# Quick start

If you have not installed the CLI, start with [Install](/docs/installation).

Create a project, add a task, and move it through the board:

```sh title="Create a project and move a task"
zinn project create MDR --name 'Macrodata Refinement'
zinn task create MDR --title 'Refine 75% of the numbers'
zinn task list MDR
zinn task move MDR-1 Doing
zinn task view MDR-1
```

New projects start with Backlog, TODO, Doing, Review, Done and Cancelled columns. Task keys combine the project key and an increasing number, such as `MDR-1`. Use `zinn project column list MDR` to inspect a project's columns.

Search tasks and comments, leave a progress note, and inspect recent activity:

```sh title="Search and add a progress note"
zinn task search numbers MDR
zinn task comment create MDR-1 --text 'Ready for review'
zinn activity list --task MDR-1
```

When the task is finished, archive it and list archived tasks:

```sh title="Archive finished work"
zinn task archive MDR-1
zinn task list MDR --archived
```

`zinn --help` lists command groups. Add `--help` after a command to see its usage. Add `--json` to get machine-readable output for scripts and agents.

For the full command behavior and shared text rules, see the [CLI reference](/docs/cli). If you are working on a specific project when inside a specific folder, you can make Zinn [default to a project](/docs/settings#choose-a-default-project) on all suitable commands. To protect or upgrade the local database, see [Data and backups](/docs/data).