NAME

CLI::Simple - a minimalist object oriented base class for CLI applications

SYNOPSIS

#!/usr/bin/env perl

package MyScript;

use strict;
use warnings;

use CLI::Simple::Constants qw(:booleans :chars);
use CLI::Simple qw($AUTO_HELP $AUTO_DEFAULT);

use parent qw(CLI::Simple);

caller or __PACKAGE__->main();

sub execute {
  my ($self) = @_;

  # retrieve a CLI option   
  my $file = $self->get_file;
  ...
}

sub list { 
  my ($self) = @_

  # retrieve a command argument
  my ($file) = $self->get_args();
  ...
}

sub main {

  # Disable auto-default for single commands, enable auto-help
  $AUTO_DEFAULT = 0;
  $AUTO_HELP = 1;

  my $cli = MyScript->new(
   option_specs    => [ qw( help format=s file=s) ],
   default_options => { format => 'json' }, # set some defaults
   extra_options   => [ qw( content ) ], # non-option, setter/getter
   commands        => { execute => \&execute, list => \&list,  }
   alias           => { options => { fmt => 'format' }, commands => { ls => 'list' } },
  );

  return $cli->run();
}

1;

# role-based CLI Application (2.0.0)

# create a YAML manifest my-script.yml in your project root:

---
commands:
  frobnicate: My::Script::Role::Frobnicate
  list:       My::Script::Role::List
options:
  - help|h
  - verbose|v
  - output|o=s

# create a main module

package My::Script;

use CLI::Simple qw(:roles);
use parent qw(CLI::Simple);

our $VERSION = '1.0.0';

caller or exit __PACKAGE__->main;

1;

# create implementation roles

package My::Script::Role::Frobnicate;

use Role::Tiny;
use CLI::Simple::Constants qw(:booleans);

sub cmd_frobnicate {
  my ($self) = @_;
  ...
  return $SUCCESS;
}

1;

DESCRIPTION

Tired of writing the same 'ol boilerplate code for command line scripts? Want a standard, simple way to create a Perl script that takes options and commands? CLI::Simple makes it easy to create scripts that take options, commands and arguments.

CLI::Simple is designed around the modulino pattern - Perl modules that can be executed directly as scripts. See "MODULINOS".

For common constant values (like $TRUE, $DASH, or $SUCCESS), see CLI::Simple::Constants, which pairs naturally with this module.

Version 2.0.0 introduces optional role-based architecture for applications that have outgrown a single module. Declare your commands and options in a YAML manifest, implement each command in a dedicated Role::Tiny role, and CLI::Simple handles composition, dispatch, and lifecycle automatically. Your main module shrinks to a single line:

caller or exit __PACKAGE__->main;

Not ready for a full refactor? Start smaller. The built-in -dump-spec command introspects your existing module and writes a YAML manifest that makes your configuration data-driven without moving a single line of implementation code. Adopt roles incrementally, one command at a time.

When you are ready to scaffold a full role-based project, -scaffold generates role stubs, a slimmed main module, and inter-module dependencies from your manifest. Feed the resulting tarball to CPAN::Maker::Bootstrapper and you have a complete, buildable CPAN distribution in one step.

VERSION

This documentation refers to version 2.0.1.

FEATURES

accept command line arguments ala Getopt::Long
supports commands and command arguments
automatically add a logger
global or custom log levels per command
easily add usage notes
automatically create setter/getters for your script
low dependency profile
optional role-based architecture via YAML manifest
built-in scaffolding tools for migrating legacy scripts to roles
bash completion script generation for modulino wrappers

MODULINOS

A modulino is a Perl module that can also be run directly as a script. The term was coined by Brian D. Foy and the pattern is simple:

caller or __PACKAGE__->main();

When the file is required or used by another module, caller returns the calling package and the expression short-circuits - main() is never called. When the file is executed directly by Perl, caller returns false and main() runs. The same file serves as both a reusable module and an executable script.

CLI::Simple is designed around this pattern. Every CLI::Simple application is expected to be a modulino. The framework's lifecycle, internal commands, bash completion, and scaffolding tools all assume this dual-use design.

Why Modulinos?

