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npx skills add hkuds/cli-anything --skill cli-anything-cloudcompare
Command-line interface for CloudCompare — Agent-friendly harness for CloudCompare, the open-source 3D point cloud and mesh processing software. Supports 41 commands across 9 groups: project management, session control, point cloud operations (subsample, filter, segment, analyze), mesh operations, distance computation (C2C, C2M), transformations (ICP, matrix), export (LAS/LAZ/PLY/PCD/OBJ/STL/E57), and interactive REPL.
npx skills add hkuds/cli-anything --skill cli-anything-cloudcompare
Agent-friendly command-line harness for CloudCompare — the open-source 3D point cloud and mesh processing software.
41 commands across 9 groups.
Prerequisites:
flatpak install flathub org.cloudcompare.CloudCompareTested with: CloudCompare 2.13.2 (Flatpak, Linux)
These options must be placed before the subcommand:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
-p, --project TEXT | Path to project JSON file |
--json | Output results as JSON (for agent consumption) |
Create a new empty project file.
Options: -o/--output TEXT (required), -n/--name TEXT
Show project info and loaded entities.
Show quick project status (cloud count, mesh count, last operation).
Save the current project state to disk.
Show recent operation history.
Options: -n/--last INTEGER
Update the default export format for future operations.
Options: --cloud-fmt TEXT, --cloud-ext TEXT, --mesh-fmt TEXT, --mesh-ext TEXT
Remove the last operation from history (soft undo — does not delete output files).
All cloud commands take CLOUD_INDEX (0-based integer from cloud list) and most accept --add-to-project to register the output back into the project.
Add a point cloud file to the project.
Options: -l/--label TEXT
List all clouds currently in the project.
Convert a cloud from one format to another (format determined by file extension).
Reduce the number of points using RANDOM, SPATIAL, or OCTREE method.
Options: -o/--output TEXT (required), -m/--method [random|spatial|octree], -n/--param FLOAT, --add-to-project
Crop a cloud to an axis-aligned bounding box.
Options: -o/--output TEXT (required), --xmin/ymin/zmin/xmax/ymax/zmax FLOAT (all required), --outside, --add-to-project
Compute surface normals via the octree method.
Options: -o/--output TEXT (required), --level INTEGER (1–10), --orientation [plus_x|plus_y|plus_z|minus_x|minus_y|minus_z], --add-to-project
Flip all normal vectors in the cloud.
Options: -o/--output TEXT (required), --add-to-project
Statistical Outlier Removal — removes isolated noise points.
Options: -o/--output TEXT (required), --nb-points INTEGER, --std-ratio FLOAT, --add-to-project
Remove noisy points using the PCL noise filter (KNN or radius mode).
Options: -o/--output TEXT (required), --knn INTEGER, --noisiness FLOAT, --radius FLOAT, --use-radius, --absolute, --add-to-project
Ground filtering using the Cloth Simulation Filter (CSF) algorithm. Separates ground from off-ground points (buildings, vegetation).
Options: -g/--ground TEXT (required), -u/--offground TEXT, --scene [slope|relief|flat], --cloth-resolution FLOAT, --class-threshold FLOAT, --max-iteration INTEGER, --proc-slope, --add-to-project
Filter a cloud by scalar field value range (keep points where SF ∈ [min, max]).
Options: -o/--output TEXT (required), --min FLOAT (required), --max FLOAT (required), --sf-index INTEGER, --add-to-project
Convert a coordinate axis (X/Y/Z) to a scalar field. Commonly used to create a height (Z) scalar field.
Options: -o/--output TEXT (required), --dim [x|y|z] (default: z), --sf-index INTEGER, --add-to-project
Convenience command: convert Z → scalar field and filter by height range in one step.
Options: -o/--output TEXT (required), --min FLOAT, --max FLOAT, --add-to-project
Convert the active scalar field to RGB colours.
Options: -o/--output TEXT (required), --add-to-project
Convert RGB colours to a scalar field (luminance value).
Options: -o/--output TEXT (required), --add-to-project
Compute curvature scalar field (MEAN or GAUSS).
Options: -o/--output TEXT (required), --type [mean|gauss], -r/--radius FLOAT, --add-to-project
Compute roughness scalar field (deviation from local best-fit plane).
Options: -o/--output TEXT (required), -r/--radius FLOAT, --add-to-project
Compute point density scalar field.
Options: -o/--output TEXT (required), -r/--radius FLOAT, --type [knn|surface|volume], --add-to-project
Segment cloud into connected components (clusters). Each component is saved as a separate file.
Options: -o/--output-dir TEXT (required), --octree-level INTEGER, --min-points INTEGER, --fmt TEXT
Merge all clouds in the project into a single cloud.
