CLI Tool Creator skill for Claude and Codex

CLI Tool Creator as an AI skill. It asks for Tool purpose, Tool name, Typical tasks and 3 more, then does the rest. Free to install in Claude or Codex.

Install it once and Claude or Codex runs it for you. When your request matches, your AI loads the skill, asks for anything it is missing, and works through the template itself. Prefer to fill it in by hand? See the full prompt template.

Download the skill (.zip) · View SKILL.md

When it is used

Use when a new command-line tool needs its commands, flags, output formats and error messages designed before implementation starts. Do not use for writing the implementation or parsing an existing tool's arguments. Related topics: coding, productivity.

What it will ask you for

• Tool purpose (longer free text)
• Tool name (free text, e.g. "Short lowercase name")
• Typical tasks (longer free text)
• Implementation language (choose one: Node, Python, Go, Rust, Bash)
• Output consumers (choose any: Humans, Scripts, CI pipelines)
• Config sources (choose any: Flags, Environment variables, Config file)

How it works

1. Rank the typical tasks and make the most frequent one reachable with the fewest keystrokes.
2. Define the command tree with arguments, flags, defaults and one example each, using consistent names throughout.
3. Specify human and machine output, exit codes, and the exact wording pattern for error messages.
4. State the configuration precedence across flags, environment and file for every setting.
5. Write the real help text for the root and one sub-command and list what version one leaves out.

What you get

A design document with the command tree, a flag table, output and exit code rules, error message patterns, config precedence, sample help text and a not-in-v1 list.

What it watches out for

• Inventing a new flag name per command, so users cannot guess one from another.
• Printing progress bars and colour into a pipe, which corrupts the output scripts read.
• Returning exit code 0 on partial failure, so CI reports a green build over a broken result.

How to install

Claude.ai and the Claude desktop app

1. Download the skill .zip.
2. Open Settings, then Capabilities, and find Skills.
3. Choose Upload skill and select the .zip.
4. Ask Claude for help with the task. It loads the skill when your request matches.

Claude Code

1. Download the skill .zip.
2. Unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ (or .claude/skills/ inside a project).
3. Start a new session. Claude Code loads the skill when your request matches.

Codex

1. Download the skill .zip.
2. Unzip it into ~/.agents/skills/ (or .agents/skills/ inside a project).
3. Codex picks it up on its own. Type $ and the skill name to use it, or just ask for the task.

Cursor

1. Download the Cursor rule (.mdc).
2. Save it in .cursor/rules/ inside your project.
3. Cursor's agent applies the rule when your request matches its description.

AGENTS.md (Codex, Cursor, and other coding agents)

1. Copy the AGENTS.md section.
2. Paste it into AGENTS.md at the root of your repository, creating the file if needed.
3. Coding agents that read AGENTS.md follow it when your request fits.