The modulino pattern offers several advantages over a traditional script:

Testable - your script logic lives in a proper Perl module that can be used in test files without executing main()
Reusable - other scripts and modules can use your modulino and call its methods directly
Introspectable - tools like -dump-spec and -generate-completion can load your modulino and inspect its live state without running it as a script
Installable - modulinos distribute cleanly as CPAN modules with full man page support via CPAN::Maker::Bootstrapper

The Bash Wrapper

Perl modulinos are invoked via a thin bash wrapper script that locates the installed module file and passes all arguments through to Perl:

#!/usr/bin/env bash
#-*- mode: sh; -*-

MODULINO_WRAPPER=my-script
MODULE_NAME=My::Script
MODULE_PATH=$(MODULE_PATH="${MODULE_NAME//:://}.pm" \
  perl -M$MODULE_NAME -e 'print $INC{$ENV{MODULE_PATH}};')

MODULINO_WRAPPER=$MODULINO_WRAPPER perl $MODULE_PATH "$@"

The wrapper locates the installed .pm file via %INC and sets MODULINO_WRAPPER in the environment so CLI::Simple knows the name of the script the user actually typed. This is used by -generate-completion to name the bash completion function correctly and by CPAN::Maker::Bootstrapper to create man page symlinks.

create-modulino

CLI::Simple ships with a create-modulino tool that generates the bash wrapper for any CLI::Simple modulino:

# create wrapper using module name convention (My::Script -> my-script)
create-modulino -m My::Script

# install to a specific directory
create-modulino -m My::Script -i /usr/local/bin

# use a custom wrapper name
create-modulino -m My::Script -a my-alias -i /usr/local/bin

create-modulino is itself a modulino - an example of the pattern it creates. The bash wrapper template lives in its __DATA__ section, keeping the tool entirely self-contained.

If you are building a CPAN distribution, CPAN::Maker::Bootstrapper integrates create-modulino into the make modulino target, generating and installing the wrapper as part of the build process.

MODULINO_WRAPPER

The MODULINO_WRAPPER environment variable tells CLI::Simple the name of the wrapper script that invoked the modulino. It is set by the wrapper and used by:

-generate-completion - to name the bash completion function and complete target correctly
Man page symlinks via CPAN::Maker::Bootstrapper - so man my-script resolves to the module's man page

If MODULINO_WRAPPER is not set, CLI::Simple infers the script name from the module name by convention - My::Script becomes my-script. Set it explicitly when the wrapper name does not follow this convention.

QUICK START

Single-Module Application

The simplest way to use CLI::Simple is to subclass it and define your commands as methods in the same module:

package My::Script;

use strict;
use warnings;

use CLI::Simple::Constants qw(:booleans);

use parent qw(CLI::Simple);

caller or __PACKAGE__->main;

sub cmd_frobnicate {
  my ($self) = @_;
  my $output = $self->get_output;
  ...
  return $SUCCESS;
}

sub main {
  __PACKAGE__->new(
    option_specs => [ qw( help|h verbose|v output|o=s ) ],
    commands     => { frobnicate => \&cmd_frobnicate },
  )->run;
}

1;

Role-Based Application

For larger applications, declare your commands and options in a YAML manifest and implement each command in a dedicated Role::Tiny role. Your main module becomes a single declaration:

package My::Script;

use strict;
use warnings;

use CLI::Simple qw(:roles);
use parent qw(CLI::Simple);

our $VERSION = '1.0.0';

caller or exit __PACKAGE__->main;

1;

Naming convention: The YAML manifest filename is derived from your module name - My::Script looks for my-script.yml in the distribution share directory. You must package the spec file with your distribution.

The manifest maps commands to roles:

---
commands:
  frobnicate: My::Script::Role::Frobnicate
  list:       My::Script::Role::List
options:
  - help|h
  - verbose|v
  - output|o=s

Each role implements one or more commands:

package My::Script::Role::Frobnicate;

use Role::Tiny;
use CLI::Simple::Constants qw(:booleans);

sub cmd_frobnicate {
  my ($self) = @_;
  ...
  return $SUCCESS;
}

1;

To scaffold role stubs from an existing modulino, run the built-in -scaffold command:

my-script -scaffold

To scaffold from an existing manifest - including a new one written by hand or generated by -dump-spec - pass the spec file path:

cli-simple -scaffold my-script.yml

Or let CLI::Simple generate the manifest and scaffold from an existing modulino in one step:

my-script -migrate

See "ROLE-BASED ARCHITECTURE" for the complete workflow including the baby-step migration path.

ROLE-BASED ARCHITECTURE

CLI::Simple 2.0.0 introduces an optional role-based architecture for applications that have grown beyond a single module. Commands are implemented in dedicated Role::Tiny roles and declared in a YAML manifest. CLI::Simple composes the roles, builds the dispatch table, and provides an inherited main() - potentially reducing your main module to a single declaration.

The YAML Manifest

The manifest is a YAML file that declares your commands, options, and defaults. By convention the filename is derived from your module name:

My::Script        ->  my-script.yml
CPAN::Maker::Bootstrapper  ->  cpan-maker-bootstrapper.yml

CLI::Simple locates the manifest via File::ShareDir using the distribution name derived from the module name. The manifest must be installed as part of the distribution - it cannot be loaded from an arbitrary location.

Security note: The manifest is loaded exclusively from the distribution share directory via File::ShareDir. A manifest that was not installed as part of the distribution cannot be loaded. This provides the same security model as Perl module loading itself.

