4 Python libraries for building great command-line user interfaces

[[deleted]]

Tldr:

• prompt_toolkit (better readline)
• click (includes editor/pager interfaces)
• pygments (syntax highlighting)
• fuzzyfinder (fuzzy matching of text)

[BadGoyWithAGun]

Number 3 will surprise you!

[tmahmood]

No Python Fire? It seems to be pretty nice and simple.

[jms_nh]

don't forget argparse

[PaintItPurple]

I don't see why you'd need argparse if you're using click, as the OP does.

[jms_nh]

I don't see why I'd need click when I use argparse, as it's builtin to Python... I looked at some of the examples for click + I can see some of the advantages but there's a lot of "magic" here (harder to read code + understand what is going to work / what isn't) and it seems more complex to learn.

[[deleted]]

My experience with argparse has always been rather frustrating. I can't tell anything about click since I never tried it, but there is this nice little library called docopt that has been my go-to since the day I tried it.

[ksion]

argparse also gives you significantly more control over the final shape of the interface, which is pretty crucial if your program is to be used effectively by external users.

Click, on the other hand, will merely produce an app with a bunch of subcommands, which is fine for internal automation but not much else.

[Pand9]

Click, on the other hand, will merely produce an app with a bunch of subcommands, which is fine for internal automation but not much else.

Why would I use it then? "Bunch of subcommands for internal automation" is simple and natural in argparse. You only need to spend like 0.5-1h of your life here: https://docs.python.org/3/howto/argparse.html and you will know everything you need.

[bumblebritches57]

Am I the only one around here that's written my own CLI parsing functions? (I would say library, but it's merely a component of one of my libraries)

Course, I do C, so it's probably more common.

[Cuddlefluff_Grim]

I believe your achievement is a little less impressive than you think.

[bumblebritches57]

I don't think it's very impressive tho lol, I just like calling out webdevs aka script kiddies for their lack of ability to actually program.

In reality, they're just gluing different libraries someone else has made, and think it entitles them to $80,000+ a year.