Replace bt self update with bt update command

.github/workflows/release-canary.yml

@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           export PATH="${XDG_BIN_HOME:-$HOME/.local/bin}:$PATH"
           bt --version | grep -i canary
-          bt self update --check
+          bt update --check
 
   smoke-install-macos:
     needs:
@@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           export PATH="${XDG_BIN_HOME:-$HOME/.local/bin}:$PATH"
           bt --version | grep -i canary
-          bt self update --check
+          bt update --check
 
   smoke-install-windows:
     needs:
@@ -527,4 +527,4 @@ jobs:
             throw "expected canary version string, got: $version"
           }
           $env:PATH = "$binDir;$env:PATH"
-          & $btExe self update --check
+          & $btExe update --check

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -432,11 +432,11 @@ jobs:
           export PATH="${XDG_BIN_HOME:-$HOME/.local/bin}:$PATH"
           bt --version
 
-      - name: Verify self-update check
+      - name: Verify update check
         shell: bash
         run: |
           export PATH="${XDG_BIN_HOME:-$HOME/.local/bin}:$PATH"
-          bt self update --check --channel stable
+          bt update --check --channel stable
 
   smoke-install-macos:
     needs:
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           export PATH="${XDG_BIN_HOME:-$HOME/.local/bin}:$PATH"
           bt --version
-          bt self update --check --channel stable
+          bt update --check --channel stable
 
   smoke-install-windows:
     needs:
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ jobs:
           }
           & $btExe --version
           $env:PATH = "$binDir;$env:PATH"
-          & $btExe self update --check --channel stable
+          & $btExe update --check --channel stable
 
   publish-npm:
     needs:

.github/workflows/smoke-install-minimal.yml

@@ -143,5 +143,5 @@ jobs:
           export PATH="${CARGO_HOME:-$HOME/.cargo}/bin:$PATH"
           bt --version
           bt --help >/dev/null
-          bt self update --check --channel stable
-          bt self update --check --channel canary
+          bt update --check --channel stable
+          bt update --check --channel canary

README.md

@@ -65,19 +65,19 @@ curl -fsSL -O "https://github.com/braintrustdata/bt/releases/download/<tag>/bt-<
 shasum -a 256 -c "bt-<target>.tar.gz.sha256"
 ```
 
-## Self Update
+## Update
 
-`bt` can self-update when installed via the official installer.
+`bt` can update itself when installed via the official installer.
 
 ```bash
 # update on the current build channel (canary for local/dev builds, stable for official releases)
-bt self update
+bt update
 