A minimal manifest:

---
commands:
  frobnicate: My::Script::Role::Frobnicate
  list:       My::Script::Role::List
options:
  - help|h
  - verbose|v
  - output|o=s

A complete manifest with all supported keys:

---
commands:
  frobnicate: My::Script::Role::Frobnicate
  list:       My::Script::Role::List
  default:    cmd_frobnicate
options:
  - help|h
  - verbose|v
  - output|o=s
default_options:
  verbose: 0
extra_options:
  - dbh
  - config_data

Command Values

Each command in the manifest maps to either a role class name or a sub name:

Role class name (contains ::) - the role is composed into your main module and the method cmd_command is resolved from the role. code-review resolves to cmd_code_review.
Sub name - resolved directly via can() on your class. Use this for alias commands that point to an existing method:
```
default: cmd_frobnicate
```

Roles With No Commands

Some roles provide framework behavior rather than commands - for example an init() method for startup validation. Since these roles have no command entry in the manifest they must be composed manually in your main module:

package My::Script;

use CLI::Simple qw(:roles);
use Role::Tiny::With;
use parent qw(CLI::Simple);

with 'My::Script::Role::Init';

caller or exit __PACKAGE__->main;

1;

Note: A future version of CLI::Simple will support an extra_roles key in the manifest to handle this automatically.

Activating Role-Based Architecture

Add :roles to your use CLI::Simple statement:

use CLI::Simple qw(:roles);

This triggers manifest loading at compile time. The manifest is located using the fallback chain described above. Roles are composed into your class and the dispatch table is built before new() is called.

The Inherited main()

When using :roles, your class inherits main() from CLI::Simple. It reads the manifest, constructs the object with the manifest's options and dispatch table, and calls run():

caller or exit __PACKAGE__->main;

Override main() in your subclass only if you need to add behaviour that cannot be expressed in the manifest or init().

Distributing the Manifest

Add the manifest to your distribution's share directory. CPAN::Maker users can add it extra-files in buildspec.yml so it is installed into the share directory:

extra-files:
  - share:
    - my-script.yml

During development the manifest is found via %INC. After installation it is found via File::ShareDir. No code changes required between the two environments. =head1 PHILOSOPHY AND DESIGN PRINCIPLES

CLI::Simple is intentionally minimalist. It provides just enough structure to build command-line tools with subcommands, option parsing, and help handling -- but without enforcing any particular framework or lifecycle.

Not a Framework

This module is not App::Cmd, MooseX::Getopt, or a full application toolkit. Instead, it offers:

An object-oriented base class with a clean run() dispatcher
Command-line parsing via Getopt::Long
Built-in logging via Log::Log4perl
Subclass hooks like init() for setup and validation
Optional role-based architecture via YAML manifest for larger applications

The philosophy is: provide just enough infrastructure, then get out of your way.

Validation, Defaults, and Configuration

CLI::Simple does not impose a validation model. You may:

Use Getopt::Long features (e.g., type constraints, default values)
Write your own validation logic in init()
Throw exceptions, emit usage, or exit early at any point

The lifecycle is explicit and under your control. You decide how much structure you want to add on top of it.

When to Use

CLI::Simple is ideal for:

Internal tools and admin scripts
Bootstrapped CLIs where you don't want a framework
Users who want to subclass a clean, minimal interface
Applications that have grown beyond a single module and benefit from role-based command composition

For interactive CLI handling or complex command trees, consider App::Cmd or CLI::Framework.

The init-run Lifecycle

Phase 0: Internal Commands

Before anything else, CLI::Simple checks @ARGV for internal commands prefixed with -. If one is found it executes immediately and exits. See "INTERNAL COMMANDS".
Phase 1: Manifest Loading

For role-based applications using use CLI::Simple qw(:roles), the YAML manifest is loaded at compile time during import. Roles are composed into the calling class and the dispatch table is built before new() is ever called. Single-module applications skip this phase entirely.
Phase 2: Initialization (new = init)>

The constructor parses command-line arguments via Getopt::Long, creates accessors for all options, and calls your init() method. Inside init(), your application has full access to the parsed options and arguments. This phase is the ideal hook for all final setup tasks, such as:
- Validating command-line arguments.
- Loading configuration files based on a --config option.
- Dynamically overriding the command (e..g, $self->command('new_default')).
- Performing any setup required before a command is run.
Phase 3: Execution (run)

Dispatches to the command method determined during initialization.

"opt-in" Default Command

By design, CLI::Simple does not impose a default command. This provides total flexibility for the application author:

You Can Set a Default: If your application needs a default command (e.g., to run help when no command is given), you can set $AUTO_HELP, explicitly set the default command in the command hash you pass to the constructor or use command() to set one inside the init() method.
You Can Have No Default: If you do not set a default, run() will simply do nothing and return cleanly if no command is provided on the command line.

