The Databricks CLI (Command Line Interface) is a lightweight, scriptable tool that allows you to interact with your Databricks workspace directly from your terminal. Whether you’re a data engineer, DevOps professional, or developer, the CLI makes it easier to automate tasks, manage clusters, deploy jobs, and integrate Databricks into CI/CD pipelines.
In this guide, we’ll walk through installing the Databricks CLI, connecting it to your workspace, and running basic commands.
What is Databricks CLI?
The Databricks CLI is a command line tool that lets you:
- Connect to your Databricks workspace
- Manage clusters, jobs, and secrets
- Automate deployments and workflows
- Integrate with CI/CD pipelines for DevOps automation
Instead of relying only on the web UI, the CLI makes it simple to script and automate repetitive tasks.
How to Install Databricks CLI
The installation process depends on your operating system:
Windows: Use winget or chocolatey to install.
winget install databricks.databrickscliMac/Linux: Install via Homebrew:
brew install databricks-cliOnce installed, confirm with:
databricks --version Connecting Databricks CLI to Your Workspace
To connect, you’ll need a Personal Access Token (PAT):
- Log in to your Databricks workspace.
- Go to User Settings → Access Tokens.
- Generate a new token and copy it.
Then configure the CLI:
databricks configure Enter your workspace URL (without https://) and paste your token.
Why Use the Databricks CLI?
- Automation: Run tasks without the UI.
- Efficiency: Save time with scripts and scheduled jobs.
- Integration: Perfect for CI/CD pipelines.
- Flexibility: Manage jobs, clusters, secrets, and more.
While the CLI has a learning curve, it’s extremely valuable for DevOps engineers and data teams managing large workflows.
The CLI also supports secret management, file transfers, and bundle deployments—making it a powerful tool for automation. For more example commands (e.g. databricks pipelines get) please see here: https://docs.databricks.com/aws/en/dev-tools/cli/commands
Final Thoughts
The Databricks CLI is an essential tool for anyone looking to automate and streamline their Databricks workflows. From installation to authentication and running commands, it provides flexibility and efficiency that the UI alone can’t offer.
If you want to explore more, check out related tools like the Visual Studio Code Databricks extension or learn how to integrate Databricks with Azure DevOps.
