“CLI makes the time to build an automation really short.”

Roku, the number-one TV streaming platform in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, relies on Atlassian tools to support 6,000 users. Managing user access manually would be inefficient and time-consuming—Darryl estimated that a single cleanup effort could take 3-4 hours if done by hand. To avoid that, he turned to Jira CLI, reducing the process to just 15 minutes and ensuring accuracy.

To streamline operations, Darryl Lee, Senior Atlassian Systems Engineer, turned to CLI. His team manages Jira, Confluence, Jira Service Management, and other critical tools, where inactive user cleanup was a time-consuming, error-prone task. Instead of spending hours writing Python scripts—or handling tasks manually—CLI automated the process, improving accuracy and freeing up time for strategic initiatives.

Managing such a large ecosystem comes with challenges, particularly in user access management. One of Darryl’s ongoing responsibilities is cleaning up inactive accounts to keep costs down and operations efficient—a process that can be time-consuming and error-prone when done manually.

To streamline his workflow, Darryl relies on Jira Command Line Interface (CLI), a tool for admins that simplifies repetitive tasks through text-based commands and integrates seamlessly with Jira. Instead of spending hours writing Python scripts—or handling tasks manually—he leverages Jira CLI for a more efficient solution.

By automating routine tasks, Roku has significantly reduced administrative overhead, improving accuracy and freeing up time for more strategic initiatives.

The challenge: manual, error-prone user management

As an Atlassian admin, Darryl is responsible for managing user access across Roku’s ecosystem. "Some external users only need temporary access for a specific project, but over time, inactive accounts accumulate. Some of those users are external and only need access for a specific timeframe or project. Without a structured deactivation process, these accounts often remain active well beyond their required timeframe—continuing to add unnecessary costs to the business."

It’s Darryl’s job to remove users who have not logged in the last 90 days, but without automation, this could be a time-consuming and error-prone process. He estimated that manually reviewing and deactivating 300+ external users in a routine cleanup could take 3-4 hours each time. To avoid that inefficiency, he needed a better solution. What’s worse is that any mistakes meant accidentally revoking access for an active user, causing disruptions that required even more time to fix.

Manual errors can disrupt workflows and create compliance risks. Accidentally removing active users may cause operational slowdowns, while delays in deactivating accounts increase the risk of unauthorized access and potential compliance violations. Additionally, manual deletions make it easier to overlook inactive users, reducing potential cost savings.

From manual work to automation: Introducing Jira CLI

To avoid a slow and error-prone manual process, Darryl turned to a tool he had trusted for years: Jira CLI. Having used it for six years before joining Roku, he was already familiar with its capabilities and efficiency. He first discovered the app through the Atlassian Community and quickly saw its value in streamlining administrative tasks, making it the obvious choice for Roku. Since no other command-line solutions were available, his alternatives were writing Python scripts or handling tasks manually—both significantly more time-consuming. Jira CLI provided the automation he needed, eliminating tedious, repetitive work while ensuring accuracy.

Bringing Jira CLI into Roku’s workflow was a straightforward decision. As an admin tool, it required minimal rollout—Darryl simply introduced it to his team. While his Unix system administration background made him comfortable with the command line, Jira CLI had a small learning curve. Initially, he relied heavily on documentation, but in 2022, the introduction of Jira CLI’s auto-complete feature dramatically improved usability. This enhancement allowed users to interact with a command builder that removed the need for constant documentation reference, making automation even faster and more intuitive.

“CLI has multiple uses; for someone that has comfort with the command line already (or is comfortable with a small learning curve), it saves a lot of cost.”

The interactive shell makes Jira CLI more approachable for new users, reducing the learning curve and making automation faster than writing scripts in Python. By simplifying function browsing and parameter selection, it shortens the time to build an automation—delivering a much higher ROI on automation efforts.

From 4 hours to 15 minutes: The impact of CLI

By leveraging Jira CLI, Darryl has significantly reduced the time spent on bulk administrative tasks, particularly in user management. With CLI, automating user cleanup reduced a process that could have taken 3-4 hours manually—or 2 hours with Python scripts—to just 15 minutes, delivering a dramatic efficiency boost. That is an 8x improvement over scripting and a 16x improvement over manual work. Its streamlined execution and interactive shell not only accelerated deactivations but also minimized the risk of errors. This dramatic efficiency gain allows him to focus on more strategic tasks rather than repetitive cleanup efforts.

Jira CLI: The admin’s multi-tool

Save costs on apps with an all-in-one solution

Unlike single-purpose apps that focus on specific tasks like user deactivation, Jira CLI offers an expansive toolkit capable of automating hundreds of Jira administration tasks. This flexibility eliminates the need to purchase multiple apps for different tasks, allowing IT or administrative teams to streamline operations with a single, powerful solution. While Jira CLI requires some initial learning, the effort is far outweighed by cost savings and long-term automation benefits—especially with the interactive shell lowering the barrier to entry.

“The great thing about CLI’s auto-complete feature (the interactive shell) is that it will offer suggestions. That has saved me having to Google, or go to Appfire’s documentation, or the Atlassian site to look up an API call. It also shows me the required parameters to complete the command easily.”

Reduce onboarding time with an intuitive interface

Darryl was first introduced to the interactive shell feature at Team 22, where he was impressed by its ability to simplify command building. The feature eliminates the need to constantly reference documentation, making it easier to execute tasks without errors. He recalls how the entire audience at the session was excited by the possibilities it unlocked for automating their own workflows.

“I liked that for tasks that normally would require a lot of clicking, I could run Jira CLI commands inside of a shell ‘loop,’ which not only saved me from RSI (repetitive strain injury) but also improved accuracy—removing the risk of selecting the wrong project, field, or parameter.”

Execute bulk tasks with ease

Beyond speed, Jira CLI has also enhanced accuracy and usability. For Darryl, Jira CLI is the go-to solution whenever bulk operations are needed. Unlike scripting, which requires frequent practice to maintain proficiency, Jira CLI’s intuitive design ensures that even if he doesn’t use it every day, he can quickly pick it back up without a steep learning curve.

“Bulk update tasks don’t come up every day—it’s more like every month or two. The problem with scripting or programming is that if you don’t do it regularly, you forget how. With ACLI, the ease of use makes it really easy to pick up again and figure out what commands you might need to use.”

Ultimately, Jira CLI has provided Darryl and his team with a faster, more reliable, and user-friendly way to manage critical Jira administration tasks, reducing manual effort while improving efficiency and precision.

By integrating Jira CLI into Roku’s Jira administration workflow, Darryl and his team streamlined user access management, saving hours of manual effort and improving accuracy. As Roku continues to scale, automation will play an even greater role in optimizing its Atlassian ecosystem, ensuring efficiency and security at every step.

Try Jira CLI for free

About Roku

Roku, headquartered in San Jose, California, is a leading provider of streaming technology and home entertainment solutions. As the number-one TV streaming platform in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, Roku connects millions of users to a vast range of content through its streaming players, smart TVs, and proprietary operating system.

With a commitment to innovation, Roku continues to shape the future of streaming by delivering seamless, high-quality viewing experiences. The company’s expertise in software, hardware, and advertising technology enables content creators, advertisers, and consumers to thrive in an evolving digital landscape. Roku’s dedication to security, performance, and user experience ensures that its ecosystem remains one of the most trusted and widely used in the industry.

How Roku cut a routine user management task from taking 4 hours to 15 minutes

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