Reference.

Commands, MCP and the files Ilse uses. The full reference, with the toolbar, shortcuts and compatibility, is on GitHub.

CLI

Without installing, swap ilse for npx ilse-design@latest. To install: npm install -g ilse-design@latest (the same command updates it).

ilse
Starts your dev server behind Ilse and opens the app at its usual address, with the toolbar on top
ilse --separate
This run: open Ilse on a separate address (localhost:4700); you run the dev server
ilse --port 5173
The port your app runs on (saved for this project)
ilse --target 3000
The dev server port, if detection misses it
ilse --mode mcp
This run: notes go through your agent's MCP (automatic | mcp | clipboard)
ilse --reset
Answer the setup questions again
ilse --account
Choose again which Claude account this project uses
ilse --no-open
Don't open the browser
ilse changes
What Ilse changed that isn't committed yet
ilse ds
Writes the project's design system to .ilse/ds/DESIGN.md, from the code, no AI
ilse mcp install
Installs Ilse in your agents' MCP (Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, Codex, Gemini)
ilse bookmarklet
The bookmarklet that puts the toolbar on any local page

MCP

With ilse mcp install (or Settings → Connect agent in the toolbar), your agent gets the notes in its chat. Tools:

Files

~/.ilse/on your machine

Each project's choices (mode, where it opens, port), the undo history and the logs. None of it goes into the repository.

.ilse/ds/DESIGN.mdin the project

The design system written by ilse ds or the Library's Create design system button. Commit it: any agent can read it.

.ilserc.jsonin the project, optional

Points Ilse to the typecheck and tests it runs after each change, or protects folders the agent shouldn't edit.

{
  "check": {
    "typecheck": "pnpm typecheck",
    "test": "pnpm test --"
  },
  "protected": ["src/generated/**"]
}