Better CLI: Build CLIs for Humans and AI Agents

Build command-line tools that are delightful for humans at a terminal AND reliable for AI agents in automation pipelines. These goals are orthogonal, not conflicting.

This skill targets command-based CLIs (think git, docker, gh, kubectl) — tools with subcommands, flags, and structured output. It is not about full-screen TUI applications or interactive dashboards.

When to Use

• Building a new CLI tool in any language
• Improving or refactoring an existing CLI to be more human- and agent-friendly
• Adding commands, flags, or output formats to an existing CLI
• Reviewing CLI code for usability, composability, or agent-readiness

NOT for: TUI/full-screen terminal apps, GUI applications, REST/GraphQL API design, shell scripting

Core Philosophy

Human DX optimizes for discoverability and forgiveness. Agent DX optimizes for predictability and defense-in-depth. A great CLI does both.