The simple way to create a command-line utility

Create an easy to use interactive CLI to simplify your workflow with a single YAML file.

Installation

Homebrew

To install via Homebrew just run the following command:

brew install --cask evilmarty/ilc/ilc

Golang

Ensure you have Go installed then run the follow:

go install github.com/evilmarty/ilc

Manual

Binaries are available to download. Get the latest release binary for your platform.

Usage

The usage is as followed:

ilc [--version] [--debug] CONFIG [COMMAND ...] [INPUT ...]

CONFIG is the path to your config file.

COMMAND is one or a cascade of subcommands defined in the config file.

INPUT is one or many inputs inherited by the command.

The best way to use ilc is to include it in the shebang of your config, like so:

#!/usr/bin/env ilc

Commands

If the configuration has defined commands they can either be passed as arguments or an interactive prompt will allow you to choose a command. If the command specified in the arguments has itself subcommands the interactive prompt will appear to complete the selection process.

Inputs

After a command is specified or selected an interactive prompt will ask for input before the command will be executed. Inputs can be passed as arguments or as environment variables that are prefixed with ILC_INPUT_. Inputs that have been passed as arguments will not be asked, only for the inputs that have yet a value.

All inputs will also be accessible via environment variables prefixed with ILC_INPUT_.

Example of passing inputs as arguments

ilc example/ilc.yaml calendar -month feb

Example of passing inputs via environment variables

export ILC_INPUT_month=feb
ilc example/ilc.yaml calendar

Config

description

The overall description of what is the config's purpose. Is optional.

env

Optionally set environment variables for the command. Cascades to descending commands and subcommands. Expressions can be used in values.

shell

The shell to run the command in. Must be in JSON array format. Defaults to ["/bin/sh"].

run

Runs command-line programs using the specified shell. If commands is also defined then run cannot be invoked directly and becomes a template accessible to all nested commands. See Templating for more information.

pure

Setting pure to true to not pass through environment variables and only use environment variables that have been specified or inherited. Subcommands do not inherit this option and must be set for each command.

inputs

Optionally specify inputs to be used in run and env values. Inputs can be passed as arguments or will be asked when invoking a command. Nested commands inherit inputs and cascade down.

inputs.<input_name>

The key input_name is a string and its value is a map of the input's configuration. The name can be used as an argument in the form -<input_name> or --<input_name> followed by a value. The input's value is a string.

inputs.<input_name>.description

Optionally describe the input's purpose or outcome.

inputs.<input_name>.options

Limit the value to a list of acceptable values. Options can be a list of values or a map, with the keys presented as labels and the corresponding values the resulting value.

Example of option types

• A list of options:

inputs:
  month:
    options:
      - January
      - February
      - March
      - April
      - May
      - June
      - July
      - August
      - September
      - October
      - November
      - December

• A map of options:

inputs:
  city:
    options:
      Brisbane: bne
      Melbourne: mlb
      Sydney: syd

inputs.<input_name>.pattern

A regex pattern to validate the input's value. Default is to allow any input.

Example setting an input pattern

inputs:
  year:
    pattern: "(19|20)[0-9]{2}"

inputs.<input_name>.default

Set the default value for the input. It is overwritten when a value is given as an argument or changed when prompted. If a default value is not defined then a value is required.

commands

The commands defined are then available to be invoked from the command line either by passing arguments or by interactive selection. Must define at least one command.

commands.<command_name>

Use commands.<command_name> to give your command a unique name. The key command_name is a string and its value is a map of the command's configuration data. A string value can be used as a shorthand for the run attribute.

Example defining an inline command

commands:
  calendar: cal

commands.<command_name>.description

Optionally describe the command's purpose or outcome.

commands.<command_name>.run

See run for more information.

commands.<command_name>.commands

Define sub-commands in the same structure as commands. All inputs or env defined cascade to all sub-commands. Cannot be used in conjunction with run.

commands.<command_name>.env

Optionally set environment variables for the command. Cascades to descending commands and subcommands. See Templating for more information.

Example of templating an environment variable

commands:
  greet:
    env:
      NAME: "{{ .Input.name }}"
      GREETING: Hello

commands.<command_name>.pure

Setting pure to true to not pass through environment variables and only use environment variables that have been specified or inherited. Subcommands do not inherit this option and must be set for each command.

commands.<command_name>.inputs

Optionally specify inputs to be used in run and env values. Inputs can be passed as arguments or will be asked when invoking a command. Nested commands inherit inputs and cascade down. See inputs for more information.

commands.<command_name>.aliases

Optionally include additional aliases to reference the command. Aliases must be unique within the same parent.

Example of defining aliases

commands:
  files:
    commands:
      list:
        aliases:
          - ls
        run: ls -lf
  directories:
    aliases:
      - dir
    commands:
      list:
        aliases:
          - ls
        run: ls -ld

Templating

Go's template language is available for run and env values to construct complex entries. Templates are evaluated after inputs are collected but before script execution. Along with inputs, templates can access environment variables that are present and regardless whether pure is enabled or not.

Nested commands can include the run scripts from their parent commands. ie. {{template "<command_name>"}}

.Input.<input_name>

The expression to reference an input value. ie. '{{ .Input.my_input }}'

.Env.<variable_name>

The expression to reference an environment variable. ie. '{{ .Env.HOME }}'

input "input_name"

A function to retrieve the input by its name. ie. '{{input "my_input"}}'

env "variable_name"

A function to retrieve the environment variable by its name. ie. '{{env "HOME"}}'

Example config with single command

description: Display a calendar for the month
inputs:
  month:
    options:
      - January
      - February
      - March
      - April
      - May
      - June
      - July
      - August
      - September
      - October
      - November
      - December
run: cal -m {{ .Input.month }}

Example config with commands

description: My awesome CLI
commands:
  weather:
    description: Show the current weather forecast
    run: curl wttr.in?0QF
  calendar:
    description: Display a calendar for the month
    inputs:
      month:
        options:
          - January
          - February
          - March
          - April
          - May
          - June
          - July
          - August
          - September
          - October
          - November
          - December
    run: cal -m {{ .Input.month }}
  greet:
    description: Give a greeting
    inputs:
      name:
        default: World
      greeting:
        options:
          - Hello
          - Hi
          - G'day
    run: echo $GREETING $NAME
    env:
      NAME: "{{ .Input.name }}"
      GREETING: "{{ .Input.greeting }}"