> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cow.bleu.builders/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# CLI Options Reference

> Complete reference for all Watch Tower command-line options and environment variables

# CLI Options Reference

Complete reference for all Watch Tower command-line options and environment variables.

This page provides a comprehensive reference for all CLI options available in the CoW Protocol Watch Tower.

## Global options

These options are available across multiple commands.

### Database options

**--database-path** (string, default: `./database`)

Path to the database directory where the Watch Tower stores its state.

* **Environment variable:** `DATABASE_PATH`
* **Available in:** `run`, `dump-db`

### Logging options

**--log-level** (string, default: `INFO`)

Log level for the Watch Tower. Controls the verbosity of logging output.

* **Possible values:** `ERROR`, `WARN`, `INFO`, `DEBUG`, `TRACE`
* **Environment variable:** `LOG_LEVEL`
* **Available in:** `run`, `dump-db`

## Run command options

These options are specific to the `run` command.

### Configuration

**--config-path** (string, default: `./config.json`)

Path to the chain configuration file. This file defines the networks to monitor and their settings.

* **Environment variable:** `CONFIG_PATH`

**--only-owner** (string\[])

Addresses of contracts or safes to monitor programmatic orders for. Can be specified multiple times to monitor multiple owners. Addresses must be valid hex-prefixed Ethereum addresses.

Example: `--only-owner 0x1234... --only-owner 0x5678...`

### Execution mode

**--dry-run** (boolean, default: `false`)

Run in dry-run mode without publishing orders to the OrderBook API. The Watch Tower will process orders but not submit them.

* **Environment variable:** `DRY_RUN`

**--one-shot** (boolean, default: `false`)

Run the Watch Tower once and exit immediately. Useful for testing or cron-based execution.

* **Environment variable:** `ONE_SHOT`

### API options

**--disable-api** (boolean, default: `false`)

Disable the REST API server. When disabled, the Watch Tower runs without the HTTP API interface.

* **Environment variable:** `DISABLE_API`

**--api-port** (number, default: `8080`)

Port for the REST API server. Only applicable when the API is enabled.

* **Environment variable:** `API_PORT`

### Notification options

**--silent** (boolean, default: `false`)

Disable notifications and use local logging only. Conflicts with `--slack-webhook`.

* **Environment variable:** `DISABLE_NOTIFICATIONS`

**--slack-webhook** (string)

Slack webhook URL for sending notifications. Cannot be used with `--silent`.

* **Environment variable:** `SLACK_WEBHOOK`

## Dump database command options

These options are specific to the `dump-db` command.

**--chain-id** (number, required)

Chain ID to dump from the database. This is a required parameter.

Examples: `1` (Ethereum mainnet), `100` (Gnosis Chain), `11155111` (Sepolia)

## Environment variables

All options can be configured using environment variables. The table below shows the mapping between CLI options and environment variables:

| CLI Option        | Environment Variable    | Default Value   |
| ----------------- | ----------------------- | --------------- |
| `--config-path`   | `CONFIG_PATH`           | `./config.json` |
| `--database-path` | `DATABASE_PATH`         | `./database`    |
| `--log-level`     | `LOG_LEVEL`             | `INFO`          |
| `--dry-run`       | `DRY_RUN`               | `false`         |
| `--one-shot`      | `ONE_SHOT`              | `false`         |
| `--disable-api`   | `DISABLE_API`           | `false`         |
| `--api-port`      | `API_PORT`              | `8080`          |
| `--silent`        | `DISABLE_NOTIFICATIONS` | `false`         |
| `--slack-webhook` | `SLACK_WEBHOOK`         | -               |

### Using environment variables

You can use a `.env` file or export variables directly:

```bash theme={null}
# .env file
CONFIG_PATH=./my-config.json
DATABASE_PATH=./my-database
LOG_LEVEL=DEBUG
DRY_RUN=true
API_PORT=3000
SLACK_WEBHOOK=https://hooks.slack.com/services/YOUR/WEBHOOK/URL
```

Or export them in your shell:

```bash theme={null}
export CONFIG_PATH=./my-config.json
export DATABASE_PATH=./my-database
export LOG_LEVEL=DEBUG

watch-tower run
```

## Option precedence

When the same option is specified in multiple ways, the following precedence applies (highest to lowest):

1. Command-line arguments
2. Environment variables
3. Default values

## Type validation

### Address validation

The `--only-owner` option validates that addresses are:

* Valid hexadecimal strings
* Prefixed with `0x`
* Valid Ethereum addresses (checksummed)

### Number validation

Numeric options like `--api-port` and `--chain-id` must be valid integers.

## Conflicts

The following options conflict with each other and cannot be used together:

* `--silent` and `--slack-webhook`: You cannot disable notifications while also providing a Slack webhook.