This "no default by default" behavior is what enables a powerful "setup-only" execution mode. A user can run your script without specifying a command. This will:

1. Run the entire new() / init() phase, performing all setup.
2. Call run(), which will find no command and exit cleanly.

This provides an ideal hook for applications that need to perform "on-demand initialization" (e.g., seeding a database, authenticating) by checking for a specific flag inside init(), without also triggering an unwanted command.

In role-based applications using a YAML manifest, a default command that aliases another command should map to the sub name directly rather than a role class:

commands:
  default: cmd_install
  install: My::Module::Role::Installer

`$AUTO_HELP` and `$AUTO_DEFAULT`

Two package variables can be used to further control the lifecycle. By default, the framework provides no default command as explained in the sections above. Some scripters may want default behaviors that assume a command or provide usage if no command is provided.

$AUTO_HELP

Set the package variable $AUTO_HELP to a true value if you want CLI::Simple to provide help when no command is provided.

default: false

$AUTO_DEFAULT

Set the package variable $AUTO_DEFAULT to a true value if you want CLI::Simple to automatically select a command if you have only 1 command defined and no command is provided on the command line. When true, it will prepend the single command name to the argument list, allowing any subsequent arguments to be correctly parsed as args for that command.

default: false

CONSTANTS

CLI::Simple does not define its own constants directly, but it is often used in conjunction with CLI::Simple::Constants, which provides a collection of exportable values commonly needed in command-line scripts.

These include:

Boolean flags like $TRUE, $FALSE, $SUCCESS, and $FAILURE
Common character tokens such as $COLON, $DASH, $EQUALS_SIGN, etc.
Log level names compatible with Log::Log4perl

To use them in your script:

use CLI::Simple::Constants qw(:all);

ADDITIONAL NOTES

All options are case insensitive
See CLI::Simple::Utils to learn about additional utilities useful when writing scripts, including choose, slurp, and dmp.
%INTERNAL_COMMANDS is a package variable - subclasses can add their own internal commands by pushing entries into the hash before calling new().

INTERNAL COMMANDS

CLI::Simple reserves command names beginning with - for its own use. These commands are intercepted before option parsing begins and execute immediately, bypassing the normal lifecycle entirely. See "The init-run Lifecycle".

Internal commands are dispatched via the %INTERNAL_COMMANDS package variable:

our %INTERNAL_COMMANDS = (
  '-generate-completion' => \&_cmd_generate_completion,
  '-dump-spec'           => \&_cmd_dump_spec,
  '-scaffold'            => \&_cmd_scaffold,
  '-migrate'             => \&_cmd_migrate,
);

Subclasses can add their own internal commands by extending the hash before new() is called:

our %INTERNAL_COMMANDS = (
  %CLI::Simple::INTERNAL_COMMANDS,
  '-my-command' => \&_cmd_my_command,
);

-generate-completion

Generates a bash completion script for the script's commands and options, derived from the live object state. Bash completions are a feature that allows the shell to automatically finish commands, file paths, and options when you press the Tab key.

my-script -generate-completion > \
  ~/.local/share/bash-completion/completions/my-script

After generating the bash completion script, source it in your current shell to test:

source ~/.local/share/bash-completion/completions/my-script

Test by typing your script name followed by a space and pressing Tab. You should see the available commands. To verify option completion, type -- and press Tab.

To make completions permanent, most systems automatically source files placed in ~/.local/share/bash-completion/completions/ when bash-completion 2.x is installed. If your system does not pick them up automatically, add the following to your ~/.bashrc:

source ~/.local/share/bash-completion/completions/my-script

Alternatively, place the generated file in the system-wide completion directory (requires root):

my-script -generate-completion > \
  /etc/bash_completion.d/my-script

The script name is taken from the first argument if provided, then MODULINO_WRAPPER if set, then inferred from the module name. If the inferred name cannot be found in PATH, a warning is issued but the completion script is still generated.

Note: If you created the modulino with the supplied create-modulino tool MODULINO_WRAPPER is already set inside the bash script that invokes the modulino.

Case 1: Your modulino wrapper and module name are aligned

The modulino script my-modulino refers to My::Modulino

my-modulino -generate-completion

Case 2: Your modulino wrapper was created using create-modulino

The modulino script my-alias refers to My::Modulino. They are not aligned however MODULINO_WRAPPER is set by the bash wrapper.

my-alias -generate-completion

Case 3: Your modulino is an alias not created by create-modulino

The script name my-alias is not aligned with your module name My::Module and your modulino wrapper does not set MODULINO_WRAPPER. The -generate-completion script called by your custom wrapper most likely only resolves the program name as the path to your Perl module:

path-to-modules/My/Module.pm

...in this case you need to supply the alias name or set MODULINO_WRAPPER in the environment.

my-alias -generate-completion my-alias

-dump-spec

Introspects the running modulino and writes a YAML manifest to the current directory. The filename is derived from the module name by convention.

my-script -dump-spec           # sub names - baby step toward roles
my-script -dump-spec roles     # role class names - full commitment

Without the roles argument, commands map to their existing sub names so the manifest can be used immediately without moving any code. With roles, commands map to derived role class names suitable for use with -scaffold.

