MacroCLI CLI
What It Is
The MacroCLI converts valuable GUI workflows into parameterized, CLI-callable macros. Agents never touch the GUI directly — they call macros through this stable CLI, and the runtime routes execution to the best available backend (native plugin/API, file transformation, semantic UI control, or precompiled GUI macro replay).
Installation
bashcd macrocli/agent-harness pip install -e .
Requirements: Python 3.10+, PyYAML, click, prompt-toolkit.
Quick Start (for agents)
bash# 1. See what macros are available cli-anything-macrocli macro list --json # 2. Inspect a macro's parameters cli-anything-macrocli macro info export_file --json # 3. Dry-run to check params without side effects cli-anything-macrocli --dry-run macro run export_file \ --param output=/tmp/test.txt --json # 4. Execute a macro cli-anything-macrocli macro run export_file \ --param output=/tmp/result.txt --json # 5. See what backends are available cli-anything-macrocli backends --json
Command Reference
Global Flags
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
--json | Machine-readable JSON output on stdout |
--dry-run | Simulate all steps, skip side effects |
--session-id <id> | Resume or create a named session |
macro group
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
macro list | List all available macros |
macro info <name> | Show macro schema (parameters, steps, conditions) |
macro run <name> --param k=v | Execute a macro |
macro dry-run <name> --param k=v | Simulate without side effects |
macro validate [name] | Structural validation |
macro define <name> | Scaffold a new macro YAML |
session group
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
session status | Show session statistics |
session history | Show recent run history |
session save | Persist session to disk |
session list | List all saved sessions |
backends
bashcli-anything-macrocli backends --json # Shows: native_api, file_transform, semantic_ui, gui_macro, recovery # and whether each is available in the current environment.
Macro Parameters
Pass parameters with --param key=value. Repeat for multiple:
bashcli-anything-macrocli macro run transform_json \ --param file=/path/to/data.json \ --param key=settings.theme \ --param value=dark \ --json
Output Format (--json)
All commands output JSON when --json is set:
json{ "success": true, "macro_name": "export_file", "output": { "exported_file": "/tmp/result.txt" }, "error": "", "telemetry": { "duration_ms": 312, "steps_total": 2, "steps_run": 2, "backends_used": ["native_api"], "dry_run": false } }
On failure ("success": false), read the "error" field for the reason.
Exit code is 1 on failure.
Execution Backends
Backends are selected automatically based on the macro step definition:
| Backend | Triggered by | Use case |
|---|---|---|
native_api | backend: native_api | Subprocess / shell command |
file_transform | backend: file_transform | XML, JSON, text file editing |
semantic_ui | backend: semantic_ui | Accessibility / keyboard shortcuts |
gui_macro | backend: gui_macro | Precompiled coordinate replay |
recovery | backend: recovery | Retry / fallback orchestration |
Writing Macros
Macros are YAML files in cli_anything/macrocli/macro_definitions/.
Scaffold one with:
bashcli-anything-macrocli macro define my_macro --output \ cli_anything/macrocli/macro_definitions/examples/my_macro.yaml
Minimal schema:
yamlname: my_macro version: "1.0" description: What this macro does. parameters: output: type: string required: true description: Where to write results. example: /tmp/result.txt preconditions: - file_exists: /path/to/input steps: - id: step1 backend: native_api action: run_command params: command: [my-app, --export, "${output}"] timeout_ms: 30000 on_failure: fail # or: skip, continue postconditions: - file_exists: ${output} - file_size_gt: [${output}, 100] outputs: - name: result_file path: ${output} agent_hints: danger_level: safe # safe | moderate | dangerous side_effects: [creates_file] reversible: true
Agent Usage Rules
- Always use
--jsonfor programmatic output. - Use
--dry-runto validate params before executing side-effectful macros. - Check
successfield — do not assume success from exit code alone. - Read
errorfield whensuccessis false — it explains what failed. - Use
macro info <name>to discover params before callingmacro run. - Use absolute paths for all file parameters.
Example Workflow
bash# Step 1: What's available? cli-anything-macrocli macro list --json # Step 2: What params does transform_json need? cli-anything-macrocli macro info transform_json --json # Step 3: Test safely cli-anything-macrocli --dry-run macro run transform_json \ --param file=/tmp/config.json \ --param key=theme \ --param value=dark --json # Step 4: Execute for real cli-anything-macrocli macro run transform_json \ --param file=/tmp/config.json \ --param key=theme \ --param value=dark --json
Version
1.0.0

