---
title: "axiom flow compile"
description: "Resolve nodes, lay out, and compile a runnable flow artifact"
category: reference
surfaces: [cli]
related: [reference/cli/axiom-flow]
last_reviewed: 2026-06-06
---

<!-- GENERATED by docs/scripts/gen-cli-reference — DO NOT EDIT.
     Source of truth: the cobra command definitions in cmd/axiom/cmd/.
     Regenerate from the repo root with: go run ./docs/scripts/gen-cli-reference -->

# axiom flow compile

Resolve nodes, lay out, and compile a runnable flow artifact

Compile a flow.yaml into a runnable flow artifact:

```text
1. validate the file structurally
2. resolve each node's package + node name to a registry node ULID and its
   input/output message types
3. auto-layout any unpinned nodes on the grid
4. POST the assembled graph to the registry compiler
```

Requires a prior "axiom login". Prints the compiled artifact id. Defaults to
./flow.yaml. ADR-086.

## Usage

```sh
axiom flow compile [flow.yaml] [flags]
```

## Flags

| Flag | Shorthand | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `--help` | `-h` | bool |  | help for compile |
| `--json` |  | bool |  | Emit a single JSON result object |

## See also

- [axiom flow](./axiom-flow.md) — Author and compile flows (graphs of published nodes)