Simplify CiviCRM Development with DDEV CLI Tools Add-on

Published
2025-01-16 06:53
Written by
vinaygawade - member of the CiviCRM community - view blog guidelines

DDEV CiviCRM CLI Tools


If you’re a developer working with CiviCRM on platforms like Drupal or Backdrop, I’ve got exciting news! 🎉 Introducing the DDEV CiviCRM CLI Tools Add-on, a powerful solution to integrate essential CLI tools like civistrings, civix, coworker, and cv directly into your DDEV-managed projects. This tool is designed to streamline your development workflow, whether you're building or maintaining CiviCRM-based project


🐳 What Is DDEV?

DDEV is an open-source tool that simplifies local development environments by using Docker containers. It is widely used by developers working with content management systems like Drupal, WordPress, and Backdrop. By providing a consistent, containerized environment, DDEV eliminates setup challenges, making it easier to build, test, and deploy web projects efficiently.
Learn more about DDEV here :- https://ddev.com/about


🔍 What Is the DDEV CiviCRM CLI Tools Add-on?

The DDEV CiviCRM CLI Tools Add-on simplifies command execution for CiviCRM projects by allowing developers to run key tools seamlessly within a Docker-based DDEV environment. It bridges the gap between local development and the robust toolset offered by CiviCRM CLI utilities.


🎯 Key Features

  • Streamlined Command Execution: Run CiviCRM CLI tools directly through DDEV commands.
  • Multi-CMS Compatibility: Fully compatible with Drupal (9, 10, 11)Backdrop, and CiviCRM installations.
  • Error Handling: Delivers actionable error messages for missing dependencies or setup issues.
  • Reliable and Tested: Includes automated tests to ensure functionality and stability.
  • Multi-Context Support: Operates seamlessly in both local and production-like environments.

🚀 Getting Started

Prerequisites

  • DDEV: v1.19 or higher.
  • PHP: v7.4 or higher.
  • Composer: Installed in your environment.
  • CiviCRM: Integrated with a supported CMS (Drupal or Backdrop).

Installation Steps

1. Download the Add-on:

 ddev get vinugawade/ddev-civicrm-cli-tools

2. Restart Your DDEV Project (optional):

 ddev restart

3. Install Required Dependencies:

 ddev composer require civicrm/cli-tools

4. Verify Installation:

 ddev cv --version

🛠 Commands at a Glance

Here’s a quick overview of the primary commands available with the add-on:

1. ddev civistrings

Generate and manage CiviCRM language strings.
Alias: cvstr

Examples :

ddev civistrings -o myfile.pot myfolder
ddev civistrings --version

2. ddev civix

Scaffold and maintain CiviCRM extensions.
Alias: cvx

Examples :

ddev civix build:zip
ddev civix upgrade

3. ddev coworker

Manage CiviCRM’s queue worker.
Alias: cowkr

Examples :

ddev coworker list
ddev coworker debug

4. ddev cv

Execute CiviCRM’s command-line utility.
Alias: cv

Examples :

ddev cv flush
ddev cv upgrade:db

🙌 Acknowledgments

A huge thank you to the CiviCRM and DDEV communities for their support and tools that inspired this project! Together, we can continue to improve the development experience for everyone.


👤 About the Author

I’m Vinay Gawade, a passionate developer dedicated to creating tools that simplify workflows and enhance productivity for the CiviCRM community. Feel free to connect with me on GitHub or LinkedIn.

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