Basecamp CLI Installation Guide

April 29, 2026 · View on GitHub

Install the Basecamp CLI and connect it to your AI agent. Execute all steps autonomously.

DONE WHEN: basecamp --version && basecamp auth status both succeed.

TODO

  • Install Basecamp CLI
  • Authenticate with Basecamp
  • Connect agent (optional)

Step 1: Install Basecamp CLI

Run the matching command for your environment:

macOS / Linux / WSL2 / Git Bash

curl -fsSL https://basecamp.com/install-cli | bash

Windows PowerShell

irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/basecamp/basecamp-cli/main/scripts/install.ps1 | iex

Note: The install scripts auto-detect non-interactive environments (CI, piped input, coding agents) and skip the interactive setup wizard. You can also explicitly skip it with BASECAMP_SKIP_SETUP=1.

Windows note: if curl fails with a schannel / CRYPT_E_NO_REVOCATION_CHECK TLS error, prefer the PowerShell installer, Scoop, or Git Bash's /usr/bin/curl instead of the system curl.exe.

Alternatively install manually:

brew install --cask basecamp/tap/basecamp-cli

Option B: PowerShell (Windows)

irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/basecamp/basecamp-cli/main/scripts/install.ps1 | iex

Option C: Scoop (Windows)

scoop bucket add basecamp https://github.com/basecamp/homebrew-tap
scoop install basecamp-cli

Option D: Linux package (Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora/RHEL, Alpine)

# Download the matching package from https://github.com/basecamp/basecamp-cli/releases/latest
sudo apt install ./basecamp-cli_*_linux_amd64.deb            # Debian/Ubuntu
sudo dnf install ./basecamp-cli_*_linux_amd64.rpm            # Fedora/RHEL
sudo apk add --allow-untrusted ./basecamp-cli_*_linux_amd64.apk  # Alpine

Arm64: substitute arm64 for amd64 in the filename. Verify the SHA-256 checksum from checksums.txt before installing unsigned Alpine packages.

Option E: Nix

nix profile install github:basecamp/basecamp-cli

Option F: Go install

go install github.com/basecamp/basecamp-cli/cmd/basecamp@latest

Option G: GitHub Release

Download the archive for your platform from Releases, extract, and move basecamp to a directory on your PATH.

Verify:

basecamp --version
# Expected: basecamp version X.Y.Z

If basecamp: command not found, add it to PATH:

export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"   # macOS / Linux / WSL
export PATH="$HOME/bin:$PATH"          # Git Bash / Windows bash environments
# or for go install:
export PATH="$HOME/go/bin:$PATH"

Step 2: Authenticate

basecamp auth login

Opens browser for OAuth. Grant access when prompted.

Verify:

basecamp auth status
# Expected: Authenticated (BC3 OAuth may show "Authenticated (scope: read)")

EXECUTE NOW: Start with Step 1. Mark TODO items complete as you go. Stop when basecamp --version && basecamp auth status both succeed.

Optional: Connect Your Agent

Do not execute this section unless explicitly requested. The core installation is complete when DONE WHEN passes.

Claude Code

basecamp setup claude

This registers the marketplace and installs the plugin with skills, hooks, and agent workflow support.

Other Agents

Point your agent at the skill file for full Basecamp workflow coverage:

skills/basecamp/SKILL.md

Every command supports --help --agent for structured JSON discovery.

Quick Test

basecamp projects --json
basecamp search "meeting" --json

Troubleshooting

Not authenticated:

basecamp auth login

Wrong account:

cat ~/.config/basecamp/config.json
basecamp auth logout && basecamp auth login

Permission denied (read-only, BC3 OAuth only):

basecamp auth login --scope full