---

name: create-cli description: Design CLI tools with consistent UX patterns.

Create CLI

Design CLI surface area: syntax, flags, output, error handling.

Conventions

• Long options preferred (--from not -f)
• stdout for data, stderr for progress/errors
• Exit codes: 0=success, 1=runtime error, 2=usage error
• Include --help, --json, --quiet
• Validate early, fail fast

Output

• Default: human-readable tables
• --json: JSON output (implies quiet)
• --quiet: suppress progress
• Respect NO_COLOR env

Errors

Copy<name>: <message>
Try '<name> --help'

Destructive Operations

• Confirm when stdin is TTY
• --force to skip confirmation
• --dry-run to preview

Help Format

Copy<name> - <one-line description>

USAGE
    <name> [OPTIONS] <ARGS>

OPTIONS
    --option <VALUE>    Description [default: X]
    --help              Show this help

EXAMPLES
    <name> arg1 arg2

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See references/node-js.md - Node.js with parseArgs See references/python-uv.md - Python with uv

See clig.dev for comprehensive guidelines.