Options: -o/--output TEXT (required), --add-to-project
Build a 2.5-D Delaunay triangulation mesh from a cloud.
Options: -o/--output TEXT (required), --best-fit, --max-edge-length FLOAT, --add-to-project
Add a mesh file to the project.
Options: -l/--label TEXT
List all meshes in the project.
Sample a point cloud from a mesh surface.
Options: -o/--output TEXT (required), -n/--count INTEGER, --add-to-project
Compute cloud-to-cloud distances. Adds a distance scalar field to the compared cloud.
Options: --compare TEXT (required), --reference TEXT (required), -o/--output TEXT (required), --split-xyz, --octree-level INTEGER, --add-to-project
Compute cloud-to-mesh distances. Adds a distance scalar field to the cloud.
Options: --cloud INTEGER (required), --mesh INTEGER (required), -o/--output TEXT (required), --flip-normals, --unsigned, --add-to-project
Apply a 4×4 rigid-body transformation matrix to a cloud.
The matrix file must contain 4 rows of 4 space-separated values:
Options: -o/--output TEXT (required), -m/--matrix TEXT (required), --inverse, --add-to-project
Run ICP (Iterative Closest Point) registration to align one cloud to another.
Options: --aligned INTEGER (required), --reference INTEGER (required), -o/--output TEXT (required), --max-iter INTEGER, --min-error-diff FLOAT, --overlap FLOAT, --add-to-project
List all available export format presets.
Export a cloud to a target format.
Supported presets: las, laz, ply, pcd, xyz, asc, csv, bin, e57
Options: -f/--preset TEXT, --overwrite
Export a mesh to a target format.
Supported presets: obj, stl, ply, bin
Options: -f/--preset TEXT, --overwrite
Batch export all project clouds to a directory.
Options: -d/--output-dir TEXT (required), -f/--preset TEXT, --overwrite
Show CloudCompare installation path and version.
Start the interactive REPL session with history and undo support.
Options: -p/--project TEXT
Inside the REPL, type help to list available commands or session undo to revert the last operation.
| Format | Extension | Read | Write | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAS | .las | ✓ | ✓ | LiDAR standard, supports intensity/RGB |
| LAZ | .laz | ✓ | ✓ | Compressed LAS |
| PLY | .ply | ✓ | ✓ | ASCII or binary |
| PCD | .pcd | ✓ | ✓ | PCL format |
| XYZ | .xyz | ✓ | ✓ | Plain text XYZ |
| ASC | .asc | ✓ | ✓ | ASCII with header |
| CSV | .csv | ✓ | ✓ | Comma-separated |
| E57 | .e57 | ✓ | ✓ | ASTM scanner exchange |
| BIN | .bin | ✓ | ✓ | CloudCompare native binary |
| OBJ | .obj | ✓ | ✓ | Mesh (Wavefront) |
| STL | .stl | ✓ | ✓ | Mesh (3D printing) |
| Exit Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
0 | Success |
1 | General error (see stderr for details) |
2 | Invalid arguments |
Common errors:
--json flag for parseable output--add-to-project to build multi-step pipelines without re-loading filescloud list --json to discover valid cloud indices before each operationexport formats --json to discover available format presets| Component | Version |
|---|---|
| cli-anything-cloudcompare | 1.0.0 |
| CloudCompare (tested) | 2.13.2 |
| Python (minimum) | 3.10 |
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json project info
# JSON output
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json --json project infocli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json project statuscli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json session save# Show last 10 operations (default)
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json session history
# Show last 5 operations
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json session history -n 5# Set default cloud export to LAS
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json session set-format --cloud-fmt LAS --cloud-ext las
# Set default mesh export to OBJ
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json session set-format --mesh-fmt OBJ --mesh-ext obj
# Set both cloud and mesh defaults
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json session set-format \
--cloud-fmt PLY --cloud-ext ply \
--mesh-fmt STL --mesh-ext stlcli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json session undo# Add a LAS file
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud add /data/scan.las
# Add with a label
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud add /data/scan.las -l "roof scan"cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud list
# JSON output for parsing indices
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json --json cloud list# LAS → PLY
cli-anything-cloudcompare cloud convert /data/scan.las /data/scan.ply
# PCD → LAS
cli-anything-cloudcompare cloud convert /data/cloud.pcd /data/cloud.las# Random: keep 100 000 points
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud subsample 0 \
-o /data/sub_random.las -m random -n 100000
# Spatial: minimum distance 0.05 m between points
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud subsample 0 \
-o /data/sub_spatial.las -m spatial -n 0.05
# Octree: level 8
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud subsample 0 \
-o /data/sub_octree.las -m octree -n 8 --add-to-project# Keep points inside the box
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud crop 0 \
-o /data/cropped.las \
--xmin 0.0 --ymin 0.0 --zmin 0.0 \
--xmax 10.0 --ymax 10.0 --zmax 5.0
# Keep points OUTSIDE the box
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud crop 0 \
-o /data/exterior.las \
--xmin 0.0 --ymin 0.0 --zmin 0.0 \
