diff --git a/internal/commands/activity.go b/internal/commands/activity.go
index 86c6a2d..c509399 100644
--- a/internal/commands/activity.go
+++ b/internal/commands/activity.go
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ func newActivityListCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(events, fmt.Sprintf("%d events", len(events)),
 					output.Breadcrumb{Action: "stats", Cmd: "dhq activity stats"},
 				))
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ func newActivityStatsCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(result, "Account activity with stats",
 					output.Breadcrumb{Action: "events", Cmd: "dhq activity list"},
 				))
diff --git a/internal/commands/assist.go b/internal/commands/assist.go
index 8d65364..4b1dc57 100644
--- a/internal/commands/assist.go
+++ b/internal/commands/assist.go
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ All data stays on your machine — nothing is sent to external services.`,
 			messages := assist.BuildMessages(contextStr, question)
 
 			// Stream to TTY, or return complete response for JSON/pipe
-			if env.IsTTY && !env.JSONMode && !noStream {
+			if env.IsTTY && !env.WantsJSON() && !noStream {
 				env.Status("")
 				fmt.Fprint(env.Stderr, "✨ ") //nolint:errcheck
 				return ollama.ChatStream(cliCtx.Background(), messages, env.Stderr)
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ All data stays on your machine — nothing is sent to external services.`,
 				return err
 			}
 
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(
 					map[string]string{"answer": response, "model": ollama.Model},
 					"assist response",
diff --git a/internal/commands/auto_deploys.go b/internal/commands/auto_deploys.go
index cdbdcca..182693e 100644
--- a/internal/commands/auto_deploys.go
+++ b/internal/commands/auto_deploys.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ Use these commands to enable, disable, and list auto-deploy configuration per se
 					return err
 				}
 				env := cliCtx.Envelope
-				if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+				if env.WantsJSON() {
 					return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(result, fmt.Sprintf("Auto deploy URL: %s", result.WebhookURL)))
 				}
 				env.Status("Webhook URL: %s", result.WebhookURL)
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ func newAutoDeploysEnableCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				action := "Enabled"
 				if disable {
 					action = "Disabled"
diff --git a/internal/commands/build_cache_files.go b/internal/commands/build_cache_files.go
index 0901a2a..f9bace1 100644
--- a/internal/commands/build_cache_files.go
+++ b/internal/commands/build_cache_files.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ The cache can be bypassed for a single deploy with "dhq deployments create --use
 					return err
 				}
 				env := cliCtx.Envelope
-				if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+				if env.WantsJSON() {
 					return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(files, fmt.Sprintf("%d build cache files", len(files))))
 				}
 				rows := make([][]string, len(files))
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ func newBuildCacheFilesCreateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(f, fmt.Sprintf("Created: %s", f.Path)))
 			}
 			env.Status("Created build cache file: %s", f.Path)
diff --git a/internal/commands/build_commands.go b/internal/commands/build_commands.go
index bd9f27f..d754360 100644
--- a/internal/commands/build_commands.go
+++ b/internal/commands/build_commands.go
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ The output of build commands becomes the artifact that gets deployed. Each comma
 					return err
 				}
 				env := cliCtx.Envelope
-				if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+				if env.WantsJSON() {
 					return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(cmds, fmt.Sprintf("%d build commands", len(cmds)),
 						output.Breadcrumb{Action: "update", Cmd: "dhq build-commands update <identifier> -p <project> --command <cmd>"},
 						output.Breadcrumb{Action: "delete", Cmd: "dhq build-commands delete <identifier> -p <project>"},
diff --git a/internal/commands/build_configs.go b/internal/commands/build_configs.go
index 1af2584..21a3b01 100644
--- a/internal/commands/build_configs.go
+++ b/internal/commands/build_configs.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func newBuildConfigsCmd() *cobra.Command {
 					return err
 				}
 				env := cliCtx.Envelope
-				if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+				if env.WantsJSON() {
 					return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(configs, fmt.Sprintf("%d build configs", len(configs))))
 				}
 				rows := make([][]string, len(configs))
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ func newBuildConfigsCreateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(config, fmt.Sprintf("Created: %s", config.Identifier)))
 			}
 			env.Status("Created build config: %s", config.Identifier)
diff --git a/internal/commands/build_known_hosts.go b/internal/commands/build_known_hosts.go
index 37e7f49..00b9415 100644
--- a/internal/commands/build_known_hosts.go
+++ b/internal/commands/build_known_hosts.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func newBuildKnownHostsCmd() *cobra.Command {
 					return err
 				}
 				env := cliCtx.Envelope
-				if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+				if env.WantsJSON() {
 					return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(hosts, fmt.Sprintf("%d build known hosts", len(hosts))))
 				}
 				rows := make([][]string, len(hosts))
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func newBuildKnownHostsCreateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(h, fmt.Sprintf("Created: %s", h.Hostname)))
 			}
 			env.Status("Created build known host: %s", h.Hostname)
diff --git a/internal/commands/build_languages.go b/internal/commands/build_languages.go
index 2a06476..1d23414 100644
--- a/internal/commands/build_languages.go
+++ b/internal/commands/build_languages.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func newBuildLanguagesSetCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(lang, lang.Name+" "+lang.Version))
 			}
 			env.Status("Set %s to version %s", lang.Name, lang.Version)
diff --git a/internal/commands/config_files.go b/internal/commands/config_files.go
index 310963a..b3538bf 100644
--- a/internal/commands/config_files.go
+++ b/internal/commands/config_files.go
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func newConfigFilesListCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(files, fmt.Sprintf("%d config files", len(files))))
 			}
 			rows := make([][]string, len(files))
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ func newConfigFilesShowCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(f, f.Path))
 			}
 			env.WriteTable([]string{"Field", "Value"}, [][]string{
diff --git a/internal/commands/deploy.go b/internal/commands/deploy.go
index 37abb72..9402238 100644
--- a/internal/commands/deploy.go
+++ b/internal/commands/deploy.go
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ func newDeployCmd() *cobra.Command {
 					return err
 				}
 
