diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan-admin.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan-admin.py
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..9ec28898
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan-admin.py
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+# !/usr/bin/env python3
+import argparse
+import os
+import subprocess
+
+
+def create(args):
+    os.makedirs(args.folder, exist_ok=True)
+    # TODO create clan template in flake
+    subprocess.Popen(
+        [
+            "nix",
+            "flake",
+            "init",
+            "-t",
+            "git+https://git.clan.lol/clan/clan-core#clan-template",
+        ]
+    )
+
+
+def edit(args):
+    # TODO add some cli options to change certain options without relying on a text editor
+    clan_flake = f"{args.folder}/flake.nix"
+    if os.path.isfile(clan_flake):
+        subprocess.Popen(
+            [
+                os.environ["EDITOR"],
+                clan_flake,
+            ]
+        )
+    else:
+        print(
+            f"{args.folder} has no flake.nix, so it does not seem to be the clan root folder"
+        )
+
+
+def rebuild(args):
+    # TODO get clients from zerotier cli?
+    if args.host:
+        print(f"would redeploy {args.host} from clan {args.folder}")
+    else:
+        print(f"would redeploy all hosts from clan {args.folder}")
+
+
+def destroy(args):
+    # TODO get clan folder & hosts from somwhere (maybe ~/.config/clan/$name /)
+    # send some kind of kill signal, then remove the folder
+    if args.yes:
+        print(f"would remove {args.folder}")
+    else:
+        print(
+            "are you really sure? this is non reversible and destructive, add --yes to confirm"
+        )
+
+
+def backup(args):
+    if args.host:
+        print(f"would backup {args.host} from clan {args.folder}")
+    else:
+        print(f"would backup all hosts from clan {args.folder}")
+
+
+def git(args):
+    subprocess.Popen(
+        [
+            "git",
+            "-C",
+            args.folder,
+        ] + args.git_args
+    )
+
+
+parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="clan-admin")
+parser.add_argument(
+    "-f",
+    "--folder",
+    help="the folder where the clan is defined, default to the current folder",
+    default=os.environ["PWD"],
+)
+subparser = parser.add_subparsers(
+    title="command",
+    description="the command to run",
+    help="the command to run",
+    required=True,
+)
+
+parser_create = subparser.add_parser("create", help="create a new clan")
+parser_create.set_defaults(func=create)
+
+parser_edit = subparser.add_parser("edit", help="edit a clan")
+parser_edit.set_defaults(func=edit)
+
+parser_rebuild = subparser.add_parser(
+    "rebuild", help="build configuration of a clan and push it to the target"
+)
+parser_rebuild.add_argument(
+    "--host", help="specify single host to rebuild", default=None
+)
+parser_rebuild.set_defaults(func=rebuild)
+
+parser_destroy = subparser.add_parser(
+    "destroy", help="destroy a clan, including all the machines"
+)
+parser_destroy.add_argument(
+    "--yes", help="specify single host to rebuild", action="store_true"
+)
+parser_destroy.set_defaults(func=destroy)
+
+parser_backup = subparser.add_parser(
+    "backup", help="backup all the state of all machines in a clan or just a single one"
+)
+parser_backup.add_argument(
+    "--host", help="specify single host to rebuild", default=None
+)
+parser_backup.set_defaults(func=backup)
+
+parser_git = subparser.add_parser("git", help="control the clan repo via git")
+parser_git.add_argument("git_args", nargs="*")
+parser_git.set_defaults(func=git)
+
+args = parser.parse_args()
+args.func(args)
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan.py
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..8528c2b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# !/usr/bin/env python3
+import sys
+import subprocess
+
+
+def showhelp():
+    print('''
+    usage:
+    clan admin ...
+    clan join ...
+    clan delete ...
+    ''')
+
+
+try:
+    cmd = f'clan-{sys.argv[1]}'
+except:  # noqa
+    showhelp()
+
+try:
+    subprocess.Popen([cmd] + sys.argv[2:])
+except FileNotFoundError:
+    print(f'command {cmd} not found')
+    exit(2)
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/default.nix b/pkgs/clan-cli/default.nix
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dc2da835
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/default.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+{ symlinkJoin
+, writers
+}:
+symlinkJoin {
+  name = "clan";
+  paths = [
+    (writers.writePython3Bin "clan" {} ./clan.py)
+    (writers.writePython3Bin "clan-admin" { flakeIgnore = [ "E501" ]; } ./clan-admin.py)
+  ];
+}