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Via API

You can invoke your app by making a POST request to Kernel’s API or via the CLI. Both support passing a payload. For automations and agents that take longer than 100 seconds, use async invocations.
Synchronous invocations time out after 100 seconds.
import Kernel from '@onkernel/sdk';

const kernel = new Kernel();

const invocation = await kernel.invocations.create({
  action_name: 'analyze',
  app_name: 'my-app',
  version: '1.0.0',
});

console.log(invocation.id);

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Asynchronous invocations

For long running jobs, use asynchronous invocations to trigger Kernel actions without waiting for the result. You can then stream real-time status updates for the result.
Asynchronous invocations time out after 15 minutes.
import Kernel from '@onkernel/sdk';

const kernel = new Kernel();

const invocation = await kernel.invocations.create({
  async: true,
  action_name: 'analyze',
  app_name: 'my-app',
  version: '1.0.0',
});

console.log(invocation.id);

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Via CLI

Invoke an app action immediately via the CLI: 
kernel invoke <app_name> <action_name>

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Payload parameter

--payload allows you to invoke the action with specified parameters. This enables your action to receive and handle dynamic inputs at runtime. For example:
Payloads are stringified JSON and have a maximum size of 64 KB. For larger inputs, store data externally (e.g., object storage or database) and pass a reference (URL or ID) in the payload instead.
kernel invoke <app_name> <action_name>
    --payload '{"tshirt_size": "small", "color": "black", "shipping_address": "2 Mint Plz, San Francisco CA 94103"}'
See here to learn how to access the payload in your action method.

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Return values

If your action specifies a return value, the invocation returns its value once it completes. (The Kernel CLI uses asynchronous invocations under the hood)