cmd2

Cmd2 is an open-source Python library for building interactive command-line interfaces. It extends Python's standard library cmd module to provide a framework for creating line-oriented shells and administrative consoles. Cmd2 emphasizes ease of use, extensibility, and interactive features suitable for tools that require structured user input.

Key features include:

- Subclassing of the cmd2.Cmd base class to define custom shells

- Command handling via methods named do_<command> on the subclass

- Built-in help support and auto-generated command documentation

- Command-line editing and history, with support for tab completion

- Argparse-style argument parsing through an integrated Cmd2ArgumentParser

- Colorized output and improved readability of prompts and messages

- Session logging, scripting, and playback of command sessions

- A plugin system for extending functionality without modifying core code

- Dynamic command discovery and easy customization of prompts and intro text

Usage generally involves creating a subclass of cmd2.Cmd and implementing do_<command> methods to process user input. The framework handles dispatch, help, and basic command lifecycle, while developers can augment commands with argparse-style options. Docstrings and help text can be surfaced automatically, and advanced users can leverage features like logging, scripting, and plugins to build more capable interactive tools. Cmd2 aims to provide a richer, more extensible alternative to the standard cmd module for Python-based command-line applications.

Cmd2 is maintained by an open-source community and is available on PyPI for easy installation.