Alias commands - those whose coderef resolves to a sub name that does not match the command key - are always written as sub names regardless of mode.

-scaffold

Generates a role-based project tarball from the running modulino or from an explicit spec file. The tarball contains role stubs, a slimmed main module with extracted POD, a project.mk with inter-module dependencies, and the YAML manifest.

my-script -scaffold                        # introspect live module
cli-simple -scaffold my-script.yml         # scaffold from spec file

The tarball is named my-script-roles.tar.gz by convention (the lower case snake cased version of the class name). The name is used to infer the class name. If your filename is different than the classes you want to scaffold, you will need to edit the files.

Feed the tarball to CPAN::Maker::Bootstrapper via the import-scaffold command to produce a complete buildable CPAN distribution.

-migrate

Combines -dump-spec roles and -scaffold in a single step.

my-script -migrate

Writes the YAML manifest then generates the role-based tarball. Use this when you are ready for a full migration and do not need to inspect or edit the manifest first. If you want to review or adjust the manifest before scaffolding, run -dump-spec and -scaffold separately.

METHODS AND SUBROUTINES

new

new( args )

Instantiates a new CLI::Simple instance, parses options, optionally initializes logging, and makes options available via dynamically generated accessors.

Note: The new() constructor uses Getopt::Long's GetOptions, which directly modifies @ARGV by removing any recognized options. The remaining elements of @ARGV are treated as the command name and its arguments.

args is a hash or hash reference containing the following keys:

abbreviations

A boolean that determines whether abbreviated command names are allowed.

When true, the run() method will treat the provided command as a prefix and compare it to the keys in the command hash. If exactly one match is found, it will be used. If more than one match is found, or if no match is found, run() will throw an exception.

This allows for convenient shorthand like:
```
mytool disable-sched    # expands to 'disable-scheduled-task'
```
default: false
commands (required)

A hash mapping command names to either a subroutine reference or an array reference.

If an array reference is used, the first element must be a subroutine reference and the second should be a valid log level. (See "Per Command Log Levels".)

Example:
```
{
  send          => \&send_message,
  receive       => \&receive_message,
  list_messages => [ \&list_messages, 'error' ],
}
```
If your script does not use command names, you may set a default key to the subroutine or method to run:
```
{ default => \&main }
```
If no default is provided, the behavior is controlled by the $AUTO_DEFAULT and $AUTO_HELP package variables.

Setting $AUTO_DEFAULT to true when your commands hash contains only a single command, will cause that command to be run automatically when no command name is given on the command line. This allows you to treat the program like a single-command tool, where arguments can be passed directly without explicitly naming the command.
default_options (optional)

A hash reference providing default values for options. These values apply if the corresponding option is not given on the command line.
extra_options (optional)

An array reference of names for additional accessors you want to create, even if they are not part of option_specs.

Example:
```
extra_options => [ qw(foo bar baz) ]
```
option_specs (optional)

An array reference of option specifications, as accepted by Getopt::Long. These define the command-line options your program recognizes.

command

command
command(command)

Get or sets the command to execute. Usually this is the first argument on the command line after all options have been parsed. There are times when you might want to override the argument. You can pass a new command that will be executed when you call the run() method.

commands (required)

commands
commands(command, handler)

Returns the hash you passed in the constructor as commands or can be used to insert a new command into the commands hash. handler should be a code reference.

commands(foo => sub { return 'foo' });

main

__PACKAGE__->main;

For role-based applications, main is inherited from CLI::Simple and reads the YAML manifest loaded during import. It constructs the object with the manifest's options, default options, extra options, and dispatch table, then calls run().

In a role-based modulino the entire main sub reduces to:

caller or exit __PACKAGE__->main;

For single-module applications, override main in your subclass as usual.

run

Execute the script with the given options, commands and arguments. The run method interprets the command line and passes control to your command subroutines. Your subroutines should return a 0 for success and a non-zero value for failure. This error code is passed to the shell as the script return code.

get_args

Return the arguments that follow the command.

get_args(NAME, ... )     # with names
get_args()               # raw positional args

With names

In scalar context, returns a hash reference mapping each NAME to the corresponding positional argument.
In list context, returns a flat list of (name = value)> pairs.