-				if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+				if env.WantsJSON() {
 					return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(preview,
 						fmt.Sprintf("Preview %s created (status: %s)", preview.Identifier, preview.Status),
 						output.Breadcrumb{Action: "execute", Cmd: deployExecuteCmd(projectID, server, branch)},
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ func newDeployCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(dep,
 					fmt.Sprintf("Deployment %s queued", dep.Identifier),
 					output.Breadcrumb{Action: "watch", Cmd: fmt.Sprintf("dhq deployments watch %s -p %s", dep.Identifier, projectID), Resource: "deployment", ID: dep.Identifier},
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ func newRetryCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(dep,
 					fmt.Sprintf("Retry deployment %s queued", dep.Identifier),
 					output.Breadcrumb{Action: "status", Cmd: fmt.Sprintf("dhq deployments show %s -p %s", dep.Identifier, projectID)},
@@ -548,7 +548,7 @@ func newRollbackCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(dep,
 					fmt.Sprintf("Rollback deployment %s queued", dep.Identifier),
 					output.Breadcrumb{Action: "status", Cmd: fmt.Sprintf("dhq deployments show %s -p %s", dep.Identifier, projectID)},
diff --git a/internal/commands/deployment_checks.go b/internal/commands/deployment_checks.go
index fd6fce8..642a20a 100644
--- a/internal/commands/deployment_checks.go
+++ b/internal/commands/deployment_checks.go
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ Three check types are supported:
 					return err
 				}
 				env := cliCtx.Envelope
-				if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+				if env.WantsJSON() {
 					return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(checks, fmt.Sprintf("%d deployment checks", len(checks))))
 				}
 				rows := make([][]string, len(checks))
diff --git a/internal/commands/deployments.go b/internal/commands/deployments.go
index 9eb1f20..a9ee4fe 100644
--- a/internal/commands/deployments.go
+++ b/internal/commands/deployments.go
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ func newDeploymentsListCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewPaginatedResponse(result.Records,
 					output.Pagination{
 						CurrentPage:  result.Pagination.CurrentPage,
@@ -77,6 +77,15 @@ func newDeploymentsListCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				))
 			}
 
+			if env.QuietMode {
+				identifiers := make([]string, len(result.Records))
+				for i, d := range result.Records {
+					identifiers[i] = d.Identifier
+				}
+				env.WriteQuiet(identifiers)
+				return nil
+			}
+
 			columns := []string{"Identifier", "Status", "Branch", "Deployer", "Queued"}
 			rows := make([][]string, len(result.Records))
 			for i, d := range result.Records {
@@ -137,7 +146,7 @@ func newDeploymentsShowCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				crumbs := []output.Breadcrumb{
 					{Action: "logs", Cmd: fmt.Sprintf("dhq deployments logs %s -p %s", dep.Identifier, projectID)},
 				}
@@ -263,7 +272,7 @@ func newDeploymentsCreateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(dep,
 					fmt.Sprintf("Deployment %s queued", dep.Identifier),
 					output.Breadcrumb{Action: "status", Cmd: fmt.Sprintf("dhq deployments show %s -p %s", dep.Identifier, projectID)},
@@ -306,7 +315,7 @@ func newDeploymentsRetryCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(dep,
 					fmt.Sprintf("Retry deployment %s queued", dep.Identifier),
 					output.Breadcrumb{Action: "status", Cmd: fmt.Sprintf("dhq deployments show %s -p %s", dep.Identifier, projectID)},
@@ -367,7 +376,7 @@ func newDeploymentsRollbackCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(dep,
 					fmt.Sprintf("Rollback deployment %s queued", dep.Identifier),
 					output.Breadcrumb{Action: "status", Cmd: fmt.Sprintf("dhq deployments show %s -p %s", dep.Identifier, projectID)},
@@ -436,7 +445,7 @@ func newDeploymentsLogsCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(logs, fmt.Sprintf("%d log entries", len(logs))))
 			}
 
diff --git a/internal/commands/doctor.go b/internal/commands/doctor.go
index 0a41f01..e4fc8e7 100644
--- a/internal/commands/doctor.go
+++ b/internal/commands/doctor.go
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ func newDoctorCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			// Output
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(checks, "Health check complete"))
 			}
 
