Implement DMN mode support in crew creation and execution (#6194)

* Implement DMN mode support in crew creation and execution

- Added `is_dmn_mode_enabled` utility to check for enterprise non-interactive mode based on the `CREWAI_DMN` environment variable.
- Updated `create` function in `cli.py` to enforce required parameters when DMN mode is active, raising appropriate usage errors.
- Enhanced `create_crew` and `create_json_crew` functions to skip provider prompts and handle folder existence checks in DMN mode.
- Introduced non-interactive defaults for agent and task creation in DMN mode, ensuring seamless project setup without user input.
- Modified `run_crew` to bypass TUI and handle runtime inputs directly when in DMN mode, improving execution flow for JSON-defined crews.
- Added tests to validate DMN mode behavior, ensuring correct handling of required inputs and non-interactive defaults.

* Implement DMN mode support in crew creation and execution

- Introduced `is_dmn_mode_enabled()` utility to check for non-interactive mode based on the `CREWAI_DMN` environment variable.
- Updated `create` function to enforce required parameters when DMN mode is active, raising appropriate usage errors.
- Modified `create_crew` and `create_json_crew` functions to skip provider prompts and utilize non-interactive defaults in DMN mode.
- Enhanced `run_crew` to bypass TUI and handle runtime inputs directly in DMN mode, ensuring smooth execution without user interaction.
- Added tests to validate DMN mode behavior, including requirements for type and name, and ensuring proper handling of existing folders and missing inputs.

lib/cli/src/crewai_cli/cli.py

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from crewai_cli.user_data import (
 from crewai_cli.utils import (
     build_env_with_all_tool_credentials,
     enable_prompt_line_editing,
+    is_dmn_mode_enabled,
     read_toml,
 )
 
@@ -162,7 +163,13 @@ def create(
     classic: bool = False,
 ) -> None:
     """Create a new crew, or flow."""
+    dmn_mode = is_dmn_mode_enabled()
     if not type:
+        if dmn_mode:
+            raise click.UsageError(
+                "TYPE is required when CREWAI_DMN is set. "
+                "Use `crewai create crew <name>` or `crewai create flow <name>`."
+            )
         from crewai_cli.tui_picker import pick
 
         options = [
@@ -177,11 +184,15 @@ def create(
             raise SystemExit(0)
         click.echo()
     if not name:
+        if dmn_mode:
+            raise click.UsageError("NAME is required when CREWAI_DMN is set.")
         enable_prompt_line_editing()
         name = click.prompt(
             click.style(f"  Name of your {type}", fg="cyan", bold=True),
             prompt_suffix=click.style(" › ", fg="bright_white"),  # noqa: RUF001
         )
+    if dmn_mode:
+        skip_provider = True
     if type == "crew":
         if classic:
             from crewai_cli.create_crew import create_crew

lib/cli/src/crewai_cli/create_crew.py

@@ -11,7 +11,12 @@ from crewai_cli.provider import (
     select_model,
     select_provider,
 )
-from crewai_cli.utils import copy_template, load_env_vars, write_env_file
+from crewai_cli.utils import (
+    copy_template,
+    is_dmn_mode_enabled,
+    load_env_vars,
+    write_env_file,
+)
 
 
 def get_reserved_script_names() -> set[str]:
@@ -120,6 +125,8 @@ def create_folder_structure(
         folder_path = Path(folder_name)
 
     if folder_path.exists():
+        if is_dmn_mode_enabled():
+            raise click.ClickException(f"Folder {folder_name} already exists.")
         if not click.confirm(
             f"Folder {folder_name} already exists. Do you want to override it?"
         ):
@@ -201,6 +208,8 @@ def create_crew(
 ) -> None:
     folder_path, folder_name, class_name = create_folder_structure(name, parent_folder)
     env_vars = load_env_vars(folder_path)
+    if is_dmn_mode_enabled():
+        skip_provider = True
     if not skip_provider:
         if not provider:
             provider_models = get_provider_data()

lib/cli/src/crewai_cli/create_json_crew.py

@@ -14,7 +14,12 @@ from rich.text import Text
 
 from crewai_cli.constants import ENV_VARS
 from crewai_cli.tui_picker import pick_many, pick_one
-from crewai_cli.utils import enable_prompt_line_editing, load_env_vars, write_env_file
+from crewai_cli.utils import (
+    enable_prompt_line_editing,
+    is_dmn_mode_enabled,
+    load_env_vars,
+    write_env_file,
+)
 
