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ux-cli

Enforce color-coded terminal UX standards for CLI applications.

8|Updated Feb 2, 2026
Search Tags:#cli#usability#terminal#error-handling#ux#color-coding
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/usurobor/cnos --skill ux-cli
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: ux-cli
Source: https://github.com/usurobor/cnos/tree/main/src/packages/cnos.eng/skills/eng/ux-cli
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/usurobor/cnos --skill ux-cli

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

CLI tools often suffer from inconsistent interfaces, opaque failure messages, and unclear signaling of status. This Skill defines terminal UX standards that ensure color-coded meaning, self-sufficient output, and reliable handling of errors.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Color encodes semantics, never decoration, enabling quick interpretation of status.
  • Output is self-sufficient, describing what happened, what is blocking, and what to do next.
  • Failure paths are first-class, providing deterministic guidance for recovery and debugging in scripts and interactive sessions.

Quick Start

Apply these guidelines to your CLI project to ensure consistent, color-coded, self-explanatory output.

Frequently Asked Questions about ux-cli

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I improve terminal UX consistency for CLI applications?▼

Improve terminal UX consistency by applying color-coded semantics, structured messaging, and explicit recovery guidance to CLI scripts. This ensures outputs are self-sufficient and failures provide deterministic debugging steps.

What is the best way to handle error states in terminal scripts?▼

Handle error states in terminal scripts by treating failure paths as first-class citizens. Provide deterministic guidance for recovery and debugging, ensuring error messages explicitly describe what happened and what to do next.

How does color-coding work for CLI usability?▼

Color-coding for CLI usability encodes semantic meaning rather than decoration. Apply specific colors to signal status, enabling users to quickly interpret what happened, what is blocking, and what action is required next.

Can I use structured messaging for terminal tools requiring clear status signaling?▼

Yes, structured messaging ensures terminal output is self-sufficient. It describes what happened, what is blocking progress, and what to do next, making CLI tools reliable for both interactive sessions and automated scripts.

Why does my CLI tool output opaque failure messages?▼

Opaque failure messages occur when CLI tools lack defined terminal UX standards. Enforce self-sufficient output and reliable handling of errors to provide explicit guidance for recovery and debugging in scripts.

Do I need dependencies to enforce color semantics in CLI scripts?▼

No dependencies are required to enforce color semantics in CLI scripts. Apply these guidelines directly to your terminal-based tools to ensure consistent, color-coded, self-explanatory output without external components.

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