diff --git a/internal/commands/env_vars.go b/internal/commands/env_vars.go
index 1547424..df8526e 100644
--- a/internal/commands/env_vars.go
+++ b/internal/commands/env_vars.go
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ func newEnvVarsListCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(vars, fmt.Sprintf("%d environment variables", len(vars))))
 			}
 			rows := make([][]string, len(vars))
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ func newEnvVarsCreateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(v, fmt.Sprintf("Created: %s", v.Name)))
 			}
 			env.Status("Created environment variable: %s", v.Name)
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ Project-level variables ("dhq env-vars") with the same name override globals for
 					return err
 				}
 				env := cliCtx.Envelope
-				if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+				if env.WantsJSON() {
 					return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(vars, fmt.Sprintf("%d global env vars", len(vars))))
 				}
 				rows := make([][]string, len(vars))
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ func newGlobalEnvVarsCreateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(v, fmt.Sprintf("Created: %s", v.Name)))
 			}
 			env.Status("Created global env var: %s", v.Name)
diff --git a/internal/commands/excluded_files.go b/internal/commands/excluded_files.go
index db6c4e8..4491778 100644
--- a/internal/commands/excluded_files.go
+++ b/internal/commands/excluded_files.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ Patterns are evaluated against repository paths and apply per-project. Each excl
 					return err
 				}
 				env := cliCtx.Envelope
-				if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+				if env.WantsJSON() {
 					return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(files, fmt.Sprintf("%d excluded files", len(files))))
 				}
 				rows := make([][]string, len(files))
diff --git a/internal/commands/global_config_files.go b/internal/commands/global_config_files.go
index 0c83c7f..07c4ff4 100644
--- a/internal/commands/global_config_files.go
+++ b/internal/commands/global_config_files.go
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ func newGlobalConfigFilesCmd() *cobra.Command {
 					return err
 				}
 				env := cliCtx.Envelope
-				if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+				if env.WantsJSON() {
 					return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(files, fmt.Sprintf("%d global config files", len(files))))
 				}
 				rows := make([][]string, len(files))
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ func newGlobalConfigFilesCmd() *cobra.Command {
 					return err
 				}
 				env := cliCtx.Envelope
-				if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+				if env.WantsJSON() {
 					return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(f, f.Name))
 				}
 				env.WriteTable([]string{"Field", "Value"}, [][]string{
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ func newGlobalConfigFilesCreateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(f, fmt.Sprintf("Created: %s", f.Name)))
 			}
 			env.Status("Created global config file: %s (%s)", f.Name, f.Identifier)
diff --git a/internal/commands/global_servers.go b/internal/commands/global_servers.go
index 04e47be..3c27f97 100644
--- a/internal/commands/global_servers.go
+++ b/internal/commands/global_servers.go
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ Useful for shared infrastructure (e.g., a single CDN bucket or a shared Heroku s
 					return err
 				}
 				env := cliCtx.Envelope
-				if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+				if env.WantsJSON() {
 					return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(servers, fmt.Sprintf("%d global servers", len(servers))))
 				}
 				rows := make([][]string, len(servers))
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ func newGlobalServersCreateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(s, fmt.Sprintf("Created: %s", s.Name)))
 			}
 			env.Status("Created global server: %s (%s)", s.Name, s.Identifier)
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ func newIntegrationsCmd() *cobra.Command {
 					return err
 				}
 				env := cliCtx.Envelope
-				if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+				if env.WantsJSON() {
 					return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(integrations, fmt.Sprintf("%d integrations", len(integrations))))
 				}
 				rows := make([][]string, len(integrations))
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ func newIntegrationsCreateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(ig, fmt.Sprintf("Created: %s", ig.Name)))
 			}
 			env.Status("Created integration: %s (%s)", ig.Name, ig.Identifier)
diff --git a/internal/commands/insights.go b/internal/commands/insights.go
index f22853a..62113ab 100644
--- a/internal/commands/insights.go
+++ b/internal/commands/insights.go
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ func newInsightsCmd() *cobra.Command {
 
 func renderInsights(insights map[string]interface{}, projectID string) error {
 	env := cliCtx.Envelope
-	if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+	if env.WantsJSON() {
 		return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(insights,
 			fmt.Sprintf("Insights for project: %s", projectID),
 		))
diff --git a/internal/commands/language_versions.go b/internal/commands/language_versions.go
index 6a4747d..7c3c3f9 100644
--- a/internal/commands/language_versions.go
+++ b/internal/commands/language_versions.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func newLanguageVersionsCmd() *cobra.Command {
 					return err
 				}
 				env := cliCtx.Envelope
-				if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+				if env.WantsJSON() {
 					return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(versions, fmt.Sprintf("%d languages available", len(versions))))
 				}
 
diff --git a/internal/commands/network_agents.go b/internal/commands/network_agents.go
index feec968..6d6d5b6 100644
--- a/internal/commands/network_agents.go
+++ b/internal/commands/network_agents.go
@@ -29,9 +29,17 @@ Manage agents at the account level here, then attach one to an individual server
 					return err
 				}
 				env := cliCtx.Envelope
-				if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+				if env.WantsJSON() {
 					return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(agents, fmt.Sprintf("%d agents", len(agents))))
 				}
+				if env.QuietMode {
+					identifiers := make([]string, len(agents))
+					for i, a := range agents {
+						identifiers[i] = a.Identifier
+					}
+					env.WriteQuiet(identifiers)
+					return nil
+				}
 				rows := make([][]string, len(agents))
 				for i, a := range agents {
 					online := "offline"
diff --git a/internal/commands/phase3_test.go b/internal/commands/phase3_test.go
index 865ce1b..add3e67 100644
--- a/internal/commands/phase3_test.go
+++ b/internal/commands/phase3_test.go
@@ -36,6 +36,71 @@ func TestCommandTree_AllRegistered(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Contains(t, out, "doctor")
 }
 
