> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://coldbox-elixir.ortusbooks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://coldbox-elixir.ortusbooks.com/v2/running_elixir.md).

# Running Elixir

Elixir is built on top of Gulp, so to run your Elixir tasks you only need to run the `gulp` command in your terminal, as you will already have a `Gulpfile.js` in your project root that will resemble the following:

```javascript
var elixir = require( "coldbox-elixir" );

/*
 |--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 | Elixir Asset Management
 |--------------------------------------------------------------------------
 |
 | Elixir provides a clean, fluent API for defining some basic Gulp tasks
 | for your ColdBox application. By default, we are compiling the Sass
 | file for our application, as well as publishing vendor resources.
 |
 */

elixir( function( mix ){

} );
```

Please note that by adding the `--production` flag to the command will instruct Elixir to minify your CSS and JavaScript files:

```bash
// Run all tasks...
gulp

// Run all tasks and minify all CSS and JavaScript...
gulp --production
```

You can also programmatically add a production flag into your `Gulpfile.js` by using the configuration option: `elixir.config.production` boolean flag.

## Watching Assets For Changes

Since it is inconvenient to run the gulp command on your terminal after every change to your assets, you may use the `gulp watch` command. This command will continue running in your terminal and watch your assets for any changes. When changes occur, new files will automatically be compiled or tested:

```
gulp watch
```


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://coldbox-elixir.ortusbooks.com/v2/running_elixir.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.