agent-dx-cli-scale

# Agent DX CLI Scale Use this skill to **evaluate any CLI** against the principles of agent-first design. Score each axis from 0–3, then sum for a total between 0–21. > Human DX optimizes for discoverability and forgiveness. > Agent DX optimizes for predictability and defense-in-depth. > — [You Need to Rewrite Your CLI for AI Agents](/posts/rewrite-your-cli-for-ai-agents) --- ## Scoring Axes ### 1. Machine-Readable Output Can an agent parse the CLI's output without heuristics? | Score | Criteria | | ----- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 0 | Human-only output (tables, color codes, prose). No structured format available. | | 1 | `--output json` or equivalent exists but is incomplete or inconsistent across commands. | | 2 | Consistent JSON output across all commands. Errors also return structured JSON. | | 3 | NDJSON streaming for paginated results. Structured output is the default in non-TTY (piped) contexts. | ### 2. Raw Payload Input Can an agent send the full API payload without translation through bespoke flags? | Score | Criteria | | ----- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 0 | Only bespoke flags. No way to pass structured input. | | 1 | Accepts `--json` or stdin JSON for some commands, but most require flags. | | 2 | All mutating commands accept a raw JSON payload that maps directly to the underlying API schema. | | 3 | Raw payload is first-class alongside convenience flags. The agent can use the API schema as documentation with zero translation loss. | ### 3. Schema Introspection Can an agent discover what the CLI accepts at runtime without pre-stuffed documentation? | Score | Criteria | | ----- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 0 | Only `--help` text. No machine-readable schema. | | 1 | `--help --json` or a `describe` command for some surfaces, but incomplete. | | 2 | Full schema introspection for all commands — params, types, required fields — as JSON. | | 3 | Live, runtime-resolved schemas (e.g., from a discovery document) that always reflect the current API version. Includes scopes, enums, and nested types. | ### 4. Context Window Discipline Does the CLI help agents control response size to protect their context window? | Score | Criteria | | ----- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 0 | Returns full API responses with no way to limit fields or paginate. | | 1 | Supports `--fields` or field masks on some commands. | | 2 | Field masks on all read commands. Pagination with `--page-all` or equivalent. | | 3 | Streaming pagination (NDJSON per page). Explicit guidance in context/skill files on field mask usage. The CLI actively protects the agent from token waste. | ### 5. Input Hardening Does the CLI defend against the specific ways agents fail (hallucinations, not typos)? | Score | Criteria | | ----- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 0 | No input validation beyond basic type checks. | | 1 | Validates some inputs, but does not cover agent-specific hallucination patterns (path traversals, embedded query params, double encoding). | | 2 | Rejects control characters, path traversals (`../`), percent-encoded segments (`%2e`), and embedded query params (`?`, `#`) in resource IDs. | | 3 | Comprehensive hardening: all of the above, plus output path sandboxing to CWD, HTTP-layer percent-encoding, and an explicit security posture — _"The agent is not a trusted operator."_ | ### 6. Safety Rails Can agents validate before acting, and are responses sanitized against prompt injection? | Score | Criteria | | ----- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 0 | No dry-run mode. No response sanitization. | | 1 | `--dry-run` exists for some mutating commands. | | 2 | `--dry-run` for all mutating commands. Agent can validate requests without side effects. | | 3 | Dry-run plus response sanitization (e.g., via Model Armor) to defend against prompt injection embedded in API data. The full request→response loop is defended. | ### 7. Agent Knowledge Packaging Does the CLI ship knowledge in formats agents can consume at conversation start? | Score | Criteria | | ----- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 0 | Only `--help` and a docs site. No agent-specific context files. | | 1 | A `CONTEXT.md` or `AGENTS.md` with basic usage guidance. | | 2 | Structured skill files (YAML frontmatter + Markdown) covering per-command or per-API-surface workflows and invariants. | | 3 | Comprehensive skill library encoding agent-specific guardrails (_"always use --dry-run"_, _"always use --fields"_). Skills are versioned, discoverable, and follow a standard like OpenClaw. | --- ## Interpreting the Total | Range | Rating | Description | | ----- | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 0–5 | **Human-only** | Built for humans. Agents will struggle with parsing, hallucinate inputs, and lack safety rails. | | 6–10 | **Agent-tolerant** | Agents can use it, but they'll waste tokens, make avoidable errors, and require heavy prompt engineering to compensate. | | 11–15 | **Agent-ready** | Solid agent support. Structured I/O, input validation, and some introspection. A few gaps remain. | | 16–21 | **Agent-first** | Purpose-built for agents. Full schema introspection, comprehensive input hardening, safety rails, and packaged agent knowledge. | --- ## Bonus: Multi-Surface Readiness Not scored, but note whether the CLI exposes multiple agent surfaces from the same binary: - [ ] **MCP (stdio JSON-RPC)** — typed tool invocation, no shell escaping - [ ] **Extension / plugin install** — agent treats the CLI as a native capability - [ ] **Headless auth** — env vars for tokens/credentials, no browser redirect required