+func TestParseJSONFlag(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		raw        string
+		wantJSON   bool
+		wantFields []string
+	}{
+		// Not set → auto behaviour
+		{"", false, nil},
+
+		// Truthy → force JSON, no field selection
+		{"true", true, nil},
+		{"TRUE", true, nil},
+		{"1", true, nil},
+		{"yes", true, nil},
+		{"on", true, nil},
+
+		// Falsy → explicit opt-out, preserves auto behaviour (the bug fix:
+		// previously --json=false silently filtered to {} because "false"
+		// was treated as a field name).
+		{"false", false, nil},
+		{"False", false, nil},
+		{"0", false, nil},
+		{"no", false, nil},
+		{"off", false, nil},
+
+		// Field selection → force JSON, pick fields
+		{"name", true, []string{"name"}},
+		{"name,permalink", true, []string{"name", "permalink"}},
+		{"name,permalink,zone", true, []string{"name", "permalink", "zone"}},
+
+		// Whitespace tolerance — quoted args can pick up stray spaces
+		{"name, permalink", true, []string{"name", "permalink"}},
+		{" name , permalink ", true, []string{"name", "permalink"}},
+		{"name,,permalink", true, []string{"name", "permalink"}},
+		{"name,permalink,", true, []string{"name", "permalink"}},
+
+		// Whitespace-only / commas-only → treat as bare --json
+		{"   ", true, nil},
+		{",,,", true, nil},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range cases {
+		t.Run("raw="+tc.raw, func(t *testing.T) {
+			gotJSON, gotFields := parseJSONFlag(tc.raw)
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.wantJSON, gotJSON, "JSON mode mismatch")
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.wantFields, gotFields, "fields mismatch")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestGlobalOutputFlags_Registered(t *testing.T) {
+	cmd := NewRootCmd("test")
+	var stdout bytes.Buffer
+	cmd.SetOut(&stdout)
+	cmd.SetArgs([]string{"projects", "list", "--help"})
+
+	err := cmd.Execute()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	out := stdout.String()
+	assert.Contains(t, out, "--table", "table flag should be available globally")
+	assert.Contains(t, out, "--quiet", "quiet flag should be available globally")
+	assert.Contains(t, out, "-q,", "quiet should have -q shorthand")
+	assert.Contains(t, out, "--json=false to opt out", "json help should mention opt-out")
+}
+
 func TestProjectsSubcommands(t *testing.T) {
 	cmd := NewRootCmd("test")
 	var stdout bytes.Buffer
diff --git a/internal/commands/projects.go b/internal/commands/projects.go
index 2dacac0..d148908 100644
--- a/internal/commands/projects.go
+++ b/internal/commands/projects.go
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ func newProjectsListCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			})
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(projects,
 					fmt.Sprintf("%d projects", len(projects)),
 					output.Breadcrumb{Action: "show", Cmd: "dhq projects show <permalink>"},
@@ -68,6 +68,15 @@ func newProjectsListCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				))
 			}
 
+			if env.QuietMode {
+				permalinks := make([]string, len(projects))
+				for i, p := range projects {
+					permalinks[i] = p.Permalink
+				}
+				env.WriteQuiet(permalinks)
+				return nil
+			}
+
 			columns := []string{"*", "Name", "Permalink", "Zone", "Last Deployed"}
 			rows := make([][]string, len(projects))
 			for i, p := range projects {
@@ -115,7 +124,7 @@ func newProjectsShowCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(project,
 					fmt.Sprintf("Project: %s", project.Name),
 					output.Breadcrumb{Action: "servers", Cmd: fmt.Sprintf("dhq servers list -p %s", project.Permalink)},
@@ -197,7 +206,7 @@ func newProjectsCreateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(project,
 					fmt.Sprintf("Created project: %s", project.Name),
 					output.Breadcrumb{Action: "servers", Cmd: fmt.Sprintf("dhq servers create -p %s --name <name> --protocol-type ssh", project.Permalink)},
@@ -275,7 +284,7 @@ func newProjectsUpdateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(project, fmt.Sprintf("Updated project: %s", project.Name)))
 			}
 			env.Status("Updated project: %s", project.Name)
@@ -408,7 +417,7 @@ func newProjectsUploadKeyCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(project, fmt.Sprintf("Uploaded key for project: %s", project.Name)))
 			}
 			env.Status("Uploaded custom key for project: %s", project.Name)
@@ -443,7 +452,7 @@ func newProjectsBadgeCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(
 					map[string]string{"svg": string(badge)},
 					fmt.Sprintf("Status badge for project: %s", projectID),
diff --git a/internal/commands/repos.go b/internal/commands/repos.go
index adfeb82..149ca8b 100644
--- a/internal/commands/repos.go
+++ b/internal/commands/repos.go
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ func newReposShowCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(repo,
 					fmt.Sprintf("Repository: %s (%s)", repo.URL, repo.ScmType),
 					output.Breadcrumb{Action: "branches", Cmd: fmt.Sprintf("dhq repos branches -p %s", projectID)},
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ func newReposCreateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			project, projErr := client.GetProject(cliCtx.Background(), projectID)
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				breadcrumbs := []output.Breadcrumb{}
 				if projErr == nil && project.PublicKey != "" {
 					breadcrumbs = append(breadcrumbs, deployKeyBreadcrumbs(url, project.PublicKey, projectID)...)
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ func newReposUpdateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(repo, "Repository updated",
 					output.Breadcrumb{Action: "show", Cmd: fmt.Sprintf("dhq repos show -p %s", projectID)},
 					output.Breadcrumb{Action: "branches", Cmd: fmt.Sprintf("dhq repos branches -p %s", projectID)},
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ func newReposBranchesCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(branches, fmt.Sprintf("%d branches", len(branches))))
 			}
 
