> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.21st.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Generate with 21st AI

> Start a generation, list its drafts, refine a take, and grab the code — all from the terminal.

The CLI drives [21st AI](/ai) end to end: kick off a generation, watch it build, refine the draft you like, and pull its code. It's the same engine as the web app and [MCP](/ai/mcp).

## Start a generation

```bash theme={null}
21st generate "a settings page with tabs"
```

Starts a 21st AI sketch generation and opens a browser preview so you can watch the drafts build. Returns a `projectId` you use with the commands below.

## List the drafts

```bash theme={null}
21st generation <projectId>
```

Lists the "takes" (drafts) of a generation with their take numbers and ready state. Free.

## Refine a take

```bash theme={null}
21st iterate <projectId> "make it darker and add a footer"
21st iterate <projectId> "tighten the spacing" --take 2
```

Edits one take in natural language. Without `--take` it refines the default take; pass `--take N` to target a specific one.

## Grab the code

```bash theme={null}
21st take <projectId>            # paste-ready copy-prompt (default)
21st take <projectId> --take 2   # a specific take
21st take <projectId> --code     # raw HTML instead of the copy-prompt
```

By default `take` prints a paste-ready **copy-prompt** you can drop into your editor or agent to recreate the UI in your own stack. Use `--code` to print the raw HTML. Free.

<Info>
  `generate` and `iterate` consume [credits](/ai/pricing). Listing drafts
  (`generation`) and taking code (`take`) are free.
</Info>

## Typical flow

```bash theme={null}
# 1. start
21st generate "a pricing section, 3 tiers, annual toggle"
#    → projectId: pr_abc123

# 2. see what came back
21st generation pr_abc123

# 3. refine the one you like
21st iterate pr_abc123 "make the middle tier the highlighted one" --take 3

# 4. take the code
21st take pr_abc123 --take 3 --code
```