actionbook/rust-skills

domain-cli

Use when building CLI tools.

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How to use

  1. Copy the installation command and review the source package before installing it in your own agent environment.
  2. Check the source document for required tools, credentials and supported hosts.
  3. Describe your input and desired deliverable; review the output against the source material.
npx skills add https://github.com/actionbook/rust-skills --skill domain-cli

Before you start

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Original skill document

Rendered from the source repository. Headings, examples, code, tables, links, and referenced images are preserved.

CLI Domain

Layer 3: Domain Constraints

Domain Constraints → Design Implications

Domain RuleDesign ConstraintRust Implication
User ergonomicsClear help, errorsclap derive macros
Config precedenceCLI > env > fileLayered config loading
Exit codesNon-zero on errorProper Result handling
Stdout/stderrData vs errorseprintln! for errors
InterruptibleHandle Ctrl+CSignal handling

Critical Constraints

User Communication

RULE: Errors to stderr, data to stdout
WHY: Pipeable output, scriptability
RUST: eprintln! for errors, println! for data

Configuration Priority

RULE: CLI args > env vars > config file > defaults
WHY: User expectation, override capability
RUST: Layered config with clap + figment/config

Exit Codes

RULE: Return non-zero on any error
WHY: Script integration, automation
RUST: main() -> Result<(), Error> or explicit exit()

Trace Down ↓

From constraints to design (Layer 2):

"Need argument parsing"
    ↓ m05-type-driven: Derive structs for args
    ↓ clap: #[derive(Parser)]

"Need config layering"
    ↓ m09-domain: Config as domain object
    ↓ figment/config: Layer sources

"Need progress display"
    ↓ m12-lifecycle: Progress bar as RAII
    ↓ indicatif: ProgressBar

Key Crates

PurposeCrate
Argument parsingclap
Interactive promptsdialoguer
Progress barsindicatif
Colored outputcolored
Terminal UIratatui
Terminal controlcrossterm
Console utilitiesconsole

Design Patterns

PatternPurposeImplementation
Args structType-safe args#[derive(Parser)]
SubcommandsCommand hierarchy#[derive(Subcommand)]
Config layersOverride precedenceCLI > env > file
ProgressUser feedbackProgressBar::new(len)

Code Pattern: CLI Structure

rust
use clap::{Parser, Subcommand};

#[derive(Parser)]
#[command(name = "myapp", about = "My CLI tool")]
struct Cli {
    /// Enable verbose output
    #[arg(short, long)]
    verbose: bool,

    #[command(subcommand)]
    command: Commands,
}

#[derive(Subcommand)]
enum Commands {
    /// Initialize a new project
    Init { name: String },
    /// Run the application
    Run {
        #[arg(short, long)]
        port: Option<u16>,
    },
}

fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
    let cli = Cli::parse();
    match cli.command {
        Commands::Init { name } => init_project(&name)?,
        Commands::Run { port } => run_server(port.unwrap_or(8080))?,
    }
    Ok(())
}

Common Mistakes

MistakeDomain ViolationFix
Errors to stdoutBreaks pipingeprintln!
No help textPoor UX#[arg(help = "...")]
Panic on errorBad exit codeResult + proper handling
No progress for long opsUser uncertaintyindicatif

Trace to Layer 1

ConstraintLayer 2 PatternLayer 1 Implementation
Type-safe argsDerive macrosclap Parser
Error handlingResult propagationanyhow + exit codes
User feedbackProgress RAIIindicatif ProgressBar
Config precedenceBuilder patternLayered sources

Related Skills

WhenSee
Error handlingm06-error-handling
Type-driven argsm05-type-driven
Progress lifecyclem12-lifecycle
Async CLIm07-concurrency

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