CLIcompliant

CLIcompliant refers to software that adheres to established command-line interface conventions, making it predictable and scriptable for users and automation. The term is not a formal standard, but is widely used in documentation and discussions to indicate that a tool follows common CLI best practices.

Key characteristics include a consistent command syntax with subcommands, options that support both short (-x) and long (--option) forms, and parsing behavior that remains stable across versions. Tools should provide accessible help and usage information via a --help flag, a --version flag when appropriate, and clear error messages on failure. Exit codes should be meaningful, with zero indicating success and non-zero indicating errors. Output should be directed to stdout for data and to stderr for diagnostic messages, facilitating redirection and scripting. Input validation should fail fast with informative messages, and option handling should be predictable when options are combined or omitted. Design should avoid surprising side effects and strive for a minimal, readable command line interface.

Standards and considerations include alignment with POSIX conventions or GNU-style documentation where relevant, and awareness of cross-platform differences between Unix-like shells and Windows environments. CLIcompliant tools typically aim for scriptability, stable interfaces, and clear separation between data output and messages, enabling reliable chaining of commands in pipelines.

Evaluation and impact: compliance can be assessed with a checklist that includes presence of --help and --version, consistent exit codes, predictable option semantics, and clean output formatting. Benefits include easier automation, improved usability, and broader adoption in scripting workflows. See also Unix philosophy, command-line interface, and CLI design principles.