Example:

sub send_message {
  my ($self) = @_;

  my %args = $self->get_args(qw(message email));

  _send_message($args{message}, $args{email});
}

When you call get_args with a list of names, values are assigned in order: the first name gets the first argument, the second name gets the second argument, and so on. If you only want specific positions, you may use undef as a placeholder:

my %args = $self->get_args('message', undef, 'cc');  # args 1 and 3

If there are fewer positional arguments than names, the remaining names are set to undef. Extra positional arguments (beyond the provided names) are ignored.

With no names

In scalar context returns an array reference containing the command's positional arguments.
In list context returns a list containing the command's positional arguments.

init

If you define your own init() method, it will be called by the constructor. Use this method to perform any actions you require before you execute the run() method.

USING PACKAGE VARIABLES

You can pass the necessary parameter required to implement your command line scripts in the constructor or some people prefer to see them clearly defined in the code. Accordingly, you can use package variables with the same name as the constructor arguments (in upper case).

our $OPTION_SPECS = [
  qw(
    help|h
    log-level=s|L
    debug|d
  )
];

our $COMMANDS = {
  foo => \&foo,
  bar => \&bar,
};

Subclasses can also extend the built-in internal commands by adding entries to %INTERNAL_COMMANDS:

our %INTERNAL_COMMANDS = (
  %CLI::Simple::INTERNAL_COMMANDS,
  '-my-command' => \&_cmd_my_command,
);

COMMAND LINE OPTIONS

Command-line options are defined using Getopt::Long-style specifications. You pass these into the constructor via the option_specs parameter:

my $cli = CLI::Simple->new(
  option_specs => [ qw( help|h foo-bar=s log-level=s ) ]
);

In your command subroutines, you can access these values using automatically generated getter methods:

$cli->get_foo();
$cli->get_log_level();

Option names that contain dashes (-) are automatically converted to snake_case for the accessor methods. For example:

option_specs => [ 'foo-bar=s' ]

...results in:

$cli->get_foo_bar();

set_args

Resets the positional arguments.

$self->set_args(qw(foo 1));

This method overrides the positional arguments originally passed to the script. You can achieve the same behavior by calling the get_args in scalar context and modifying the reference.

my $args = $self->get_args;
$args->[1] = '2';

Use this technique when you want don't want to alter the entire set of arguments.

COMMAND ARGUMENTS

If your commands accept positional arguments, you can retrieve them using the get_args method.

You may optionally provide a list of argument names, in which case the arguments will be returned as a hash (or hashref in scalar context) with named values.

Example:

sub send_message {
  my ($self) = @_;

  my %args = $self->get_args(qw(phone_number message));

  send_sms_message($args{phone_number}, $args{message});
}

If you call get_args() without any argument names, it simply returns all remaining arguments as a list:

my ($phone_number, $message) = $self->get_args;

Note: When called with names, get_args returns a hash in list context and a hash reference in scalar context.

CUSTOM ERROR HANDLER

By default, CLI::Simple will exit if GetOptions returns a false value, indicating an error while parsing options. You can override this behavior in one of two ways:

Set $CLI::Simple::GETOPT_EXIT_ON_ERROR to a false value.

This disables automatic exiting and lets your program decide what to do after an option-parsing failure.

Provide an error_handler callback in the constructor.

my $cli = CLI::Simple->new(
  commands        => \%commands,
  default_options => \%default_options,
  extra_options   => \@extra_options,
  option_specs    => \@option_specs,
  abbreviations   => $TRUE,
  error_handler   => sub {
    my ($msg) = @_;
    print {*STDERR} $msg;
    return $TRUE;   # continue processing
  },
);

The error handler is called with the error message from GetOptions. It must return a boolean: a true value allows processing to continue, while a false value causes CLI::Simple to exit immediately.

SETTING DEFAULT VALUES FOR OPTIONS

To assign default values to your options, pass a hash reference as the default_options argument to the constructor. These values will be used unless explicitly overridden by the user on the command line.

Example:

my $cli = CLI::Simple->new(
  default_options => { foo => 'bar' },
  option_specs    => [ qw(foo=s bar=s) ],
  commands        => {
    foo => \&foo,
    bar => \&bar,
  },
);

Defaulted options are accessible through their corresponding getter methods, just like options set via the command line.

ADDING USAGE TO YOUR SCRIPTS

To provide built-in usage/help output, include a =head1 USAGE section in your script's POD:

=head1 USAGE

  usage: myscript [options] command args

  Options
  -------
  --help, -h      Display help
  ...

If the user supplies the command help, or the --help option, CLI::Simple will display this section automatically:

perl myscript.pm --help
perl myscript.pm help

Custom help() Method

If you need full control over the help output, you can define a custom help method and assign it as a command:

commands => {
  help => \&help,
  ...
}

This is useful if your module follows the modulino pattern and you want to present usage information that differs from the embedded POD. Without a custom handler, CLI::Simple defaults to displaying the USAGE POD section.

