commanduse

Commanduse refers to a design concept in human-computer interaction that treats issuing system operations as the primary mode of interaction. In a commanduse model, users describe actions as explicit commands that the system interprets and executes, rather than relying solely on clicks, forms, or free-form natural language. The aim is to maximize precision, reproducibility, and automation by adhering to a constrained command grammar and clear parameterization.

Origin and terminology: The term commanduse was proposed in theoretical discussions on command-driven interfaces in the 2020s, combining "command" with "use" to emphasize habitual patterns of command invocation across tools. A commanduse surface typically provides a defined set of commands or a command palette, with syntax that supports flags, operands, and aliases, along with immediate feedback and stateful effects.

Applications and considerations: Commanduse is used in developer tools, scripting environments, and automation platforms where repeatability and scripting are important. It is common in command-line interfaces, IDE command palettes, and certain chat-based automation systems that support slash commands. Potential limitations include a learning curve, rigidity, and concerns about accessibility if not designed with inclusive input methods. Critics argue that strong commanduse models can hamper discovery of actions that are easier to reach through graphical interfaces or natural language.