 
 # ── Provider / model data ───────────────────────────────────────
@@ -641,6 +646,43 @@ def _wizard_agents_and_tasks(
     return agents, tasks, crew_settings
 
 
+def _default_agents_and_tasks(
+    default_llm: str | None = None,
+) -> tuple[list[dict[str, Any]], list[dict[str, Any]], dict[str, Any]]:
+    """Return deterministic scaffold data for non-interactive project creation."""
+    llm = default_llm or "openai/gpt-4o"
+    agents = [
+        {
+            "name": "researcher",
+            "role": "Senior Researcher",
+            "goal": "Research the requested topic and identify useful findings.",
+            "backstory": (
+                "You are an experienced researcher who finds relevant information "
+                "and presents it clearly."
+            ),
+            "llm": llm,
+            "tools": [],
+            "planning": False,
+            "allow_delegation": False,
+        }
+    ]
+    tasks = [
+        {
+            "name": "research_task",
+            "description": "Research current AI trends and write a concise summary.",
+            "expected_output": "A concise markdown report with key findings.",
+            "agent": "researcher",
+            "context": [],
+        }
+    ]
+    crew_settings = {
+        "process": "sequential",
+        "memory": False,
+        "inputs": {},
+    }
+    return agents, tasks, crew_settings
+
+
 # ── JSONC generation from wizard data ──────────────────────────
 
 
@@ -1029,7 +1071,9 @@ def create_json_crew(
     import keyword
     import shutil
 
-    enable_prompt_line_editing()
+    dmn_mode = is_dmn_mode_enabled()
+    if not dmn_mode:
+        enable_prompt_line_editing()
 
     name = name.rstrip("/")
     if not name.strip():
@@ -1048,6 +1092,8 @@ def create_json_crew(
 
     folder_path = Path(folder_name)
     if folder_path.exists():
+        if dmn_mode:
+            raise click.ClickException(f"Folder {folder_name} already exists.")
         if not click.confirm(f"Folder {folder_name} already exists. Override?"):
             click.secho("Cancelled.", fg="yellow")
             sys.exit(0)
@@ -1056,10 +1102,14 @@ def create_json_crew(
     click.echo()
     click.secho(f"  Creating crew: {name}", fg="green", bold=True)
 
-    agents, tasks, crew_settings = _wizard_agents_and_tasks(
-        skip_provider=skip_provider,
-        default_llm=_default_model_for_provider(provider),
-    )
+    default_llm = _default_model_for_provider(provider)
+    if dmn_mode:
+        agents, tasks, crew_settings = _default_agents_and_tasks(default_llm)
+    else:
+        agents, tasks, crew_settings = _wizard_agents_and_tasks(
+            skip_provider=skip_provider,
+            default_llm=default_llm,
+        )
 
     # Create directories
     folder_path.mkdir(parents=True)
@@ -1104,7 +1154,7 @@ def create_json_crew(
     (folder_path / "skills" / ".gitkeep").write_text("", encoding="utf-8")
 
     # Setup .env with API keys
-    if not skip_provider:
+    if not skip_provider and not dmn_mode:
         models = list({a["llm"] for a in agents})
         for model in models:
             _setup_env(folder_path, model)

lib/cli/src/crewai_cli/run_crew.py

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from packaging import version
 from crewai_cli.utils import (
     build_env_with_all_tool_credentials,
     enable_prompt_line_editing,
+    is_dmn_mode_enabled,
     read_toml,
 )
 from crewai_cli.version import get_crewai_version
@@ -202,6 +203,35 @@ def _prepare_json_crew_for_tui(crew: Any) -> None:
             agent.llm.stream = True
 
 
+def _runtime_inputs_without_prompt(
+    crew: Any, default_inputs: dict[str, Any]
+) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    """Return runtime inputs in non-interactive mode or exit on missing values."""
+    inputs = dict(default_inputs or {})
+    missing = _missing_input_names(crew, inputs)
+    if missing:
+        missing_list = ", ".join(missing)
+        click.echo(
+            "Missing runtime inputs for CREWAI_DMN mode: "
+            f"{missing_list}. Add them to the `inputs` object in crew.json(c).",
+            err=True,
+        )
+        raise SystemExit(1)
+    return inputs
+
+
+def _run_json_crew_without_tui(crew_path: Path) -> Any:
+    """Run a JSON-defined crew with plain terminal output."""
+    with _json_loading_status("Preparing crew..."):
+        crew, default_inputs = _load_json_crew(crew_path)
+
+    runtime_inputs = _runtime_inputs_without_prompt(crew, default_inputs)
+    result = crew.kickoff(inputs=runtime_inputs)
+    if result is not None:
+        click.echo(str(result))
+    return result
+
+
 def _run_json_crew(trained_agents_file: str | None = None) -> Any:
     """Load and run a JSON-defined crew."""
     from dotenv import load_dotenv
@@ -219,6 +249,9 @@ def _run_json_crew(trained_agents_file: str | None = None) -> Any:
     if crew_path is None:
         raise FileNotFoundError("No crew.jsonc or crew.json found")
 
