Command-line interfaces (CLIs) are fundamentally an important component of developer productivity and automation, yet many developers hesitate to build their own tools due to perceived complexity. In this talk, I will share my journey of going from no prior CLI experience to creating a fully functional, user-friendly CLI application in just four weeks using Golang and the Cobra library. The session will delve into the Unix philosophy as the foundation for understanding effective CLI design from the ground up, emphasizing simplicity, composability, and doing one thing well. Attendees will learn how to craft intuitive commands with human-first design principles, balancing clear, minimal output with actionable feedback.
We will explore Cobra’s powerful features, including subcommands, flags, shell completions, and intelligent suggestions, demonstrating how they accelerate and enhance the user experience. The talk will also cover advanced topics, including integrating natural language processing (NLP) to enable conversational command parsing, best practices for testing and configuration management, and strategies for error handling and security. Through code examples and my insights, this session equips developers to build scalable, maintainable CLIs that help users and fit into modern workflows.
Target Audience:
Go developers and software engineers interested in CLI development
DevOps practitioners and automation enthusiasts seeking better tooling
Beginners eager to learn practical CLI building from scratch
Technical leads and architects exploring scalable CLI design patterns
Anyone curious about blending traditional CLI design with modern NLP techniques
This talk aligns with FOSS United’s mission by empowering developers to create open, efficient, and user-friendly CLI tools that can be freely shared and extended within the community.
Key Highlights:
Applying Unix philosophy to design modular, composable CLI commands
Human-first CLI design: usability, discoverability, and meaningful output
Deep dive into Cobra’s architecture and advanced features
Structuring Go CLI projects for scalability and maintainability
Integrating NLP to enhance developer interaction and command discovery
Best practices for testing, configuration, logging, and error handling
Performance optimizations and security considerations for CLI tools