--xmax 10.0 --ymax 10.0 --zmax 5.0 --outside# Compute normals at octree level 6
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud normals 0 \
-o /data/with_normals.ply --level 6
# Compute normals oriented toward +Z
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud normals 0 \
-o /data/with_normals.ply --level 6 --orientation plus_z --add-to-projectcli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud invert-normals 0 \
-o /data/flipped_normals.ply --add-to-project# Default parameters (k=6 neighbours, 1.0 std ratio)
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud filter-sor 0 \
-o /data/denoised.las
# Custom parameters
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud filter-sor 0 \
-o /data/denoised.las --nb-points 12 --std-ratio 2.0 --add-to-project# KNN mode (default)
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud noise-filter 0 \
-o /data/clean.las --knn 8 --noisiness 1.0
# Radius mode
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud noise-filter 0 \
-o /data/clean.las --radius 0.1 --use-radius --add-to-project# Extract ground only — mixed terrain
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud filter-csf 0 \
--ground /data/ground.las --scene relief
# Split ground + off-ground — urban scene
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud filter-csf 0 \
--ground /data/ground.las \
--offground /data/buildings.las \
--scene flat --cloth-resolution 0.5 --class-threshold 0.3
# Steep forested slope with slope post-processing
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud filter-csf 0 \
--ground /data/terrain.las --scene slope --proc-slope --add-to-project# Keep points with SF value between 10 and 50
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud filter-sf 0 \
-o /data/filtered.las --min 10.0 --max 50.0
# Filter using a specific SF index
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud filter-sf 0 \
-o /data/filtered.las --min 0.0 --max 1.5 --sf-index 2 --add-to-project# Create Z scalar field (height)
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud sf-from-coord 0 \
-o /data/with_z_sf.las --dim z --add-to-project
# Create X scalar field with a specific active index
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud sf-from-coord 0 \
-o /data/with_x_sf.las --dim x --sf-index 0# Extract points between z=1.0 m and z=2.5 m
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud sf-filter-z 0 \
-o /data/slice.las --min 1.0 --max 2.5 --add-to-project
# Only apply upper bound
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud sf-filter-z 0 \
-o /data/below_5m.las --max 5.0cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud sf-to-rgb 0 \
-o /data/coloured.ply --add-to-projectcli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud rgb-to-sf 0 \
-o /data/luminance.las --add-to-project# Mean curvature with radius 0.5 m
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud curvature 0 \
-o /data/curvature.las --type mean --radius 0.5
# Gaussian curvature
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud curvature 0 \
-o /data/curvature.las --type gauss --radius 0.5 --add-to-projectcli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud roughness 0 \
-o /data/roughness.las --radius 0.2 --add-to-project# KNN density
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud density 0 \
-o /data/density.las --type knn --radius 0.5
# Surface density
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud density 0 \
-o /data/density.las --type surface --radius 1.0 --add-to-project# Segment with octree level 8, minimum 100 points per component
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud segment-cc 0 \
-o /data/components/ --octree-level 8 --min-points 100
# Save components as PLY files
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud segment-cc 0 \
-o /data/components/ --octree-level 6 --min-points 50 --fmt plycli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud merge \
-o /data/merged.las --add-to-project# Basic Delaunay mesh
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud mesh-delaunay 0 \
-o /data/surface.obj
# Best-fit plane with max edge length limit
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json cloud mesh-delaunay 0 \
-o /data/surface.ply --best-fit --max-edge-length 2.0 --add-to-projectcli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json mesh add /data/model.obj
# Add with label
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json mesh add /data/model.ply -l "building model"cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json mesh list
# JSON output
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json --json mesh list# Sample 50 000 points from mesh at index 0
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json mesh sample 0 \
-o /data/sampled.las -n 50000
# Add sampled cloud back to project
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json mesh sample 0 \
-o /data/sampled.las -n 100000 --add-to-project# Compare cloud 1 to reference cloud 0
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json distance c2c \
--compare 1 --reference 0 -o /data/distances.las
# Split into X/Y/Z components at octree level 8
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json distance c2c \
--compare 1 --reference 0 -o /data/distances.las \
--split-xyz --octree-level 8 --add-to-project# Basic cloud-to-mesh distance
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json distance c2m \
--cloud 0 --mesh 0 -o /data/c2m_dist.las