 # check without installing
-bt self update --check
+bt update --check
 
 # switch/update to latest mainline canary
-bt self update --channel canary
+bt update --channel canary
 ```
 
 If `bt` was installed via npm, use that to update instead.
@@ -103,26 +103,26 @@ Remove-Item -Recurse -Force (Join-Path $env:APPDATA "bt") -ErrorAction SilentlyC
 ## Troubleshooting
 
 - If `bt` is not found after install, start a new shell or add `${XDG_BIN_HOME:-$HOME/.local/bin}` to your `PATH`.
-- If `bt self update --check --json` hits GitHub API limits in CI, set `GITHUB_TOKEN` in the environment.
+- If `bt update --check --json` hits GitHub API limits in CI, set `GITHUB_TOKEN` in the environment.
 - If your network blocks GitHub asset downloads, install from a machine with direct access or configure your proxy/firewall to allow `github.com` and `api.github.com`.
 
 ## Commands
 
-| Command          | Description                                                        |
-| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
-| `bt init`        | Initialize `.bt/` config directory and link to a project           |
-| `bt auth`        | Authenticate with Braintrust                                       |
-| `bt switch`      | Switch org and project context                                     |
-| `bt status`      | Show current org and project context                               |
-| `bt datasets`    | Manage datasets and dataset pipelines                              |
-| `bt eval`        | Run eval files (Unix only)                                         |
-| `bt sql`         | Run SQL queries against Braintrust                                 |
-| `bt view`        | View logs, traces, and spans                                       |
-| `bt projects`    | Manage projects (list, create, view, delete)                       |
-| `bt datasets`    | Manage remote datasets (list, create, update, view, delete)        |
-| `bt prompts`     | Manage prompts (list, view, delete)                                |
-| `bt sync`        | Synchronize project logs between Braintrust and local NDJSON files |
-| `bt self update` | Update bt in-place                                                 |
+| Command       | Description                                                        |
+| ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
+| `bt init`     | Initialize `.bt/` config directory and link to a project           |
+| `bt auth`     | Authenticate with Braintrust                                       |
+| `bt switch`   | Switch org and project context                                     |
+| `bt status`   | Show current org and project context                               |
+| `bt datasets` | Manage datasets and dataset pipelines                              |
+| `bt eval`     | Run eval files (Unix only)                                         |
+| `bt sql`      | Run SQL queries against Braintrust                                 |
+| `bt view`     | View logs, traces, and spans                                       |
+| `bt projects` | Manage projects (list, create, view, delete)                       |
+| `bt datasets` | Manage remote datasets (list, create, update, view, delete)        |
+| `bt prompts`  | Manage prompts (list, view, delete)                                |
+| `bt sync`     | Synchronize project logs between Braintrust and local NDJSON files |
+| `bt update`   | Update bt in-place                                                 |
 
 ## `bt eval`
 
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ Skill smoke-test harness:
 
 ## Roadmap / TODO
 
-- Add richer channel controls for self-update (for example pinned/branch canary selection).
+- Add richer channel controls for `bt update` (for example pinned/branch canary selection).
 - Expand release verification and smoke tests for installer flows across more architectures/environments.
 - Add `bt eval` support on Windows (today, `bt eval` is Unix-only due to Unix socket usage).
 - Add signed artifact verification guidance (signature flow) in install and upgrade docs.

src/main.rs

@@ -79,9 +79,9 @@ Data & evaluation
 
 Additional
   docs         Manage workflow docs for coding agents
-  self         Self-management commands
   setup        Configure Braintrust setup flows
   status       Show current org and project context
+  update       Update bt in-place
 
 Flags
       --profile <PROFILE>    Use a saved login profile [env: BRAINTRUST_PROFILE]
@@ -144,7 +144,9 @@ enum Commands {
     Datasets(CLIArgs<datasets::DatasetsArgs>),
     /// Manage prompts
     Prompts(CLIArgs<prompts::PromptsArgs>),
-    #[command(name = "self")]
+    /// Update bt in-place
+    Update(CLIArgs<self_update::UpdateArgs>),
+    #[command(name = "self", hide = true)]
     /// Self-management commands
     SelfCommand(CLIArgs<self_update::SelfArgs>),
     /// Manage tools
@@ -182,6 +184,7 @@ impl Commands {
             Commands::Topics(cmd) => &cmd.base,
             Commands::Datasets(cmd) => &cmd.base,
             Commands::Prompts(cmd) => &cmd.base,
+            Commands::Update(cmd) => &cmd.base,
             Commands::SelfCommand(cmd) => &cmd.base,
             Commands::Tools(cmd) => &cmd.base,
             Commands::Scorers(cmd) => &cmd.base,
@@ -208,6 +211,7 @@ impl Commands {
             Commands::Datasets(cmd) => &mut cmd.base,
             Commands::Topics(cmd) => &mut cmd.base,
             Commands::Prompts(cmd) => &mut cmd.base,
+            Commands::Update(cmd) => &mut cmd.base,
             Commands::SelfCommand(cmd) => &mut cmd.base,
             Commands::Tools(cmd) => &mut cmd.base,
             Commands::Scorers(cmd) => &mut cmd.base,
@@ -315,6 +319,15 @@ fn try_main() -> Result<()> {
             Commands::Datasets(cmd) => datasets::run(cmd.base, cmd.args).await?,
             Commands::Topics(cmd) => topics::run(cmd.base, cmd.args).await?,
             Commands::Prompts(cmd) => prompts::run(cmd.base, cmd.args).await?,
+            Commands::Update(cmd) => {
+                self_update::run(
+                    cmd.base,
+                    self_update::SelfArgs {
+                        command: self_update::SelfSubcommand::Update(cmd.args),
+                    },
+                )
+                .await?
+            }
             Commands::Tools(cmd) => tools::run(cmd.base, cmd.args).await?,
             Commands::Scorers(cmd) => scorers::run(cmd.base, cmd.args).await?,
             Commands::Functions(cmd) => functions::run(cmd.base, cmd.args).await?,

src/self_update.rs

@@ -13,9 +13,9 @@ use crate::http::DEFAULT_HTTP_TIMEOUT;
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Args)]
 #[command(after_help = "\
 Examples:
-  bt self update
-  bt self update --check
-  bt self update --channel canary
+  bt update
+  bt update --check
+  bt update --channel canary
 ")]
 pub struct SelfArgs {
     #[command(subcommand)]
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ fn ensure_installer_managed_install() -> Result<()> {
     }
 
     anyhow::bail!(
-        "self-update is only supported for installer-based installs.\ncurrent executable: {}\nif this was installed with Homebrew/apt/choco/etc, update with that package manager",
+        "update is only supported for official installer installs.\ncurrent executable: {}\nif this was installed with npm, update with npm; otherwise reinstall with the official installer",
         exe.display()
     );
 }
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ fn stable_is_up_to_date(current: &str, release_tag: &str) -> bool {
 }
 
 fn canary_check_message(latest: &str) -> String {
-    format!("latest canary release: {latest}\nrun `bt self update --channel canary` to install it")
+    format!("latest canary release: {latest}\nrun `bt update --channel canary` to install it")
 }
 
 fn parse_update_channel(raw: Option<&str>) -> Option<UpdateChannel> {
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ mod tests {
     fn canary_check_message_contains_guidance() {
         let msg = canary_check_message("0.10.0-canary.abc123def456");
         assert!(msg.contains("0.10.0-canary.abc123def456"));
-        assert!(msg.contains("bt self update --channel canary"));
+        assert!(msg.contains("bt update --channel canary"));
     }
 
     #[test]

tests/cli.rs

@@ -79,6 +79,36 @@ fn setup_verbose_is_accepted_after_subcommand() {
         .success();
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn update_help_exposes_self_update_flags() {
+    bt_command()
+        .args(["update", "--help"])
+        .assert()
+        .success()
+        .stdout(predicate::str::contains("--check"))
+        .stdout(predicate::str::contains("--channel"));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn self_update_remains_as_hidden_compatibility_path() {
+    bt_command()
+        .args(["self", "update", "--help"])
+        .assert()
+        .success()
+        .stdout(predicate::str::contains("--check"))
+        .stdout(predicate::str::contains("--channel"));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn top_level_help_shows_update_not_self() {
+    bt_command()
+        .args(["--help"])
+        .assert()
+        .success()
+        .stdout(predicate::str::contains("update       Update bt in-place"))
+        .stdout(predicate::str::contains("self         Self-management commands").not());
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn topics_report_help_accepts_global_org_short_conflict_free() {
     bt_command()