ADDING ADDITIONAL SETTERS

All command-line options are automatically available through getter methods named get_*.

If you need to create additional accessors (getters and setters) for values that are not derived from the command line, use the extra_options parameter.

This is useful for passing runtime configuration or computed values throughout your application.

Example:

my $cli = CLI::Simple->new(
  default_options => { foo => 'bar' },
  option_specs    => [ qw(foo=s bar=s) ],
  extra_options   => [ qw(biz buz baz) ],
  commands        => {
    foo => \&foo,
    bar => \&bar,
  },
);

This will generate get_biz, set_biz, get_buz, etc., for internal use.

LOGGING

CLI::Simple integrates with Log::Log4perl to provide structured logging for your scripts.

To enable logging, call the class method use_log4perl() in your module or script:

__PACKAGE__->use_log4perl(
  level  => 'info',
  config => $log4perl_config_string
);

If you do not explicitly include a log-level option in your option_specs, CLI::Simple will automatically add one for you.

Once enabled, you can access the logger instance via:

my $logger = $self->get_logger;

This logger supports the standard Log4perl methods like info, debug, warn, etc.

Per Command Log Levels

Some commands may require more verbose logging than others. For example, certain commands might perform complex actions that benefit from detailed logs, while others are designed solely to produce clean, structured output.

To assign a custom log level to a command, use an array reference as the value for that command in the commands hash passed to the constructor.

The array reference should contain at least two elements:

A code reference to the command subroutine
A log level string: one of 'trace', 'debug', 'info', 'warn', 'error', or 'fatal'

Example:

CLI::Simple->new(
  option_specs    => [qw( help format=s )],
  default_options => { format => 'json' },  # set some defaults
  extra_options   => [qw( content )],       # non-option, setter/getter
  commands        => {
    execute => \&execute,
    list    => [ \&list, 'error' ],
  }
)->run;

TIP: add other elements to the array for your command to process.

Note: Per-command log levels are not currently supported in the YAML manifest. Define them programmatically by overriding main() if needed.

FAQ

How do I execute startup code before my command runs?

Implement an init() method in your class. The new() constructor will invoke this method before returning and before run() is executed.

Your init() method will have access to all options and arguments. Logging will also be initialized, so you can use get_logger() to emit messages.
Do I need to implement commands?

No. If your script doesn't support multiple commands, you can specify a default key instead:
```
commands => { default => \&main }
```
Must I subclass CLI::Simple?

No. You can use it procedurally or functionally.
How do I turn my class into a script?

Use the modulino pattern: create a class that checks whether it is being invoked directly:
```
package MyScript;

caller or __PACKAGE__->main();

sub main {
  ...
}
```
This lets the file be used as both a module and an executable script.
How do I migrate an existing script to role-based architecture?

Run the built-in -dump-spec command to generate a YAML manifest from your existing script, then -scaffold to generate role stubs:
```
my-script -dump-spec        # generates my-script.yml
my-script -scaffold         # generates my-script-roles.tar.gz
```
See "ROLE-BASED ARCHITECTURE" for the full migration workflow.
How do I start a new role-based project from scratch?

Write a YAML manifest and use the cli-simple wrapper to scaffold it:
```
cli-simple -scaffold my-script.yml
```
See "ROLE-BASED ARCHITECTURE" for the manifest format.
How do I enable bash completion for my script?

Your script must be invoked via a bash modulino wrapper with MODULINO_WRAPPER set. Then run:
```
my-script -generate-completion > \
  ~/.local/share/bash-completion/completions/my-script
```
Wrappers generated by CPAN::Maker::Bootstrapper set MODULINO_WRAPPER automatically.

How do I add my own internal commands?

Add entries to %INTERNAL_COMMANDS before calling new():

our %INTERNAL_COMMANDS = (
  %CLI::Simple::INTERNAL_COMMANDS,
  '-my-command' => \&_cmd_my_command,
);

ALIASING OPTIONS AND COMMANDS

CLI::Simple lets you define short, human-friendly aliases for both option names and command names. Use the alias parameter to new():

my $app = CLI::Simple->new(
  option_specs    => [ qw(config=s verbose!) ],
  commands        => { list => \&list, execute => \&execute },
  alias => {
    options  => { cfg => 'config', v => 'verbose' },
    commands => { ls  => 'list'   }
  },
);

How option aliases work

Spec tail is copied automatically

You only name the canonical option in option_specs. For each alias, CLI::Simple finds the canonical option's spec tail (for example =s, :i, !, +) and appends it to the alias. In the example above, cfg behaves as if you had written cfg=s, and v behaves as if you had written v!.

