CLI Design Guidelines

Comprehensive guide to designing command-line interfaces following modern best practices. Based on the Command Line Interface Guidelines. Prioritized by impact to guide CLI development and code review.

When to Apply

Reference these guidelines when:

• Creating new CLI tools or adding commands/subcommands
• Implementing help text and error handling
• Parsing arguments and flags
• Designing interactive prompts
• Setting up configuration systems
• Improving CLI UX and output formatting
• Reviewing CLI code for best practices
• Refactoring existing command-line tools

Rule Categories by Priority