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cn resolves its configuration (models, MCP servers, rules, etc.) from several sources, in this order:
  1. --config flag — a file path passed at launch
  2. Saved config — the last-used configuration, persisted across sessions
  3. Default — ~/.continue/config.yaml

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--config flag

Point cn at a local YAML file: 
cn --config ./my-config.yaml
This overrides any saved preference for the current session.

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Switching at runtime

Use /config inside a TUI session to switch between available configurations: 
> /config
This shows your available local configs. The selection is saved for next time.

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config.yaml

cn looks for ~/.continue/config.yaml. This file uses the same format as the IDE extensions — see config.yaml reference for the full schema.

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CLI-specific flags

Several flags inject configuration at launch without editing a file: 
# Add rules (file path or inline string)
cn --rule ./rules/style.md
cn --rule "Always use TypeScript strict mode"

# Load an agent file
cn --agent my-org/pr-reviewer
All of these are repeatable — pass them multiple times to add multiple items.

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Secrets

Store sensitive values (API keys, tokens) as environment variables. Reference them in config with: 
${{ secrets.MY_API_KEY }}