Commandlinestyle

Commandlinestyle is a documentation and presentation convention used to depict interactions with a command-line interface (CLI). It emphasizes showing both the commands a user would type and the resulting output, in a way that resembles an interactive session. The term is used informally in technical writing to distinguish command-line interactions from other forms of code or prose.

Core components of commandlinestyle include a prompt symbol (such as $ for Unix-like shells or C:\> on Windows) to indicate the shell, the command line with options and arguments, and the corresponding program output. In documentation, commands are typically set in a monospaced font and separated from narrative text; outputs follow commands in blocks that preserve line breaks. Tutorials may annotate commands with brief explanations, while examples aim to be reproducible by specifying the environment, shell, and versions used.

Typical practices involve clearly separating user input from program output, using consistent indentation, and avoiding changes to the actual command syntax beyond necessary escaping. When multiple steps are shown, each command and its output appear in sequence, with notes or captions kept concise. Care is taken to avoid exposing sensitive data and to indicate when commands are representative rather than executed in a strict, real-time session.

Usage and purpose: commandlinestyle improves clarity and verifiability in learning materials, API guides, and manuals. It supports reproducibility by documenting the exact commands, options, and expected results, while remaining adaptable to different shells and operating systems.