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ func newReposCommitsCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(result,
 					fmt.Sprintf("%d commits, %d tags", len(result.Commits), len(result.Tags))))
 			}
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ func newReposCommitInfoCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(commit,
 					fmt.Sprintf("Commit: %s", commit.Ref),
 					output.Breadcrumb{Action: "deploy", Cmd: fmt.Sprintf("dhq deploy -p %s --revision %s", projectID, commit.Ref)},
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ func newReposLatestRevisionCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(map[string]string{"ref": rev}, rev,
 					output.Breadcrumb{Action: "deploy", Cmd: fmt.Sprintf("dhq deploy -p %s --revision %s", projectID, rev)},
 				))
diff --git a/internal/commands/root.go b/internal/commands/root.go
index 031bb29..3dac90c 100644
--- a/internal/commands/root.go
+++ b/internal/commands/root.go
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ var (
 	flagAPIKey         string
 	flagProject        string
 	flagJSON           string
+	flagTable          bool
+	flagQuiet          bool
 	flagCwd            string
 	flagHost           string
 	flagNonInteractive bool
@@ -76,12 +78,15 @@ Support: support@deployhq.com`,
 			logger := output.NewLogger()
 			env := output.NewEnvelope(logger)
 
-			// Handle --json flag
-			if flagJSON != "" {
-				env.JSONMode = true
-				if flagJSON != "true" && flagJSON != "1" {
-					env.JSONFields = strings.Split(flagJSON, ",")
-				}
+			env.JSONMode, env.JSONFields = parseJSONFlag(flagJSON)
+
+			// --table forces table output even when piped. --quiet prints
+			// only key identifiers, one per line, suitable for piping to
+			// grep/xargs/etc. --quiet wins if both are set.
+			env.TableMode = flagTable
+			env.QuietMode = flagQuiet
+			if flagTable && flagQuiet {
+				env.TableMode = false
 			}
 
 			// Detect agent mode
@@ -151,8 +156,10 @@ Support: support@deployhq.com`,
 	pf.StringVar(&flagEmail, "email", "", "Authentication email")
 	pf.StringVar(&flagAPIKey, "api-key", "", "API key")
 	pf.StringVarP(&flagProject, "project", "p", "", "Project permalink or identifier")
-	pf.StringVar(&flagJSON, "json", "", "Output as JSON (optionally specify fields: --json name,status)")
+	pf.StringVar(&flagJSON, "json", "", "Output as JSON (optionally specify fields: --json name,status). Use --json=false to opt out.")
 	pf.Lookup("json").NoOptDefVal = "true"
+	pf.BoolVar(&flagTable, "table", false, "Force table output, even when piped")
+	pf.BoolVarP(&flagQuiet, "quiet", "q", false, "Print only the key identifier of each row, one per line (for grep/xargs)")
 	pf.StringVarP(&flagCwd, "cwd", "C", "", "Change working directory before running")
 	pf.BoolVar(&flagNonInteractive, "non-interactive", false, "Never prompt; fail with actionable errors on ambiguity")
 	pf.StringVar(&flagHost, "host", "", "API host override (e.g. deployhq.dev for staging)")
@@ -241,10 +248,48 @@ Support: support@deployhq.com`,
 	return root
 }
 
