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click-scaffolder

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Generate Click-based Python CLI applications with decorators, groups, context, and modern Python patterns. Creates complete scaffolded CLI with proper project structure.

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Click Scaffolder

Generate a complete Click CLI application with Python, proper project structure, and best practices.

Capabilities

  • Generate Python-based Click CLI projects
  • Create command groups with decorators
  • Set up context passing between commands
  • Configure type coercion and validation
  • Implement custom parameter types
  • Set up Poetry/pip project structure

Usage

Invoke this skill when you need to:

  • Bootstrap a new CLI application using Click
  • Create a Python CLI with decorator-based commands
  • Set up command groups and context
  • Configure rich terminal output

Inputs

ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
projectNamestringYesName of the CLI project (kebab-case)
descriptionstringYesShort description of the CLI
commandsarrayNoList of commands to scaffold
usePoetrybooleanNoUse Poetry for dependency management (default: true)
pythonVersionstringNoPython version requirement (default: ">=3.9")

Command Structure

{
  "commands": [
    {
      "name": "init",
      "description": "Initialize a new project",
      "options": [
        { "name": "template", "type": "string", "help": "Template to use" },
        { "name": "force", "is_flag": true, "help": "Overwrite existing" }
      ],
      "arguments": [
        { "name": "directory", "required": true }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "groups": [
    {
      "name": "config",
      "description": "Configuration management",
      "commands": ["get", "set", "list"]
    }
  ]
}

Output Structure

<projectName>/
├── pyproject.toml
├── README.md
├── .gitignore
├── src/
│   └── <package_name>/
│       ├── __init__.py
│       ├── __main__.py        # Entry point
│       ├── cli.py             # Main Click setup
│       ├── commands/
│       │   ├── __init__.py
│       │   └── <command>.py   # Individual commands
│       ├── utils/
│       │   ├── __init__.py
│       │   ├── config.py      # Configuration
│       │   └── console.py     # Rich console output
│       └── types/
│           ├── __init__.py
│           └── custom.py      # Custom parameter types
└── tests/
    ├── __init__.py
    ├── conftest.py
    └── test_<command>.py

Generated Code Patterns

Main CLI Entry (src//cli.py)

import click
from rich.console import Console

from .commands import init, config

console = Console()

@click.group()
@click.version_option()
@click.option('--verbose', '-v', is_flag=True, help='Enable verbose output')
@click.pass_context
def cli(ctx: click.Context, verbose: bool) -> None:
    """<description>"""
    ctx.ensure_object(dict)
    ctx.obj['verbose'] = verbose
    ctx.obj['console'] = console

cli.add_command(init.init)
cli.add_command(config.config)

def main() -> None:
    cli(obj={})

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()

Command Template

import click
from rich.console import Console

@click.command()
@click.argument('directory', type=click.Path())
@click.option(
    '--template', '-t',
    type=click.Choice(['basic', 'advanced']),
    default='basic',
    help='Template to use'
)
@click.option('--force', '-f', is_flag=True, help='Overwrite existing files')
@click.pass_context
def init(ctx: click.Context, directory: str, template: str, force: bool) -> None:
    """Initialize a new project in DIRECTORY."""
    console: Console = ctx.obj['console']
    verbose: bool = ctx.obj['verbose']

    if verbose:
        console.print(f"[dim]Using template: {template}[/dim]")

    console.print(f"[green]Initializing project in {directory}[/green]")

Command Group Template

import click

@click.group()
def config() -> None:
    """Configuration management commands."""
    pass

@config.command()
@click.argument('key')
@click.pass_context
def get(ctx: click.Context, key: str) -> None:
    """Get a configuration value."""
    console = ctx.obj['console']
    console.print(f"Getting {key}")

@config.command()
@click.argument('key')
@click.argument('value')
def set(key: str, value: str) -> None:
    """Set a configuration value."""
    click.echo(f"Setting {key} = {value}")

Dependencies

[tool.poetry.dependencies]
python = ">=3.9"
click = "^8.1.0"
rich = "^13.0.0"

[tool.poetry.group.dev.dependencies]
pytest = "^8.0.0"
pytest-cov = "^4.0.0"
mypy = "^1.0.0"
ruff = "^0.1.0"

Workflow

  1. Validate inputs - Check project name, commands structure
  2. Create directory structure - Set up folders and base files
  3. Generate pyproject.toml - Configure project metadata
  4. Create CLI entry point - Click group setup
  5. Generate commands - Individual command files
  6. Create utilities - Console, config helpers
  7. Set up tests - pytest fixtures and command tests
  8. Initialize git - Optional git initialization

Best Practices Applied

  • Type hints throughout
  • Click context for shared state
  • Rich library for terminal output
  • Command groups for organization
  • Custom parameter types
  • Proper error handling

References

Target Processes

  • cli-application-bootstrap
  • cli-command-structure-design
  • argument-parser-setup