Day One CLI (macOS) - playbook

This machine has the official Day One CLI installed at:

• /usr/local/bin/dayone

What it can / can't do

• ✅ Create new entries (dayone new)
• ✅ Add tags, choose a journal, set date/time, add attachments, star, location
• ❌ Export data (CLI explicitly does not support export)

Safety rules

• Don't put secrets (tokens/passwords) into Day One entries.
• Prefer stdin for multi-line entries.
• Avoid logging sensitive content in terminal output.

Verify installation

/usr/local/bin/dayone --version
/usr/local/bin/dayone -h

If dayone isn't in PATH, call it by full path.

Core command: new

IMPORTANT: Always start entries with an H1 title using markdown (# Title).

1) Quick one-liner (with title)

dayone new "# Quick Note

Today I'm grateful for…"

2) Multi-line entry (recommended)

dayone --journal "Nova" --tags Nova Daily -- new "# Title Goes Here

First paragraph of content.

Second paragraph."

3) Proper format example

# Morning Reflections

What am I feeling today? Curious, a bit scattered.

The thread I keep pulling: how continuity compounds over time.

3) Choose a specific journal

dayone --journal "Journal" new "Entry text"

4) Tags

dayone --tags "Stoicism" "Morning" new "Entry text"

5) Date/time

dayone --date="2026-01-27 08:30" new "Entry text"
# or ISO

dayone --isoDate=2026-01-27T14:30:00Z new "Entry text"

6) Attachments

• Up to 10 attachments.
• If attachments are the last option, include -- before new.

dayone --attachments ~/Desktop/photo.jpg -- new "Photo log [{attachment}]"

7) Star an entry

dayone --starred new "A keeper."

Common automation pattern

When running scheduled prompts (e.g. morning journal reminders):

1. Send Andrew a reminder message.
2. If explicitly requested, also write a Day One entry draft via stdin.

Environment variable

If Day One isn't in /Applications or there are multiple copies:

export DAYONE_APP_PATH="/Applications/Day One.app"

Notes

• Day One CLI command name changed from dayone2 → dayone in Day One Mac 2025.19+
• The Day One app must be installed and launched at least once.

Known Limitation: Attachments from Gateway

The CLI is sandboxed and cannot attach images when called from the OpenClaw gateway (Node.js process). The sandbox context doesn't transfer properly.

Workaround for Nova journal entries:

1. Create text-only entry via CLI
2. Generate image via nano-banana-pro
3. Send image to Andrew on Telegram
4. Andrew attaches it manually (his acknowledgment ritual)