better-cli

better-cli is an innovative skill designed to empower AI agents with the knowledge of best practices for creating and enhancing command-line interfaces (CLIs) that are user-friendly for both human users and AI agents. By leveraging this skill, developers can ensure that their CLI tools are optimized for seamless interaction, particularly in automation workflows.

Key Features

• Guided Output: Each command provides clear instructions on subsequent actions, eliminating ambiguity for users.
• Streamlined Data Handling: Outputs are structured with a focus on clean separation, making it easier for AI agents to process information efficiently.
• Structured Formats: The skill promotes the use of --json output, which provides a consistent structure for machine consumption.
• Actionable Error Messages: Errors are accompanied by comprehensive information including the error code, a message, and hint commands for quick resolution.
• Non-interactive Commands: Features are available that allow users to bypass prompts with specific flags, enhancing automation.
• Terminal Awareness: Automatically adjusts the output format based on whether it is being displayed in a terminal or passed through pipes.

Core Principles

The skill emphasizes the importance of output that is easily interpretable and actionable for AI agents, enhancing their capability to execute CLI commands without hesitation or confusion. This creates a productive interaction between AI agents and CLI tools, ultimately leading to increased efficiency.

Supported Platforms

better-cli includes manifests compatible with various major AI agent platforms such as Claude Code, skills.sh, GitHub Copilot, and more. Some supported platforms are:

• Claude Code (with auto-detection)
• skills.sh (supporting over 40 agents)
• ClawHub / OpenClaw
• npm / skillpm (with publication capabilities)
• Cursor, Windsurf, and Cline

Who Can Benefit?

• AI Agents: This skill is essential for AI agents like Claude Code, Copilot, and others that develop CLI tools in various programming languages.
• Developers: Those seeking to create AI-agent-friendly CLIs without compromising the user experience will find this skill invaluable.
• Teams: Groups aiming to standardize CLI design patterns across multiple projects can utilize the insights from better-cli to unify their approach.

Skill Scope

The better-cli skill primarily addresses command-based CLIs, which include tools that feature subcommands and flags with structured output. It does not encompass full-screen text user interfaces (TUIs), interactive dashboards, or graphical user interface (GUI) applications.