+    if is_dmn_mode_enabled():
+        return _run_json_crew_without_tui(crew_path)
+
     crew_run_app_cls, crew, default_inputs, task_names, agent_names = (
         _load_json_crew_for_tui(crew_path)
     )

lib/cli/src/crewai_cli/utils.py

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ __all__ = [
     "get_project_description",
     "get_project_name",
     "get_project_version",
+    "is_dmn_mode_enabled",
     "load_env_vars",
     "parse_toml",
     "read_toml",
@@ -41,6 +42,14 @@ __all__ = [
 console = Console()
 
 
+def is_dmn_mode_enabled() -> bool:
+    """Return True when the enterprise non-interactive mode is enabled."""
+    value = os.environ.get("CREWAI_DMN")
+    if value is None:
+        return False
+    return value.strip().lower() not in {"", "0", "false", "no", "off"}
+
+
 def enable_prompt_line_editing() -> None:
     """Enable cursor movement/history editing for Click text prompts when available."""
     try:

lib/cli/tests/test_cli.py

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from unittest import mock
 import pytest
 from click.testing import CliRunner
 from crewai_cli.cli import (
+    create,
     deploy_create,
     deploy_list,
     deploy_logs,
@@ -157,6 +158,28 @@ def test_run_rejects_inputs_without_definition(run_flow_definition, run_crew, ru
     run_crew.assert_not_called()
 
 
+@mock.patch("crewai_cli.create_json_crew.create_json_crew")
+def test_create_crew_in_dmn_mode_skips_provider_prompts(create_json_crew, runner):
+    result = runner.invoke(create, ["crew", "DMN Crew"], env={"CREWAI_DMN": "True"})
+
+    assert result.exit_code == 0
+    create_json_crew.assert_called_once_with("DMN Crew", None, True)
+
+
+def test_create_requires_type_in_dmn_mode(runner):
+    result = runner.invoke(create, env={"CREWAI_DMN": "True"})
+
+    assert result.exit_code == 2
+    assert "TYPE is required when CREWAI_DMN is set" in result.output
+
+
+def test_create_requires_name_in_dmn_mode(runner):
+    result = runner.invoke(create, ["flow"], env={"CREWAI_DMN": "True"})
+
+    assert result.exit_code == 2
+    assert "NAME is required when CREWAI_DMN is set" in result.output
+
+
 @mock.patch("crewai_cli.cli.AuthenticationCommand")
 def test_login(command, runner):
     mock_auth = command.return_value

lib/cli/tests/test_create_crew.py

@@ -812,3 +812,34 @@ def test_json_wizard_task_reprompts_on_cancelled_agent_pick(monkeypatch):
 
     assert len(pick_calls) == 2
     assert task["agent"] == "second_agent"
+
+
+def test_json_create_dmn_mode_uses_non_interactive_defaults(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.chdir(tmp_path)
+    monkeypatch.setenv("CREWAI_DMN", "True")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        json_crew,
+        "_wizard_agents_and_tasks",
+        lambda **_: pytest.fail("DMN mode must not run the wizard"),
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        json_crew,
+        "_setup_env",
+        lambda *_args, **_kwargs: pytest.fail("DMN mode must not prompt for env vars"),
+    )
+
+    json_crew.create_json_crew("DMN Crew", provider="anthropic", skip_provider=False)
+
+    project_root = tmp_path / "dmn_crew"
+    assert (project_root / "crew.jsonc").exists()
+    assert (project_root / "agents" / "researcher.jsonc").exists()
+    assert not (project_root / ".env").exists()
+
+    crew_template = (project_root / "crew.jsonc").read_text()
+    agent_template = (project_root / "agents" / "researcher.jsonc").read_text()
+
+    assert '"memory": false' in crew_template
+    assert '"description": "Research current AI trends and write a concise summary."' in (
+        crew_template
+    )
+    assert '"llm": "anthropic/claude-opus-4-6"' in agent_template