# With flipped normals and unsigned distances
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json distance c2m \
--cloud 0 --mesh 0 -o /data/c2m_dist.las \
--flip-normals --unsigned --add-to-project# Apply a transformation matrix from file
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json transform apply 0 \
-o /data/transformed.las -m /data/matrix.txt
# Apply the inverse transformation
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json transform apply 0 \
-o /data/transformed.las -m /data/matrix.txt --inverse --add-to-project1 0 0 0
0 1 0 0
0 0 1 0
0 0 0 1# Basic ICP alignment
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json transform icp \
--aligned 1 --reference 0 -o /data/aligned.las
# ICP with overlap and iteration control
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json transform icp \
--aligned 1 --reference 0 -o /data/aligned.las \
--max-iter 50 --overlap 80 --min-error-diff 1e-6 --add-to-projectcli-anything-cloudcompare export formats
# JSON output
cli-anything-cloudcompare --json export formats# Export cloud at index 0 as LAS
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json export cloud 0 /data/output.las
# Export as PLY using preset
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json export cloud 0 /data/output.ply -f ply
# Overwrite if file exists
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json export cloud 0 /data/output.las -f las --overwrite# Export mesh at index 0 as OBJ
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json export mesh 0 /data/model.obj
# Export as STL
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json export mesh 0 /data/model.stl -f stl --overwrite# Export all clouds as LAS
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json export batch \
-d /data/exports/ -f las
# Overwrite existing files
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.json export batch \
-d /data/exports/ -f ply --overwritecli-anything-cloudcompare info
# JSON output
cli-anything-cloudcompare --json info# Start REPL without a project
cli-anything-cloudcompare repl
# Start REPL with an existing project
cli-anything-cloudcompare repl -p myproject.json
# Equivalent: run without subcommand
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project myproject.jsonP=myproject.json
# 1. Create project and load scan
cli-anything-cloudcompare project new -o $P
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project $P cloud add /data/scan.las
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project $P cloud list # note index → 0
# 2. Denoise
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project $P cloud filter-sor 0 \
-o /data/denoised.las --nb-points 6 --std-ratio 1.0 --add-to-project
# 3. Subsample to 5 cm grid
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project $P cloud subsample 1 \
-o /data/subsampled.las -m spatial -n 0.05 --add-to-project
# 4. Extract ground plane (CSF)
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project $P cloud filter-csf 2 \
--ground /data/ground.las --offground /data/objects.las \
--scene relief --add-to-project
# 5. Export result
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project $P export cloud 3 /data/ground_final.las -f las --overwriteP=compare.json
cli-anything-cloudcompare project new -o $P
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project $P cloud add /data/scan_2023.las # index 0
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project $P cloud add /data/scan_2024.las # index 1
# ICP alignment (align 2024 to 2023)
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project $P transform icp \
--aligned 1 --reference 0 -o /data/aligned_2024.las \
--overlap 90 --add-to-project # index 2
# Cloud-to-cloud distance
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project $P distance c2c \
--compare 2 --reference 0 -o /data/change_map.las --add-to-project
# Export as LAS with distance scalar field
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project $P export cloud 3 /data/change_map_final.las --overwriteP=slice.json
cli-anything-cloudcompare project new -o $P
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project $P cloud add /data/building.las
# Extract points at 2–3 m height (floor level)
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project $P cloud sf-filter-z 0 \
-o /data/floor_slice.las --min 2.0 --max 3.0 --add-to-project
# Export
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project $P export cloud 1 /data/floor_slice_out.las --overwriteP=mesh.json
cli-anything-cloudcompare project new -o $P
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project $P cloud add /data/terrain.las
# Compute normals
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project $P cloud normals 0 \
-o /data/with_normals.ply --level 6 --orientation plus_z --add-to-project
# Delaunay mesh
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project $P cloud mesh-delaunay 1 \
-o /data/terrain_mesh.obj --max-edge-length 1.0 --add-to-project
# Export mesh
cli-anything-cloudcompare --project $P export mesh 0 /data/terrain_mesh_final.obj --overwrite# CloudCompare not found
# → Install CloudCompare; check `cli-anything-cloudcompare info`
# Index out of range
# → Run `cloud list` or `mesh list` to confirm valid indices
# File already exists (no --overwrite)
# → Add --overwrite flag to export commands
# fcntl not available (Windows)
# → File locking is skipped automatically; project save still works