Cli Anything logo

Cli Anything

OrganizationPopular
HKUDS
cli-anything

Use when the user wants OpenClaw to build, refine, test, or validate a CLI-Anything harness for a GUI application or source repository. Adapts the CLI-Anything methodology to OpenClaw without changing the generated Python harness format.

Overview

PublisherHKUDS
RepositoryCLI-Anything
Skill namecli-anything
Stars
49.5K
Forks
4.6K
Bundled files
37
LicenseApache-2.0
Links
  • 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.

  • 37 bundled files

    Scripts, templates, and references the model can read while it works. Files are read-only and never executed.

  • Open source

    Published by HKUDS on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

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

1

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.

  1. Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
  2. Choose "Install from GitHub".
  3. Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
  4. 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.
2

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/HKUDS/CLI-Anything.git /tmp/CLI-Anything
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/CLI-Anything/macrocli .claude/skills/cli-anything
Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Cli Anything 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 Anything 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 Anything 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-Anything for OpenClaw

Use this skill when the user wants OpenClaw to act like the CLI-Anything builder.

If this skill is being used from inside the CLI-Anything repository, read ../cli-anything-plugin/HARNESS.md before implementation. That file is the full methodology source of truth. If it is not available, follow the condensed rules below.

Inputs

Accept either:

  • A local source path such as ./gimp or /path/to/software
  • A GitHub repository URL

Derive the software name from the local directory name after cloning if needed.

Modes

Build

Use when the user wants a new harness.

Produce this structure:

text
<software>/
└── agent-harness/
    ├── <SOFTWARE>.md
    ├── setup.py
    └── cli_anything/
        └── <software>/
            ├── README.md
            ├── __init__.py
            ├── __main__.py
            ├── <software>_cli.py
            ├── core/
            ├── utils/
            └── tests/

Implement a stateful Click CLI with:

  • one-shot subcommands
  • REPL mode as the default when no subcommand is given
  • --json machine-readable output
  • session state with undo/redo where the target software supports it

Refine

Use when the harness already exists.

First inventory current commands and tests, then do gap analysis against the target software. Prefer:

  • high-impact missing features
  • easy wrappers around existing backend APIs or CLIs
  • additions that compose well with existing commands

Do not remove existing commands unless the user explicitly asks for a breaking change.

Test

Plan tests before writing them. Keep both:

  • test_core.py for unit coverage
  • test_full_e2e.py for workflow and backend validation

When possible, test the installed command via subprocess using cli-anything-<software> rather than only module imports.

Validate

Check that the harness:

  • uses the cli_anything.<software> namespace package layout
  • has an installable setup.py entry point
  • supports JSON output
  • has a REPL default path
  • documents usage and tests

Backend Rules

Prefer the real software backend over reimplementation. Wrap the actual executable or scripting interface in utils/<software>_backend.py when possible. Use synthetic reimplementation only when the project explicitly requires it or no viable native backend exists.

Packaging Rules

  • Use find_namespace_packages(include=["cli_anything.*"])
  • Keep cli_anything/ as a namespace package without a top-level __init__.py
  • Expose cli-anything-<software> through console_scripts

Workflow

  1. Acquire the source tree locally.
  2. Analyze architecture, data model, existing CLIs, and GUI-to-API mappings.
  3. Design command groups and state model.
  4. Implement the harness.
  5. Write TEST.md, then tests, then run them.
  6. Update README usage docs.
  7. Verify local installation with pip install -e .

Output Expectations

When reporting progress or final results, include:

  • target software and source path
  • files added or changed
  • validation commands run
  • open risks or backend limitations

Bundled files

The model reads these on demand while the skill is loaded. They are exposed as readable files and are never executed.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Cli Anything AI skill do?

Use when the user wants OpenClaw to build, refine, test, or validate a CLI-Anything harness for a GUI application or source repository. Adapts the CLI-Anything methodology to OpenClaw without changing the generated Python harness format.

Why use Cli Anything on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Cli Anything 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 Anything in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/HKUDS/CLI-Anything/tree/main/macrocli. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and bundles its files and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Cli Anything?

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 Anything?

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

Is the Cli Anything AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by HKUDS under the Apache-2.0 license. 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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