lib/cli/tests/test_run_crew.py

@@ -402,6 +402,7 @@ def test_missing_input_names_accepts_hyphenated_placeholders():
 
 def _patch_tui_run(monkeypatch, status: str):
     """Stub the TUI pieces of _run_json_crew so only exit handling runs."""
+    monkeypatch.delenv("CREWAI_DMN", raising=False)
 
     class FakeApp:
         def __init__(self, **kwargs):
@@ -446,6 +447,84 @@ def test_run_json_crew_completed_status_returns_result(monkeypatch, tmp_path: Pa
     assert run_crew_module._run_json_crew() == "result"
 
 
+def test_run_json_crew_dmn_mode_bypasses_tui(monkeypatch, tmp_path: Path, capsys):
+    from types import SimpleNamespace
+
+    monkeypatch.chdir(tmp_path)
+    monkeypatch.setenv("CREWAI_DMN", "True")
+    crew_path = tmp_path / "crew.jsonc"
+    crew_path.write_text("{}")
+    kickoff_calls = []
+
+    class FakeCrew:
+        name = "Demo"
+        agents = [SimpleNamespace(role="Researcher", goal="Research", backstory="")]
+        tasks = [
+            SimpleNamespace(
+                description="Research",
+                expected_output="Findings",
+                output_file=None,
+            )
+        ]
+
+        def kickoff(self, inputs):
+            kickoff_calls.append(inputs)
+            return "plain result"
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(run_crew_module, "find_crew_json_file", lambda: crew_path)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        run_crew_module,
+        "_load_json_crew",
+        lambda _path: (FakeCrew(), {"topic": "AI"}),
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        run_crew_module,
+        "_load_json_crew_for_tui",
+        lambda _path: pytest.fail("DMN mode must not start the TUI loader"),
+    )
+
+    assert run_crew_module._run_json_crew() == "plain result"
+
+    captured = capsys.readouterr()
+    assert kickoff_calls == [{"topic": "AI"}]
+    assert "plain result" in captured.out
+
+
+def test_run_json_crew_dmn_mode_exits_on_missing_inputs(
+    monkeypatch, tmp_path: Path, capsys
+):
+    from types import SimpleNamespace
+
+    monkeypatch.chdir(tmp_path)
+    monkeypatch.setenv("CREWAI_DMN", "True")
+    crew_path = tmp_path / "crew.jsonc"
+    crew_path.write_text("{}")
+    crew = SimpleNamespace(
+        agents=[
+            SimpleNamespace(
+                role="Researcher",
+                goal="Research {topic}",
+                backstory="",
+            )
+        ],
+        tasks=[],
+    )
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(run_crew_module, "find_crew_json_file", lambda: crew_path)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        run_crew_module,
+        "_load_json_crew",
+        lambda _path: (crew, {}),
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as exc_info:
+        run_crew_module._run_json_crew()
+
+    captured = capsys.readouterr()
+    assert exc_info.value.code == 1
+    assert "Missing runtime inputs for CREWAI_DMN mode: topic" in captured.err
+
+
 def test_has_json_crew_defers_to_declared_flow_type(monkeypatch, tmp_path: Path):
     """A flow project containing a stray crew.jsonc must still run as a flow."""
     monkeypatch.chdir(tmp_path)

lib/cli/tests/test_utils.py

@@ -102,6 +102,23 @@ def test_tree_copy_to_existing_directory(temp_tree):
         shutil.rmtree(dest_dir)
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("value", ["1", "true", "True", "yes", "anything"])
+def test_is_dmn_mode_enabled_for_truthy_values(monkeypatch, value):
+    monkeypatch.setenv("CREWAI_DMN", value)
+
+    assert utils.is_dmn_mode_enabled() is True
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("value", [None, "", "0", "false", "no", "off"])
+def test_is_dmn_mode_enabled_for_falsey_values(monkeypatch, value):
+    if value is None:
+        monkeypatch.delenv("CREWAI_DMN", raising=False)
+    else:
+        monkeypatch.setenv("CREWAI_DMN", value)
+
+    assert utils.is_dmn_mode_enabled() is False
+
+
 # Tests for extract_available_exports, get_crews, get_flows, fetch_crews,
 # is_valid_tool live in lib/crewai/tests/cli/test_utils.py — the canonical
 # implementations are in crewai.utilities.project_utils.