---
title: "--pretty"
description: "Render machine-command results as readable terminal output."
---

> Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://machine-memory.jfa.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# --pretty

## Usage

Add `--pretty` to any machine command when you are running it directly in a
terminal and want output designed for people instead of JSON designed for
agents and scripts.

```sh
machine-memory list --remote --pretty
machine-memory query "backend" --remote --pretty
```

The flag is global, so it can also appear before the command:

```sh
machine-memory --pretty list --remote
```

Commands such as `list`, `query`, `get`, `suggest`, `sweep`, and `export` use
readable tables and labeled fields. Long values wrap to fit the terminal.

## Output precedence

`--pretty` only changes the output of machine commands. Human-oriented
commands, such as `init`, `upgrade`, and `remote setup`, keep their normal
terminal output.

If you provide an explicit output mode, it takes precedence over `--pretty`:

```sh
machine-memory list --remote --pretty --json-min
machine-memory query "backend" --remote --pretty --quiet
```

Use those modes when another program or agent needs stable machine-readable
output.

Source: https://machine-memory.jfa.dev/human/pretty/index.mdx