Builds command-line interfaces for Python libraries using Click or Typer. Includes command groups, argument handling, progress bars, shell completion, and CLI testing with CliRunner. Use when adding CLI functionality to a library or building standalone command-line tools.
View on GitHubwdm0006/python-skills
python-library-quality
skills/cli-development/SKILL.md
January 20, 2026
Select agents to install to:
npx add-skill https://github.com/wdm0006/python-skills/blob/main/skills/cli-development/SKILL.md -a claude-code --skill building-python-clisInstallation paths:
.claude/skills/building-python-clis/# Python CLI Development
## Framework Selection
**Click** (Recommended): Mature, extensive features
**Typer**: Modern, type-hint focused
**argparse**: Zero dependencies, standard library
## Click Quick Start
```python
import click
@click.group()
@click.version_option(version='1.0.0')
def cli():
"""My CLI tool."""
pass
@cli.command()
@click.argument('input_file', type=click.Path(exists=True))
@click.option('--output', '-o', default='-', help='Output file')
@click.option('--verbose', '-v', is_flag=True)
def process(input_file, output, verbose):
"""Process an input file."""
if verbose:
click.echo(f"Processing {input_file}")
# ...
if __name__ == '__main__':
cli()
```
## Entry Point (pyproject.toml)
```toml
[project.scripts]
mycli = "my_package.cli:cli"
[project.optional-dependencies]
cli = ["click>=8.0"]
```
## Common Patterns
```python
# File I/O with stdin/stdout support
@click.argument('input', type=click.File('r'), default='-')
@click.argument('output', type=click.File('w'), default='-')
# Progress bar
with click.progressbar(items, label='Processing') as bar:
for item in bar:
process(item)
# Colored output
click.secho("Success!", fg='green', bold=True)
click.secho("Error!", fg='red', err=True)
# Error handling
if not valid:
raise click.BadParameter(f'Invalid value: {value}')
```
## Testing with CliRunner
```python
from click.testing import CliRunner
from mypackage.cli import cli
def test_process():
runner = CliRunner()
result = runner.invoke(cli, ['process', 'input.txt'])
assert result.exit_code == 0
assert 'expected output' in result.output
def test_stdin():
runner = CliRunner()
result = runner.invoke(cli, ['process', '-'], input='test data\n')
assert result.exit_code == 0
```
## Shell Completion
```bash
# Generate completion scripts
_MYCLI_COMPLETE=bash_source mycli > ~/.mycli-complete.bash
_MYCLI_COMPLETE=zsh_source mycli > ~/.mycli-complete.zsh
```
For detailed pattIssues Found: