skillby mcclowes
commander
Use when building CLI tools with Commander.js - commands, options, arguments, and help text for Node.js command-line applications
Installs: 0
Used in: 1 repos
Updated: 1d ago
$
npx ai-builder add skill mcclowes/commanderInstalls to .claude/skills/commander/
# Commander.js CLI Framework
## Quick Start
```typescript
import { Command } from 'commander';
const program = new Command();
program
.name('mycli')
.version('1.0.0')
.description('My CLI tool');
program
.command('build <input>')
.description('Build the project')
.option('-o, --output <file>', 'Output file', 'output.json')
.option('-w, --watch', 'Watch mode')
.option('-v, --verbose', 'Verbose output')
.action((input, options) => {
console.log(`Building ${input} to ${options.output}`);
if (options.watch) startWatcher();
});
program.parse();
```
## Command Patterns
| Pattern | Syntax | Description |
|---------|--------|-------------|
| Required arg | `<name>` | Must be provided |
| Optional arg | `[name]` | Can be omitted |
| Variadic | `<files...>` | Multiple values |
| Option value | `-o, --out <file>` | Option with value |
| Boolean flag | `-v, --verbose` | True when present |
| Negatable | `--no-cache` | Sets cache=false |
## Subcommands
```typescript
const build = program.command('build');
build
.command('dev')
.description('Development build')
.action(() => { /* ... */ });
build
.command('prod')
.description('Production build')
.action(() => { /* ... */ });
```
## Key Features
```typescript
// Default values
.option('-p, --port <number>', 'Port', '3000')
// Coercion
.option('-n, --number <n>', 'A number', parseInt)
// Required options
.requiredOption('-c, --config <path>', 'Config file')
// Choices
.option('-e, --env <env>', 'Environment').choices(['dev', 'prod'])
// Error handling
program.exitOverride(); // Throw instead of process.exit
program.configureOutput({ writeErr: (str) => logger.error(str) });
```
## Tips
- Use `program.parse()` at the end, or `program.parseAsync()` for async
- Access args via action callback or `program.args`
- Use `.alias('b')` for command shortcuts
- Add examples with `.addHelpText('after', 'Examples:\n $ mycli build src/')`Quick Install
$
npx ai-builder add skill mcclowes/commanderDetails
- Type
- skill
- Author
- mcclowes
- Slug
- mcclowes/commander
- Created
- 4d ago