Building CLI Tools with Claude Code

Command-line tools are the backbone of developer productivity. In this guide, we’ll explore how Claude Code can help you build robust CLI applications faster than ever.

Why CLI Tools?

CLI tools offer several advantages:

• Fast execution and low overhead
• Easy automation and scripting
• Portable across environments
• Perfect for developer workflows

Getting Started

Let’s build a simple but powerful CLI tool for managing TODO lists.

claude-code task "create a Node.js CLI tool for managing todos with add, list, and complete commands"

Claude Code will scaffold the project structure, including:

• Package.json with necessary dependencies
• CLI argument parsing
• File-based storage
• Command implementations

Best Practices

1. Clear Command Structure

Use sub-commands for better organization:

mytool add "Task description"
mytool list --status pending
mytool complete 1

2. Helpful Error Messages

Claude Code can help you add descriptive error handling:

if (!taskId) {
  console.error('Error: Task ID is required');
  console.log('Usage: mytool complete <task-id>');
  process.exit(1);
}

3. Interactive Prompts

For complex inputs, use interactive prompts:

const inquirer = require('inquirer');

const answers = await inquirer.prompt([
  {
    type: 'input',
    name: 'title',
    message: 'Task title:',
  },
  {
    type: 'list',
    name: 'priority',
    message: 'Priority:',
    choices: ['Low', 'Medium', 'High'],
  },
]);

Testing Your CLI

Claude Code can generate comprehensive tests:

claude-code task "write tests for the CLI tool covering all commands and error cases"

Publishing

Once complete, publish to npm:

npm publish

Now your tool is available globally to the community!

Advanced Features

• Colored Output: Use chalk for better UX
• Progress Bars: Show long-running operations
• Configuration Files: Support .mytorc files
• Plugins: Allow extensibility

Conclusion

With Claude Code, building production-ready CLI tools becomes significantly faster. The AI assists with architecture decisions, boilerplate code, error handling, and testing - letting you focus on the unique logic of your tool.

Ready to build your own? Try it today!