+// parseJSONFlag interprets the --json flag value.
+//
+//   - ""                          → not set; auto behaviour (TTY=table, pipe=JSON)
+//   - "true"/"1"/"yes"/"on"       → force JSON, all fields
+//   - "false"/"0"/"no"/"off"      → explicit opt-out; auto behaviour
+//   - "name, permalink"           → force JSON, only those fields (whitespace trimmed)
+//
+// The opt-out values matter because cobra parses --json=false as flagJSON="false"
+// (a string), not as a bool. Without this branch, "false" would be treated as a
+// field name and silently return {} from every command.
+//
+// Field tokens are trimmed and empty tokens dropped, so "--json= name , permalink ,"
+// becomes ["name", "permalink"] rather than silently losing a field to whitespace.
+func parseJSONFlag(raw string) (jsonMode bool, fields []string) {
+	if raw == "" {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+	switch strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(raw)) {
+	case "false", "0", "no", "off":
+		return false, nil
+	case "true", "1", "yes", "on":
+		return true, nil
+	}
+	parts := strings.Split(raw, ",")
+	fields = fields[:0:0]
+	for _, p := range parts {
+		if p = strings.TrimSpace(p); p != "" {
+			fields = append(fields, p)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(fields) == 0 {
+		// All tokens were whitespace — treat as bare --json
+		return true, nil
+	}
+	return true, fields
+}
+
 // IsJSONMode returns true if --json was passed or output is piped (non-TTY).
+// Respects --table and --quiet overrides via Envelope.WantsJSON().
 func IsJSONMode() bool {
 	if cliCtx != nil {
-		return cliCtx.Envelope.JSONMode || !cliCtx.Envelope.IsTTY
+		return cliCtx.Envelope.WantsJSON()
 	}
 	return flagJSON != ""
 }
diff --git a/internal/commands/scheduled_deploys.go b/internal/commands/scheduled_deploys.go
index 580d702..ab3004f 100644
--- a/internal/commands/scheduled_deploys.go
+++ b/internal/commands/scheduled_deploys.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func newScheduledDeploysCmd() *cobra.Command {
 					return err
 				}
 				env := cliCtx.Envelope
-				if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+				if env.WantsJSON() {
 					return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(result, fmt.Sprintf("%d scheduled deployments", len(result))))
 				}
 				rows := make([][]string, len(result))
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ func newScheduledDeploysUpdateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(s, fmt.Sprintf("Updated scheduled deployment: %s", s.Identifier)))
 			}
 			env.Status("Updated scheduled deployment: %s (%s at %s)", s.Identifier, s.Frequency, s.At)
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ func newScheduledDeploysCreateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(s, fmt.Sprintf("Created scheduled deployment: %s", s.Identifier)))
 			}
 			env.Status("Created scheduled deployment: %s (%s at %s)", s.Identifier, s.Frequency, s.At)
diff --git a/internal/commands/server_groups.go b/internal/commands/server_groups.go
index 5f31070..9a8bbc5 100644
--- a/internal/commands/server_groups.go
+++ b/internal/commands/server_groups.go
@@ -52,10 +52,19 @@ func newServerGroupsListCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(groups, fmt.Sprintf("%d server groups", len(groups))))
 			}
 
+			if env.QuietMode {
+				identifiers := make([]string, len(groups))
+				for i, g := range groups {
+					identifiers[i] = g.Identifier
+				}
+				env.WriteQuiet(identifiers)
+				return nil
+			}
+
 			columns := []string{"Name", "Identifier", "Servers", "Environment"}
 			rows := make([][]string, len(groups))
 			for i, g := range groups {
@@ -96,7 +105,7 @@ func newServerGroupsShowCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(group, fmt.Sprintf("Server group: %s", group.Name)))
 			}
 
@@ -153,7 +162,7 @@ func newServerGroupsCreateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(group, fmt.Sprintf("Created server group: %s", group.Name)))
 			}
 			env.Status("Created server group: %s (%s)", group.Name, group.Identifier)
@@ -189,7 +198,7 @@ func newServerGroupsUpdateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(group, fmt.Sprintf("Updated server group: %s", group.Name)))
 			}
 			env.Status("Updated server group: %s", group.Name)
diff --git a/internal/commands/servers.go b/internal/commands/servers.go
index e427350..8376b12 100644
--- a/internal/commands/servers.go
+++ b/internal/commands/servers.go
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ func newServersListCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(servers,
 					fmt.Sprintf("%d servers", len(servers)),
 					output.Breadcrumb{Action: "show", Cmd: fmt.Sprintf("dhq servers show <id> -p %s", projectID)},
@@ -64,6 +64,15 @@ func newServersListCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				))
 			}
 
+			if env.QuietMode {
+				identifiers := make([]string, len(servers))
+				for i, s := range servers {
+					identifiers[i] = s.Identifier
+				}
+				env.WriteQuiet(identifiers)
+				return nil
+			}
+
 			columns := []string{"Name", "Identifier", "Protocol", "Branch", "Enabled"}
 			rows := make([][]string, len(servers))
 			for i, s := range servers {
@@ -109,7 +118,7 @@ func newServersShowCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(server,
 					fmt.Sprintf("Server: %s", server.Name),
 					output.Breadcrumb{Action: "deploy", Cmd: fmt.Sprintf("dhq deploy -p %s", projectID)},
@@ -316,7 +325,7 @@ func newServersCreateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				}
 			}
 
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(server, fmt.Sprintf("Created server: %s", server.Name)))
 			}
 			env.Status("Created server: %s (%s)", server.Name, server.Identifier)
@@ -396,7 +405,7 @@ func newServersUpdateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(server, fmt.Sprintf("Updated server: %s", server.Name)))
 			}
 			env.Status("Updated server: %s", server.Name)
diff --git a/internal/commands/signup.go b/internal/commands/signup.go
index 63c8279..af1e7cd 100644
--- a/internal/commands/signup.go
+++ b/internal/commands/signup.go
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ func newSignupCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				env.Status("API key: %s", result.APIKey)
 			}
 