Note: If your option includes a one-letter short-cut and the alias does not start with the same letter it will not be automatically enabled as a short-cut.
Accessors are created for both names

Accessors are generated from all option names (canonical and aliases), with '-' normalized to '_'. In the example, both get_config() and get_cfg() are available.
Values are mirrored after parsing

After option parsing and normalization, values are mirrored so either name can be used consistently. If both the canonical name and its alias are provided on the command line, the alias wins and becomes the final value for both names.
No duplicate injection

If the alias already exists in option_specs, it will not be injected again; value mirroring still occurs.
Errors are explicit

If an alias points at a canonical option that does not exist, CLI::Simple croaks with a clear error.
Case sensitivity

Getopt::Long is used with :config no_ignore_case, so option names (and therefore aliases) are case sensitive by default.

How command aliases work

Simple mapping

Provide alias = { commands => { alias => canonical } }> to map an alias to an existing command. In the example, ls dispatches to the list command.
Applied before abbreviations

Aliases are installed before command abbreviation resolution. If you enable abbreviations, they apply to the full set of command names, including any aliases.
Errors are explicit

If an alias points at a command that does not exist, CLI::Simple croaks with a clear error.

Usage examples

# Using an option alias
script.pl --cfg app.json execute

# Using a command alias
script.pl ls

After parsing, both get_config() and get_cfg() will return the same value. If the user passes both --config and --cfg, the value from --cfg (the alias) is used.

Note: In role-based applications using a YAML manifest, command aliases are expressed by mapping the alias command directly to the target sub name rather than a role class. See "ROLE-BASED ARCHITECTURE".

Recommendations

Keep the canonical spec single-named

Define a single canonical name in option_specs and add other spellings via alias. Avoid multi-name specs like config|cfg=s; use alias instead.
Document your precedence

If you prefer the alias name to win when both are supplied, enforce that in your application or adjust the mirroring order. By default, the canonical name wins.

ERRORS/EXIT CODES

When you execute the run() method it passes control to the method that implements the command specified on the command line. Your method is expected to return 0 for success or an error code that you can pass to the shell on exit.

exit CLI::Simple->new(commands => { foo => \&cmd_foo })->run();

Exit Codes

CLI::Simple uses conventional exit codes so that calling scripts can distinguish between normal completion and error conditions.

'0'

Successful completion of a command (SUCCESS).
'1'

General usage error, such as --help display via pod2usage, or an invalid command line (FAILURE).
'2'

Option parsing failure, such as an unrecognized option or invalid argument (also reported as FAILURE).
Any other code

If a user-supplied command callback explicitly calls exit() or returns a numeric value other than 0 - 2, that code is passed through unchanged to the shell. This allows application-specific exit codes.

EXAMPLE

Run the shell script that comes with the distribution to output a working example:

cli-simple-example > example.pl

For a role-based example, see "QUICK START".

LICENSE AND COPYRIGHT

This module is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself. See https://dev.perl.org/licenses/ for more information.

AUTHOR

Rob Lauer - <rlauer@treasurersbriefcase.com>

To install CLI::Simple, copy and paste the appropriate command in to your terminal.

cpanm

cpanm CLI::Simple

CPAN shell

perl -MCPAN -e shell
install CLI::Simple

For more information on module installation, please visit the detailed CPAN module installation guide.

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NAME

SYNOPSIS

DESCRIPTION

VERSION

FEATURES

MODULINOS

Why Modulinos?

The Bash Wrapper

create-modulino

MODULINO_WRAPPER

QUICK START

Single-Module Application

Role-Based Application

ROLE-BASED ARCHITECTURE

The YAML Manifest

Command Values

Roles With No Commands

Activating Role-Based Architecture

The Inherited main()

Distributing the Manifest

Not a Framework

Validation, Defaults, and Configuration

When to Use

The init-run Lifecycle

"opt-in" Default Command

$AUTO_HELP and $AUTO_DEFAULT

CONSTANTS

ADDITIONAL NOTES

INTERNAL COMMANDS

-generate-completion

-dump-spec

-scaffold

-migrate

METHODS AND SUBROUTINES

new

command

commands (required)

main

run

get_args

With names

With no names

init

USING PACKAGE VARIABLES

COMMAND LINE OPTIONS

set_args

COMMAND ARGUMENTS

CUSTOM ERROR HANDLER

SETTING DEFAULT VALUES FOR OPTIONS

ADDING USAGE TO YOUR SCRIPTS

Custom help() Method

ADDING ADDITIONAL SETTERS

LOGGING

Per Command Log Levels

FAQ

ALIASING OPTIONS AND COMMANDS

How option aliases work

How command aliases work

Usage examples

Recommendations

ERRORS/EXIT CODES

Exit Codes

EXAMPLE

LICENSE AND COPYRIGHT

SEE ALSO

AUTHOR

Module Install Instructions

Keyboard Shortcuts

`$AUTO_HELP` and `$AUTO_DEFAULT`