# auberge dns delete
Delete an A record for a subdomain
## Synopsis
```bash
auberge dns delete [-s <SUBDOMAIN>] [--dry-run] [--production] [--yes]
```
## Alias
`auberge d d`
## Description
Removes the Cloudflare A record for the given subdomain.
The command is **idempotent**: if no A record exists for the subdomain it
reports success with a clear "already gone" diagnostic instead of failing.
Confirmation is required by default. Production deletions escalate the
confirmation: the user must retype the subdomain name to proceed (sandbox
deletions use a simpler `[y/N]` prompt). Pass `--yes` to skip both prompts
in scripts or CI. When stdin is not a TTY (e.g. piped, CI), the command
exits without deleting unless `--yes` is set.
Only A records are considered. CNAME / AAAA / TXT records sharing the same
name are ignored — running this command against such a name reports
"nothing to delete" without touching them.
## Options
| -s, --subdomain | Subdomain name (omit to be prompted) | No |
| -n, --dry-run | Preview without deleting | No |
| -o, --output FORMAT | Output format (`human`, `json`) | No |
| -y, --yes | Skip confirmation prompt | No |
| -P, --production | Use production API (default: sandbox) | No |
## Examples
```bash
# Pick a subdomain interactively, confirm, then delete (sandbox)
auberge dns delete
# Explicit subdomain, interactive confirmation
auberge dns delete -s freshrss
# Preview the action without deleting
auberge dns delete -s freshrss --dry-run
# Skip confirmation (useful in scripts)
auberge dns delete -s freshrss --yes
# Production delete in CI (no prompts)
auberge dns delete -s calibre --production --yes
```
## Output Examples
### Sandbox delete
```
CLOUDFLARE DNS
Delete A record for freshrss.example.com? yes
✓ A record deleted: freshrss.example.com
```
### Production delete (typed confirmation)
```
CLOUDFLARE DNS
Type 'freshrss' to confirm production deletion: freshrss
✓ A record deleted: freshrss.example.com
```
### Dry run
```
CLOUDFLARE DNS
→ [DRY RUN] Would delete A record: freshrss.example.com
```
### Already-absent record
```
CLOUDFLARE DNS
Delete A record for freshrss.example.com? yes
→ No A record found for freshrss.example.com — nothing to delete
```
## JSON Output
> Why does `dns delete` get `--output` while `dns set` does not? See [ADR-0004](../../../meta/adr/0004-cli-structured-output.md) — the `deleted` field is load-bearing (was the record actually removed, or was it already absent?). `dns set`'s output would only echo its own input arguments.
```bash
auberge dns delete -s freshrss --yes --output json
```
```json
{ "deleted": true, "fqdn": "freshrss.example.com", "production": false }
```
Idempotent no-op (record was already absent):
```json
{ "deleted": false, "fqdn": "freshrss.example.com", "production": false }
```
JSON goes to stdout; human-format chrome (banners, info messages) goes to stderr.
**Schema**
| deleted | boolean | `true` if a record was actually removed; `false` if no record existed (idempotent no-op) (load-bearing) |
| fqdn | string | Fully-qualified domain name that was targeted |
| production | boolean | Whether the production API was used |
## Behaviour
- **Record exists**: Deletes the A record via the Cloudflare API.
- **Record absent**: Returns success with an informational message.
- **Non-A records (CNAME/AAAA/TXT) for the same name**: Ignored; reported as absent.
- **Sandbox confirmation**: Interactive `[y/N]` prompt unless `--yes` is passed.
- **Production confirmation**: User must retype the subdomain name unless `--yes` is passed.
- **Non-TTY without `--yes`**: Exits without deleting (CI-safe; no hang on stdin).
- **Dry run**: Resolves the subdomain, prints what would be deleted, exits without contacting the Cloudflare delete endpoint.
## Use Cases
**Decommission a retired app**:
```bash
auberge dns delete -s oldapp --production --yes
```
**Cut over to tailnet-only DNS** (after publishing via Tailscale):
```bash
auberge dns delete -s myapp --production --yes
```
**Verify before acting** (preview the FQDN that would be deleted):
```bash
auberge dns delete -s myapp --production --dry-run
```
## Related Commands
- [auberge dns set](set.md) - Create or update an A record
- [auberge dns list](list.md) - List all records
- [auberge dns status](status.md) - Show DNS health