payload-cms

Persistent HTTP server + thin CLI client for Payload CMS Local API.

Quick Start

# Resolve plugin root even when CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT is missing
PLUGIN_ROOT="${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT:-$(node -e "const fs=require('fs');const path=require('path');const os=require('os');const c=['C:/.config/vercel-skills/skills/payload-cms',path.join(os.homedir(),'.claude/skills/payload-cms'),path.join(os.homedir(),'.agents/skills/payload-cms'),'P:/aromatt/payload/skills/payload-cms'];const hit=c.find(p=>fs.existsSync(path.join(p,'scripts','payload.js')));if(!hit){process.exit(1)};process.stdout.write(hit);")}"

# 1. Start the server (from project root)
node "$PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js" start

# 2. Query data
node "$PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js" find users --limit 5
node "$PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js" schema tutors

CLI

node "$PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js" $ARGUMENTS

Run with help for full command list. Use $PLUGIN_ROOT from Quick Start in all examples below when CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT is not set.

---

Server Lifecycle

The server initializes Payload once and serves requests over HTTP. This avoids re-initializing Payload for each query (~10-15s cold start).

Command	Description
start [flags]	Start persistent Payload server (background)
stop	Graceful shutdown
status	Check if server is running + uptime

Start Flags

Flag	Default	Description
--port	8100	HTTP port
--idle-timeout	1800000	Auto-shutdown after idle (ms, default 30min)
--test-db-url	env TEST_POSTGRES_URL	Test database connection string
--test-db-port	env POSTGRES_TEST_PORT or 7357	Test database port

Examples

# Start with defaults
node $PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js start

# Start with custom port and test DB
node $PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js start --port 9000 --test-db-url "postgresql://localhost:7357/test"

# Check status
node $PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js status

# Stop server
node $PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js stop

---

Schema & Discovery

Command	Description
collections list	List all collection slugs, field counts, labels
schema <collection>	Full field definitions (name, type, required, relationships)

Schema includes recursive field mapping for: text, number, email, relationship, upload, array, group, blocks, select, radio, checkbox, date, point, json, code, richText, tabs, collapsible, row.

Examples

# List all collections
node $PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js collections list

# Get schema for a collection
node $PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js schema users
node $PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js schema calendarEntries

---

Query Operations

All query commands require a running server (start first).

Command	Description
find <collection> [flags]	Find documents with filters, sort, pagination
find-by-id <collection> --id <id> [flags]	Get a single document by ID
count <collection> [flags]	Count matching documents

Query Flags

Flag	Description	Example
--db	Database: dev (default) or test	--db test
--where	JSON filter object	--where '{"status":{"equals":"active"}}'
--sort	Sort field (prefix - for desc)	--sort -createdAt
--limit	Max results	--limit 10
--page	Page number (1-indexed)	--page 2
--depth	Population depth (default 1)	--depth 0
--select	Field selection	--select '{"name":true,"email":true}'
--timeout	Per-request timeout (ms)	--timeout 60000

Where Clause Operators

{ "field": { "equals": "value" } }
{ "field": { "not_equals": "value" } }
{ "field": { "greater_than": 100 } }
{ "field": { "less_than": 100 } }
{ "field": { "like": "partial" } }
{ "field": { "contains": "text" } }
{ "field": { "in": ["a", "b"] } }
{ "field": { "not_in": ["a", "b"] } }
{ "field": { "exists": true } }

Compound:

{ "and": [{ "status": { "equals": "active" } }, { "role": { "equals": "tutor" } }] }
{ "or": [{ "status": { "equals": "active" } }, { "status": { "equals": "pending" } }] }

Query Examples

# Find first 5 users
node $PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js find users --limit 5

# Find active tutors sorted by name
node $PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js find tutors --where '{"status":{"equals":"active"}}' --sort name

# Find recent calendar entries
node $PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js find calendarEntries --sort -createdAt --limit 10

# Count customers
node $PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js count customers

# Get user by ID with minimal depth
node $PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js find-by-id users --id abc123 --depth 0

# Select specific fields only
node $PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js find users --select '{"email":true,"name":true}' --limit 10

# Query test database
node $PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js find users --db test --limit 5

---

Mutate Operations

Command	Description
create <collection> --data <json> [flags]	Create a new document
update <collection> --id <id> --data <json> [flags]	Update an existing document
delete <collection> --id <id>	Delete a document

Data can be passed via --data flag or piped through stdin.

Mutate Flags

Flag	Description
--data	JSON string with document data
--id	Document ID (required for update/delete)
--db	Database: dev (default) or test
--depth	Population depth in response
--select	Field selection in response

Mutate Examples

# Create a document
node $PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js create customers --data '{"name":"John","email":"john@example.com"}'

# Create via stdin pipe
echo '{"name":"Jane","email":"jane@example.com"}' | node $PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js create customers

# Update a document
node $PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js update customers --id abc123 --data '{"name":"John Updated"}'

# Delete a document
node $PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js delete customers --id abc123

# Mutate on test database
node $PLUGIN_ROOT/scripts/payload.js create customers --db test --data '{"name":"Test User"}'

---

Output Format

All commands output JSON to stdout:

// Success
{ "ok": true, "data": { ... } }

// Error
{ "ok": false, "error": { "message": "...", "code": "..." } }

Find results include Payload pagination:

{
  "ok": true,
  "data": {
    "docs": [...],
    "totalDocs": 42,
    "limit": 10,
    "totalPages": 5,
    "page": 1,
    "pagingCounter": 1,
    "hasPrevPage": false,
    "hasNextPage": true,
    "prevPage": null,
    "nextPage": 2
  }
}

---

Architecture

payload.js (CLI client, CommonJS, zero deps)
    │
    ▼ HTTP
server.ts (persistent, initialized Payload instances)
    │
    ▼ Local API
Payload CMS (dev DB + optional test DB)

• Server starts once, stays running (30min idle timeout)
• Each CLI call makes an HTTP request to the running server
• Server PID + port stored in ${PAYLOAD_CMS_HOME:-~/.payload-cms}/server.json