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argparse-scaffolder Generate argparse-based Python CLI applications with subparsers, type converters, and standard library patterns. Creates lightweight Python CLIs without external dependencies.
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Download Zip Downloading... name argparse-scaffolder description Generate argparse-based Python CLI applications with subparsers, type converters, and standard library patterns. Creates lightweight Python CLIs without external dependencies. allowed-tools Read, Write, Edit, Bash, Glob, Grep graph {"domains":["domain:software-engineering"],"specializations":["specialization:cli-mcp-development"],"skillAreas":["skill-area:cli-design","skill-area:cli-tooling","skill-area:command-line-interface-tools"],"roles":["role:backend-engineer","role:platform-engineer"],"workflows":["workflow:feature-development"],"topics":["topic:developer-experience"]}
Argparse Scaffolder
Generate a complete argparse CLI application with Python standard library, subparsers, and best practices.
Capabilities
Generate Python-based argparse CLI projects
Create subparser hierarchies for subcommands
Set up custom type converters and actions
Configure mutually exclusive groups
Implement parent parsers for shared arguments
Set up standard Python project structure
Usage
Invoke this skill when you need to:
Bootstrap a CLI using Python standard library only
Create a lightweight CLI without external dependencies
Set up subparsers for command hierarchies
Build CLIs that need to run on any Python installation
Inputs
Parameter Type Required Description
projectName string Yes Name of the CLI project (kebab-case) description string Yes Short description of the CLI commands array No List of commands to scaffold pythonVersion string No Python version requirement (default: ">=3.8") useSubparsers boolean No Use subparsers for commands (default: true)
Command Structure {
"commands" : [
{
"name" : "convert" ,
"description" : "Convert file formats" ,
"arguments" : [
{ "name" : "input" , "help" : "Input file path" } ,
{ "name" : "output" , "help" : "Output file path" , "nargs" : "?" }
] ,
"options" : [
{ "flags" : [ "-f" , "--format" ] , "choices" : [ "json" , "yaml" , "xml" ] } ,
{ "flags" : [ "-v" , "--verbose" ] , "action" : "store_true" }
]
}
]
}
Output Structure <projectName>/
โโโ pyproject.toml
โโโ README.md
โโโ .gitignore
โโโ src/
โ โโโ <package_name>/
โ โโโ __init__.py
โ โโโ __main__.py # Entry point
โ โโโ cli.py # Argparse setup
โ โโโ commands/
โ โ โโโ __init__.py
โ โ โโโ <command>.py # Command handlers
โ โโโ types/
โ โ โโโ __init__.py
โ โ โโโ converters.py # Custom type converters
โ โโโ utils/
โ โโโ __init__.py
โ โโโ helpers.py # Helper functions
โโโ tests/
โโโ __init__.py
โโโ test_<command>.py
Generated Code Patterns
Main CLI Entry (src//cli.py) import argparse
import sys
from typing import Optional , Sequence
from .commands import convert, validate
def create_parser () -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
"""Create the argument parser with all subcommands."""
parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
prog='<projectName>' ,
description='<description>' ,
formatter_class=argparse.RawDescriptionHelpFormatter,
epilog='''
Examples:
%(prog)s convert input.json output.yaml
%(prog)s validate config.yaml --strict
'''
)
parser.add_argument(
'-v' , '--verbose' ,
action='store_true' ,
help ='Enable verbose output'
)
parser.add_argument(
'--version' ,
action='version' ,
version='%(prog)s 1.0.0'
)
subparsers = parser.add_subparsers(
dest='command' ,
title='commands' ,
description='Available commands' ,
help ='Command to run'
)
convert.register_parser(subparsers)
validate.register_parser(subparsers)
return parser
def main (argv: Optional [Sequence [str ]] = None ) -> int :
"""Main entry point."""
parser = create_parser()
args = parser.parse_args(argv)
if args.command is None :
parser.print_help()
return 1
return args.func(args)
if __name__ == '__main__' :
sys.exit(main())
Command Template (src//commands/convert.py) import argparse
from pathlib import Path
from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
if TYPE_CHECKING:
from argparse import _SubParsersAction
def register_parser (subparsers: '_SubParsersAction[argparse.ArgumentParser]' ) -> None :
"""Register the convert subparser."""
parser = subparsers.add_parser(
'convert' ,
help ='Convert file formats' ,
description='Convert files between different formats.' ,
formatter_class=argparse.RawDescriptionHelpFormatter,
)
parser.add_argument(
'input' ,
type =Path,
help ='Input file path'
)
parser.add_argument(
'output' ,
type =Path,
nargs='?' ,
help ='Output file path (default: stdout)'
)
parser.add_argument(
'-f' , '--format' ,
choices=['json' , 'yaml' , 'xml' ],
default='json' ,
help ='Output format (default: %(default)s)'
)
group = parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group()
group.add_argument('--compact' , action='store_true' , help ='Compact output' )
group.add_argument('--pretty' , action='store_true' , help ='Pretty print' )
parser.set_defaults(func=execute)
def execute (args: argparse.Namespace ) -> int :
"""Execute the convert command."""
print (f"Converting {args.input } to {args.format } " )
if args.output:
print (f"Output: {args.output} " )
return 0
Custom Type Converter import argparse
from pathlib import Path
def existing_file (value: str ) -> Path:
"""Type converter for existing file paths."""
path = Path(value)
if not path.exists():
raise argparse.ArgumentTypeError(f"File not found: {value} " )
if not path.is_file():
raise argparse.ArgumentTypeError(f"Not a file: {value} " )
return path
def port_number (value: str ) -> int :
"""Type converter for port numbers."""
try :
port = int (value)
except ValueError:
raise argparse.ArgumentTypeError(f"Invalid port number: {value} " )
if not 1 <= port <= 65535 :
raise argparse.ArgumentTypeError(f"Port must be 1-65535: {value} " )
return port
Dependencies [project]
name = "<projectName>"
version = "1.0.0"
requires-python = ">=3.8"
dependencies = []
[project.optional-dependencies]
dev = [
"pytest>=7.0.0" ,
"pytest-cov>=4.0.0" ,
"mypy>=1.0.0" ,
]
[project.scripts]
<projectName> = "<package_name>.cli:main"
Workflow
Validate inputs - Check project name, commands structureCreate directory structure - Set up Python project layoutGenerate pyproject.toml - Configure project metadataCreate CLI entry point - Argparse setup with subparsersGenerate commands - Individual command handlersCreate type converters - Custom argument typesSet up tests - pytest test structureGenerate main .py - Package execution support
Best Practices Applied
Zero external dependencies for core CLI
Type hints throughout
Custom type converters for validation
Mutually exclusive argument groups
Parent parsers for shared arguments
Proper help text and examples
References
Target Processes
cli-application-bootstrap
argument-parser-setup
cli-command-structure-design
Related occupations SOC
Based on SOC occupation classification
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