---
title: "alis ask"
url: "https://docs.alisx.com/reference/cli/ask/"
---
# alis ask

Ask a natural-language question and get a grounded, cited answer drawn only from what you can see on the platform: your past coding sessions, your specialist conversations and the skills shared with you.

## Synopsis

```bash
alis ask <question> [flags]
```

## Description

The answer streams to stdout as it is generated, followed by `Sources:` (typed references) and `Ask next:` follow-up questions. Access is enforced at retrieval: the answer only draws on content the caller can see. Quote the question.

`--session` continues a previous conversation so follow-ups resolve against earlier turns. Every run prints its conversation ID (under `--json`, the `session` field) to pass to the next run. Without `--session` each ask stands alone.

## Flags

| Flag | Type | Default | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| `--session <id>` | string | | Conversation ID from a previous `alis ask`; carries multi-turn context. |

Plus the [global flags](https://docs.alisx.com/reference/cli/index.md#global-flags).

## Examples

```bash title="Terminal"
alis ask "which skill helps with build environments?" --json
alis ask --session "<session>" "how do I install it?" --json
```

## JSON output

`--json` prints one `AskResponse` aggregate instead of a stream:

| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
| `answerDelta` | The full answer text. |
| `citations[]` | Each with `kind` and `name`: `SKILL` (bare id, load with `alis skills load <name>`), `SESSION` (`contexts/<id>`, the TUI's Sessions page) or `TICKET` (`tickets/<id>`, the TUI's support page). Opening a reference re-checks access at the owner. |
| `relatedQuestions[]` | Suggested follow-ups. |
| `session` | Pass back with `--session` for the next turn. |

## Exit codes

| Code | Envelope | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | `no_answer` | Nothing to cite; rephrase as a fuller question or search directly. |
| 1 | `backend_outdated` | The backend predates ask; retry later. |

When you already know you want a skill, `alis skills search` is faster and returns loadable ids.