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(result,
 					fmt.Sprintf("Account created: %s", result.Account.Subdomain),
 					output.Breadcrumb{Action: "login", Cmd: "dhq auth login"},
diff --git a/internal/commands/ssh_commands.go b/internal/commands/ssh_commands.go
index 5362000..a337190 100644
--- a/internal/commands/ssh_commands.go
+++ b/internal/commands/ssh_commands.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ Build commands run on the build server; SSH commands run on the deploy target.`,
 					return err
 				}
 				env := cliCtx.Envelope
-				if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+				if env.WantsJSON() {
 					return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(cmds, fmt.Sprintf("%d SSH commands", len(cmds))))
 				}
 				rows := make([][]string, len(cmds))
diff --git a/internal/commands/ssh_keys.go b/internal/commands/ssh_keys.go
index 264ebb0..503f4ad 100644
--- a/internal/commands/ssh_keys.go
+++ b/internal/commands/ssh_keys.go
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ Centralizing keys here means rotation is one update instead of touching every se
 					return err
 				}
 				env := cliCtx.Envelope
-				if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+				if env.WantsJSON() {
 					return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(keys, fmt.Sprintf("%d SSH keys", len(keys))))
 				}
 				rows := make([][]string, len(keys))
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ func newSSHKeysCreateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(k, fmt.Sprintf("Created: %s", k.Title)))
 			}
 			env.Status("Created SSH key: %s (%s)", k.Title, k.KeyType)
diff --git a/internal/commands/status.go b/internal/commands/status.go
index 98ac2f6..72183fd 100644
--- a/internal/commands/status.go
+++ b/internal/commands/status.go
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ func newStatusCmd() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(result, "Account status",
 					output.Breadcrumb{Action: "activity", Cmd: "dhq activity list"},
 					output.Breadcrumb{Action: "projects", Cmd: "dhq projects list"},
diff --git a/internal/commands/templates.go b/internal/commands/templates.go
index 01bfdd3..230452b 100644
--- a/internal/commands/templates.go
+++ b/internal/commands/templates.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func newTemplatesListCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(templates,
 					fmt.Sprintf("%d templates", len(templates)),
 					output.Breadcrumb{Action: "create", Cmd: "dhq templates create --name <name>"},
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func newTemplatesPublicCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(templates,
 					fmt.Sprintf("%d public templates", len(templates)),
 				))
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ func newTemplatesCreateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(tmpl,
 					fmt.Sprintf("Created template: %s", tmpl.Name),
 				))
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ func newTemplatesUpdateCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(tmpl, fmt.Sprintf("Updated template: %s", tmpl.Name)))
 			}
 			env.Status("Updated template: %s", tmpl.Name)
diff --git a/internal/commands/test_access.go b/internal/commands/test_access.go
index c9cd179..3ba2b59 100644
--- a/internal/commands/test_access.go
+++ b/internal/commands/test_access.go
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ func newTestAccessCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			if !wait {
-				if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+				if env.WantsJSON() {
 					return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(run,
 						fmt.Sprintf("Test access %s started", run.Identifier),
 						output.Breadcrumb{Action: "results", Cmd: fmt.Sprintf("dhq test-access show %s -p %s", run.Identifier, projectID)},
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ func newTestAccessCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			// Render results
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(run, formatTestSummary(run)))
 			}
 
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ func newTestAccessShowCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(run, formatTestSummary(run)))
 			}
 
diff --git a/internal/commands/url.go b/internal/commands/url.go
index c4fbf53..0151fef 100644
--- a/internal/commands/url.go
+++ b/internal/commands/url.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ Examples:
 			}
 
 			env := cliCtx.Envelope
-			if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+			if env.WantsJSON() {
 				return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(parsed, fmt.Sprintf("Parsed: %s", parsed.Resource)))
 			}
 
diff --git a/internal/commands/watch.go b/internal/commands/watch.go
index 72f5a41..4072121 100644
--- a/internal/commands/watch.go
+++ b/internal/commands/watch.go
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ const pollInterval = 3 * time.Second
 
