically with PyBA:

pip install py-browser-automation

# Verify installation
pyba --version

Quick Start 

Run a simple task:

pyba normal -t "go to example.com and find the contact page" --openai-api-key "sk-..."

Modes 

The CLI has three main modes:

normal 

Quick ad-hoc runs without database logging:

pyba normal -t "search for cheap headphones on amazon.in" --openai-api-key "sk-..."

database 

Stores logs in a database for auditing and code generation:

pyba database \
  -e sqlite \
  -n /tmp/pyba.db \
  -t "search amazon for birthday gifts" \
  --openai-api-key "sk-..."

Global Flags 

These flags work with both modes:

LLM Provider 

# OpenAI
--openai-api-key "sk-..."

# Google Gemini
--gemini-api-key "your-key"

# VertexAI
--vertexai-project-id "project-id" --vertexai-server-location "us-central1"

# Override the default model for any provider
--model-name "gpt-4.1"

Task 

-t, --task "Your natural language task"

Browser Options 

--headless          # Run without visible browser
--handle-deps       # Auto-install Playwright dependencies

Logging & Tracing 

-v                  # Verbose logging
--enable-tracing    # Generate trace.zip files
--trace-save-dir    # Directory for trace files

Low Memory 

--low-memory-usage True   # Enable low memory browser mode

Reduces browser resource usage by disabling GPU, background processes, extensions, and using a smaller viewport (800x600). Useful for CI servers, containers, or low-spec machines.

Stealth 

-r                  # Enable random mouse/scroll movements

Exploration Modes 

--op-mode Normal    # Default autonomous mode
--op-mode STEP      # Interactive step-by-step mode
--op-mode DFS       # Depth-first search
--op-mode BFS       # Breadth-first search

--max-depth 10      # Actions per plan (DFS/BFS)
--max-breadth 5     # Number of plans (BFS) or retries (DFS)

Database Mode Flags 

These flags are specific to pyba database:

Engine Selection 

-e, --engine sqlite|mysql|postgres

Database Connection 

-n, --name /path/to/db.db    # SQLite: file path, Others: database name
-u, --username user          # MySQL/PostgreSQL
-p, --password pass          # MySQL/PostgreSQL
-H, --host-name localhost    # MySQL/PostgreSQL
-P, --port 5432              # MySQL/PostgreSQL
--ssl-mode disabled|required # PostgreSQL only

Code Generation 

--generate-code                    # Enable script generation
--code-output-path /tmp/script.py  # Where to save the script

Examples 

Simple Search (Normal Mode)

pyba normal \
  -t "find the CSE contact page for IIT Madras" \
  --openai-api-key "sk-..." \
  -v

Database Mode with SQLite 

pyba database \
  -e sqlite \
  -n /tmp/pyba.db \
  -t "search amazon.in for birthday gifts under 5000 INR" \
  --openai-api-key "sk-..." \
  -v \
  --enable-tracing \
  --trace-save-dir /tmp/traces

Low Memory Mode 

pyba normal \
  -t "scrape data from example.com" \
  --openai-api-key "sk-..." \
  --low-memory-usage True

Full Featured Run 

pyba database \
  -e sqlite \
  -n /tmp/pyba.db \
  -t "go to Amazon India, find gifts under 5k, then message the list on Instagram" \
  --vertexai-project-id "my-project" \
  --vertexai-server-location "us-central1" \
  --handle-deps \
  --enable-tracing \
  --trace-save-dir /tmp/traces \
  -v \
  -r \
  -L instagram \
  -L amazon \
  --generate-code \
  --code-output-path /tmp/automation.py

PostgreSQL Database 

pyba database \
  -e postgres \
  -n pyba_db \
  -u dbuser \
  -p "dbpassword" \
  -H 192.168.1.10 \
  -P 5432 \
  -t "your task here" \
  --openai-api-key "sk-..."

Using Gemini 

export GEMINI_API_KEY="your-key"

pyba database \
  -e sqlite \
  -n /tmp/pyba.db \
  -t "search for Python tutorials" \
  --gemini-api-key "$GEMINI_API_KEY"

Step-by-Step Mode 

In STEP mode, the CLI launches a persistent browser and reads instructions from the terminal one at a time:

pyba normal \
  --op-mode STEP \
  --openai-api-key "sk-..."

You will be prompted for instructions interactively:

>> Go to youtube.com
>> Search for rickroll
>> Click the first video
>> quit

Type quit to stop the session.

BFS Exploration Mode 

pyba database \
  -e sqlite \
  -n /tmp/pyba.db \
  -t "find social media accounts for username 'johndoe123'" \
  --openai-api-key "sk-..." \
  --op-mode BFS \
  --max-breadth 5 \
  --max-depth 10

Environment Variables 

For security, use environment variables instead of command-line arguments:

# API Keys
export OPENAI_API_KEY="sk-..."
export GEMINI_API_KEY="..."

# Login credentials
export instagram_username="your_user"
export instagram_password="your_pass"
export facebook_username="your_email"
export facebook_password="your_pass"

Then reference them:

pyba normal -t "your task" --openai-api-key "$OPENAI_API_KEY"

Getting Help 

# General help
pyba --help

# Mode-specific help
pyba normal --help
pyba database --help

# Version
pyba --version
pyba -V

Troubleshooting 

Database Engine Error 

If you see:

Wrong database engine chosen. Please choose from sqlite, mysql or postgres

Make sure -e is one of: sqlite, mysql, postgres

Trace Files Not Appearing 

Check that --enable-tracing is set
Verify --trace-save-dir exists and is writable
Use -v to see where traces are saved

Credentials Not Working 

Ensure environment variables are exported in the same shell running pyba
Variable names must match exactly: instagram_username, instagram_password, etc.

Headless Failing on Servers 

Use --handle-deps to install required system libraries
On Linux, you may need: sudo apt install libnss3 libatk-bridge2.0-0 libcups2

High Memory Usage 

Use --low-memory-usage True to reduce browser resource consumption
This disables GPU, background processes, and reduces the viewport size
Recommended for CI/CD pipelines, Docker containers, and low-spec servers