---
title: Processes (Pipelines)
description: List processes, dispatch multi-phase pipeline runs, and resume or cancel runs paused at approval gates.
---

The `pipelines` command family operates **processes** — ordered phases that chain flows with JSONPath data handoff and optional human approval gates. The UI calls them **Processes**; the RPC namespace is `pipelines.*` (with deprecated `sdlc.*` aliases).

All `pipelines` verbs require a running sidecar (`akos serve` locally, or `AKOS_HEADLESS_URL` for remote).

## List processes

```bash
akos pipelines list
akos pipelines list --json
```

## Inspect one process

```bash
akos pipelines show my-release-pipeline --json
```

Exits with code `5` when the id is not found.

## List process runs

```bash
akos pipelines runs
akos pipelines runs --pipeline my-release-pipeline --limit 20 --json
```

## Dispatch a new run

```bash
akos pipelines run my-release-pipeline
```

Pass initial context as JSON:

```bash
akos pipelines run my-release-pipeline \
  --ctx '{"ticketId":"ENG-4821","owner":"alice"}' \
  --idempotency-key eng-4821-2026-07-05
```

In CI or other non-TTY environments, mutations require explicit confirmation:

```bash
akos pipelines run my-release-pipeline --confirm --json
```

| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
| `--ctx <json>` | JSON object passed as run context |
| `--idempotency-key <key>` | Dedupe duplicate dispatches |
| `--confirm` | Skip the interactive confirmation prompt |
| `--json` | Emit the raw dispatch payload |

## Resume after approval

When a phase requires human approval, the run pauses until a reviewer acts in the **[Inbox](/docs/using-the-app/inbox)** (or via `inbox approve` / `hitl approve`). Resume the process run from the CLI:

```bash
akos pipelines resume pipe_run_abc123 --json
```

## Cancel an in-flight run

```bash
akos pipelines cancel pipe_run_abc123
akos pipelines cancel pipe_run_abc123 --confirm   # non-TTY
```

## Typical operator loop

```bash
akos pipelines list
akos pipelines run quarterly-close --ctx '{"period":"2026-Q2"}' --confirm
akos pipelines runs --pipeline quarterly-close --limit 5
# … reviewer approves in Inbox …
akos pipelines resume <pipelineRunId>
```

## Related topics

- **[Processes in the app](/docs/using-the-app/pipelines)** — kanban board, chain view, column settings.
- **[Flows and Runs](/docs/cli/flows-and-runs)** — single-flow execution and HITL escalations.
- **[Inbox](/docs/using-the-app/inbox)** — human approval tasks for gated phases.
- **[Concepts: Processes](/docs/concepts/pipelines)** — data handoff and phase templates.
- **[Command reference](/docs/cli/command-reference)** — full `pipelines.*` table.