docs: CLI Basics (#10)

Co-authored-by: Igor Randjelovic <[email protected]>

Author: Ombuweb

content/guide/cli-basics.md

@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+---
+title: CLI Basics
+contributors:
+  - Ombuweb
+  - rigor789
+---
+
+When working with NativeScript, you will often interact with the NativeScript CLI. The CLI is self-documented, so you can always run `ns --help` or `ns <command> --help` to view available commands, flags and descriptions.
+
+This page is a quick reference for useful development commands, but it's not meant to be an exhaustive list of all the commands.
+
+**The following workflows have their dedicated pages with further information:**
+
+- [Running](/guide/running)
+- [Debugging](/guide/debugging)
+- [Publishing](/guide/publishing/)
+
+## Cleaning
+
+### Cleaning a single project
+
+When you're installing plugins with native dependencies or updating runtime versions, it's a good practice to perform a clean build.
+This helps ensure everything fits together correctly. If you're dealing with mysterious build errors, they might disappear after a clean build.
+
+To clean, run this command from your project's root directory:
+
+```cli
+ns clean
+```
+
+Running `ns clean` removes the `node_modules`, `hooks`, and `platforms` directories. You can customize what's cleaned in the [nativescript.config.ts](/project-structure/nativescript-config#cli-pathstoclean).
+
+### Cleaning multiple projects
+
+If you have multiple projects piled up in your projects folder, and would like to free up some disk space, you can run `ns clean` in your projects folder, and it will scan for any valid NativeScript projects in sub-directories and the prompt you to choose the ones to clean.
+
+<DeviceFrame type="ios">
+<video controls src="https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/879060/230395606-dbb4a56f-74e8-403b-a687-62e27a61f8d4.mov"></video>
+</DeviceFrame>
+
+## Listing connected devices
+
+To list all connected devices (both physical and virtual), run:
+
+```cli
+ns devices
+```
+
+Example output:
+
+```
+| # | Device Name    | Platform | Device Identifier                    | Type     | Status    | Connection Type |
+| - | -------------- | -------- | ------------------------------------ | -------- | --------- | --------------- |
+| 1 | Pixel 4 API 33 | Android  | emulator-5554                        | Emulator | Connected | Local           |
+| 2 | generic_device | Android  | XXXXXXXXXXXXXX                       | Device   | Connected | USB             |
+| 3 | iPhone 14 Pro  | iOS      | XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXX | Emulator | Connected | Local           |
+```
+
+## Setting the default package manager
+
+To set the default package manager that the CLI uses (unless overridden in [nativescript.config.ts](/project-structure/nativescript-config#cli-packagemanager)):
+
+```cli
+ns package-manager set npm
+ns package-manager set yarn
+ns package-manager set yarn2 # experimental
+ns package-manager set pnpm
+```

content/guide/running.md

@@ -24,7 +24,16 @@ These flags are identical. Using them runs the project only on virtual devices.
 
 #### --device <id>
 
-Only run on the specified device. The id is taken from the output of `ns devices`.
+Only run on the specified device. The id is taken from the output of [`ns devices`](/guide/cli-basics#listing-connected-devices).
+
+#### --timeout <seconds>
+
+The number of seconds to wait for the debugger to boot.
+The default timeout is 90 seconds.
+
+#### --clean
+
+Forces a clean rebuild of the native application.
 
 ## Running on physical devices
 

content/sidebar.ts

@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ export default [
   {
     text: 'Development Workflow',
     items: [
+      {
+        text: 'CLI Basics',
+        link: '/guide/cli-basics',
+      },
       {
         text: 'Running',
         link: '/guide/running',