 // watchDeployment uses the TUI in interactive terminals, falls back to append-only otherwise.
 func watchDeployment(ctx context.Context, client *sdk.Client, env *output.Envelope, projectID, deploymentID string) error {
-	if env.IsTTY && !env.JSONMode {
+	if env.IsTTY && !env.WantsJSON() {
 		return watchDeploymentTUI(ctx, client, env, projectID, deploymentID)
 	}
 	return watchDeploymentPlain(ctx, client, env, projectID, deploymentID)
diff --git a/internal/commands/zones.go b/internal/commands/zones.go
index 9b9ef3d..efeaf24 100644
--- a/internal/commands/zones.go
+++ b/internal/commands/zones.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ Pin a zone per project at creation: "dhq projects create --zone <id>", or change
 					return err
 				}
 				env := cliCtx.Envelope
-				if env.JSONMode || !env.IsTTY {
+				if env.WantsJSON() {
 					return env.WriteJSON(output.NewResponse(zones, fmt.Sprintf("%d zones", len(zones))))
 				}
 				rows := make([][]string, len(zones))
diff --git a/internal/output/envelope.go b/internal/output/envelope.go
index 805f603..3283bef 100644
--- a/internal/output/envelope.go
+++ b/internal/output/envelope.go
@@ -24,21 +24,37 @@ var (
 // Envelope is the output engine that routes data to stdout and messages to stderr.
 //
 // Behaviour modes:
-//   - TTY + no --json flag: table output to stdout, status to stderr
-//   - TTY + --json flag:    JSON to stdout, status to stderr
-//   - Pipe (non-TTY):       JSON to stdout, status to stderr
-//   - DEPLOYHQ_OUTPUT_FILE: JSONL appended to the specified file
+//   - TTY + no --json flag:  table output to stdout, status to stderr
+//   - TTY + --json flag:     JSON to stdout, status to stderr
+//   - Pipe (non-TTY):        JSON to stdout (auto-switch), status to stderr
+//   - --table:               force table output even when piped
+//   - --quiet:               print only the key column (one per line, no header)
+//   - DEPLOYHQ_OUTPUT_FILE:  JSONL appended to the specified file
 type Envelope struct {
 	Stdout         io.Writer
 	Stderr         io.Writer
 	Logger         *Logger
 	JSONMode       bool
 	JSONFields     []string // field selection for --json
+	TableMode      bool     // --table: force table output, override auto-JSON-on-pipe
+	QuietMode      bool     // --quiet/-q: only print key column, suitable for piping
 	OutputFile     *os.File // DEPLOYHQ_OUTPUT_FILE JSONL writer
 	IsTTY          bool
 	NonInteractive bool // when true, never prompt — fail with actionable errors
 }
 
+// WantsJSON reports whether output should be JSON.
+//
+// Precedence: --table and --quiet force non-JSON output (table or plain text).
+// Otherwise: --json (JSONMode) forces JSON, and a non-TTY stdout auto-switches
+// to JSON so piped output stays machine-readable by default.
+func (e *Envelope) WantsJSON() bool {
+	if e.TableMode || e.QuietMode {
+		return false
+	}
+	return e.JSONMode || !e.IsTTY
+}
+
 // NewEnvelope creates an Envelope with auto-detected TTY and output file.
 func NewEnvelope(logger *Logger) *Envelope {
 	e := &Envelope{
@@ -214,10 +230,19 @@ func (e *Envelope) WriteTable(columns []string, rows [][]string) {
 	}
 }
 
+// WriteQuiet prints one identifier per line to stdout. Use for --quiet mode
+// when piping a list of permalinks/identifiers to other commands. No header,
+// no padding — just newline-separated values.
+func (e *Envelope) WriteQuiet(items []string) {
+	for _, item := range items {
+		fmt.Fprintln(e.Stdout, item) //nolint:errcheck // best-effort stdout
+	}
+}
+
 // WriteData writes data as either JSON or table depending on the mode.
 // If in JSON mode or non-TTY, outputs JSON. Otherwise, uses the table formatter.
 func (e *Envelope) WriteData(data interface{}, columns []string, toRow func(interface{}) []string) error {
-	if e.JSONMode || !e.IsTTY {
+	if e.WantsJSON() {
 		return e.WriteJSON(data)
 	}
 
diff --git a/internal/output/envelope_test.go b/internal/output/envelope_test.go
index f4b627c..c092c48 100644
--- a/internal/output/envelope_test.go
+++ b/internal/output/envelope_test.go
@@ -99,6 +99,48 @@ func TestEnvelope_WriteJSON_ResponseEnvelopeFieldSelection(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Nil(t, result[0]["status"], "status should be filtered out")
 }
 
+func TestEnvelope_WantsJSON(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		name string
+		env  Envelope
+		want bool
+	}{
+		{"tty default", Envelope{IsTTY: true}, false},
+		{"pipe default", Envelope{IsTTY: false}, true},
+		{"tty + json", Envelope{IsTTY: true, JSONMode: true}, true},
+		{"tty + table", Envelope{IsTTY: true, TableMode: true}, false},
+		{"pipe + table", Envelope{IsTTY: false, TableMode: true}, false},
+		{"pipe + json + table", Envelope{IsTTY: false, JSONMode: true, TableMode: true}, false},
+		{"pipe + quiet", Envelope{IsTTY: false, QuietMode: true}, false},
+		{"pipe + json + quiet", Envelope{IsTTY: false, JSONMode: true, QuietMode: true}, false},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range cases {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.want, tc.env.WantsJSON())
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestEnvelope_WriteQuiet(t *testing.T) {
+	var stdout bytes.Buffer
+	env := &Envelope{Stdout: &stdout, Stderr: os.Stderr, Logger: &Logger{}}
+
+	env.WriteQuiet([]string{"alpha", "bravo", "charlie"})
+
+	assert.Equal(t, "alpha\nbravo\ncharlie\n", stdout.String())
+}
+
+func TestEnvelope_WriteQuiet_Empty(t *testing.T) {
+	var stdout bytes.Buffer
+	env := &Envelope{Stdout: &stdout, Stderr: os.Stderr, Logger: &Logger{}}
+
+	env.WriteQuiet(nil)
+	assert.Empty(t, stdout.String())
+
+	env.WriteQuiet([]string{})
+	assert.Empty(t, stdout.String())
+}
+
 func TestEnvelope_WriteTable(t *testing.T) {
 	var stdout bytes.Buffer
 	env := &Envelope{Stdout: &stdout, Stderr: os.Stderr, Logger: &Logger{}}