A lightweight Go package for building command-line applications with type-safe flags, validators, and rich features.
mkideal/cli is a Go library for building command-line interfaces (CLIs) that simplifies defining commands, flags, and arguments using a structured, type-safe approach. It reduces boilerplate code by leveraging struct tags for configuration while providing features like validation, custom parsers, and interactive prompts. The library aims to make CLI development efficient and maintainable for Go developers.
Go developers who need to create robust, maintainable command-line tools with complex flag handling, validation, and subcommand structures. It's particularly useful for those building production-grade CLI applications that require type safety and extensibility.
Developers choose mkideal/cli for its clean, tag-based API that minimizes boilerplate while offering advanced features like custom validators, slice/map flags, and environment variable integration. Its unique selling points include built-in command suggestions, editor support (similar to git commit), and daemonization utilities, which are not commonly found in other Go CLI libraries.
CLI - A package for building command line app with go
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Defines flags, defaults, prompts, and more using Go struct tags, reducing boilerplate code as shown in examples like 'cli:"name"' for basic flag definition.
Supports slices, maps, and custom types via Decoder and Parser interfaces, enabling complex flag handling demonstrated in examples 5 and 6 with slice and map flags.
Includes prompts, password fields, and editor support similar to git commit, enhancing user interaction as seen in examples 11 (prompt/password) and 21 (editor).
Provides built-in utilities for daemon processes and lifecycle hooks, useful for long-running CLI tools shown in examples 19 (hooks) and 20 (daemon).
Has a less mature community and fewer third-party integrations compared to popular alternatives like Cobra, which could impact long-term maintenance and support.
Requires understanding of struct tags and custom interfaces even for basic CLI setups, making it overkill for straightforward applications that don't need advanced features.
Lacks built-in mechanisms for auto-generating comprehensive help documentation or shell completions, forcing developers to implement these manually if needed.