TUI and CLI Patterns

Actionable terminal interface patterns for requirements gathering and design review. Use when target is CLI tool or interactive terminal application.

CLI Argument Design

Command Structure

Follow program subcommand [flags] [arguments] (e.g., git commit -m "message").

Flags and Options

• Both short (-h) and long (--help) for common flags
• Reserve single-letter flags for frequently used options
• Standard flags always: --help, --version, --verbose/--quiet, --no-color
• Never accept secrets via flags (use files, stdin, or env vars)
• Make flag order independent