Cli For Agents

OrganizationPopular

cursor

cli-for-agents

Designs or reviews CLIs so coding agents can run them reliably: non-interactive flags, layered --help with examples, stdin/pipelines, fast actionable errors, idempotency, dry-run, and predictable structure. Use when building a CLI, adding commands, writing --help, or when the user mentions agents, terminals, or automation-friendly CLIs.

Overview

Publisher	cursor
Repository	`plugins`
Skill name	`cli-for-agents`
Stars	8K
Forks	728
Bundled files	Instructions only
Links	Skill source Repository

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
Self-contained
Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.
Open source
Published by cursor on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Cli For Agents AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/cursor/plugins.git /tmp/plugins
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/plugins/cli-for-agent/skills/cli-for-agents .claude/skills/cli-for-agents

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Cli For Agents in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Cli For Agents on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Cli For Agents is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

CLI for agents

Human-oriented CLIs often block agents: interactive prompts, huge upfront docs, and help text without copy-pasteable examples. Prefer patterns that work headlessly and compose in pipelines.

Non-interactive first

Every input should be expressible as a flag or flag value. Do not require arrow keys, menus, or timed prompts.
If flags are missing, then fall back to interactive mode—not the other way around.

Bad: mycli deploy → ? Which environment? (use arrow keys)
Good: mycli deploy --env staging

Discoverability without dumping context

Agents discover subcommands incrementally: mycli, then mycli deploy --help. Do not print the entire manual on every run.
Let each subcommand own its documentation so unused commands stay out of context.

`--help` that works

Every subcommand has --help.
Every --help includes Examples with real invocations. Examples do more than prose for pattern-matching.

text
Options:
  --env     Target environment (staging, production)
  --tag     Image tag (default: latest)
  --force   Skip confirmation

Examples:
  mycli deploy --env staging
  mycli deploy --env production --tag v1.2.3
  mycli deploy --env staging --force

stdin, flags, and pipelines

Accept stdin where it makes sense (e.g. cat config.json | mycli config import --stdin).
Avoid odd positional ordering and avoid falling back to interactive prompts for missing values.
Support chaining: mycli deploy --env staging --tag $(mycli build --output tag-only).

Fail fast with actionable errors

On missing required flags: exit immediately with a clear message and a correct example invocation, not a hang.

text
Error: No image tag specified.
  mycli deploy --env staging --tag <image-tag>
  Available tags: mycli build list --output tags

Idempotency

Agents retry often. The same successful command run twice should be safe (no-op or explicit "already done"), not duplicate side effects.

Destructive actions

Add --dry-run (or equivalent) so agents can preview plans before committing.
Offer --yes / --force to skip confirmations while keeping the safe default for humans.

Predictable structure

Use a consistent pattern everywhere, e.g. resource + verb: if mycli service list exists, mycli deploy list and mycli config list should follow the same shape.

Success output

On success, return machine-useful data: IDs, URLs, durations. Plain text is fine; avoid relying on decorative output alone.

text
deployed v1.2.3 to staging
url: https://staging.myapp.com
deploy_id: dep_abc123
duration: 34s

When reviewing an existing CLI

Check: non-interactive path, layered help, examples on --help, stdin/pipeline story, error messages with invocations, idempotency, dry-run, confirmation bypass flags, consistent command structure, structured success output.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Cli For Agents AI skill do?

Why use Cli For Agents on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Cli For Agents is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Cli For Agents in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/cursor/plugins/tree/main/cli-for-agent/skills/cli-for-agents. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Cli For Agents?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Cli For Agents?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Cli For Agents with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Cli For Agents AI skill free?

It is published on GitHub by cursor. Check the repository for licensing terms. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

CLI for agents

Non-interactive first

Discoverability without dumping context

--help that works

stdin, flags, and pipelines

Fail fast with actionable errors

Idempotency

Destructive actions

Predictable structure

Success output

When reviewing an existing CLI

Frequently asked questions

Related AI Skills

Set up your own AI workspace now

`--help` that works