CLI Skills for LlamaFarm

Framework-specific patterns for the LlamaFarm CLI. These guidelines extend the [shared Go skills](../go-skills/SKILL.md) with Cobra, Bubbletea, and Lipgloss best practices.

Tech Stack

• Go 1.24+
• Cobra (CLI framework)
• Bubbletea (TUI framework)
• Lipgloss (terminal styling)
• Bubbles (TUI components)

Directory Structure

cli/
  cmd/             # Cobra command implementations
    config/        # Configuration types and loading
    orchestrator/  # Service management and process control
    utils/         # Shared utilities (HTTP, output, logging)
    version/       # Version and upgrade handling
  internal/        # Internal packages (not exported)
    tui/           # Reusable TUI components
    buildinfo/     # Build-time information

Quick Reference

Cobra Commands

• Use RunE over Run for error handling
• Register flags in init() functions
• Use persistent flags for shared options
• Validate arguments with Args field

Bubbletea TUI

• Implement Init(), Update(), View() interface
• Use message types for state changes
• Return tea.Cmd for async operations
• Keep state immutable in Update()

Lipgloss Styling

• Define styles as package-level constants
• Use lipgloss.NewStyle() for styling
• Handle terminal width dynamically
• Support color themes via style variables

Shared Go Skills

This skill extends the base Go skills. See:

CLI-Specific Checklists

Key Patterns in This Codebase

Command Registration Pattern

var myCmd = &cobra.Command{
    Use:   "mycommand [args]",
    Short: "Brief description",
    Long:  `Extended description with examples.`,
    Args:  cobra.MaximumNArgs(1),
    RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
        // Implementation with error returns
        return nil
    },
}

func init() {
    rootCmd.AddCommand(myCmd)
    myCmd.Flags().StringVar(&flagVar, "flag", "default", "Flag description")
}

TUI Model Pattern

type myModel struct {
    viewport viewport.Model
    textarea textarea.Model
    width    int
    height   int
    err      error
}

func (m myModel) Init() tea.Cmd {
    return tea.Batch(m.textarea.Focus(), doAsyncWork())
}

func (m myModel) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
    var cmds []tea.Cmd
    switch msg := msg.(type) {
    case tea.WindowSizeMsg:
        m.width = msg.Width
        m.height = msg.Height
    case tea.KeyMsg:
        switch msg.String() {
        case "ctrl+c":
            return m, tea.Quit
        }
    }
    return m, tea.Batch(cmds...)
}

func (m myModel) View() string {
    return lipgloss.JoinVertical(lipgloss.Left,
        m.viewport.View(),
        m.textarea.View(),
    )
}

Output API Pattern

// Use the output API for consistent messaging
utils.OutputInfo("Starting service %s...", serviceName)
utils.OutputSuccess("Service started successfully")
utils.OutputError("Failed to start service: %v", err)
utils.OutputProgress("Downloading model...")
utils.OutputWarning("Service already running")

Service Orchestration Pattern

// Ensure services are running before operations
factory := GetServiceConfigFactory()
config := factory.ServerOnly(serverURL)
orchestrator.EnsureServicesOrExitWithConfig(config, "server")

// Or with multiple services
config := factory.RAGCommand(serverURL)
orchestrator.EnsureServicesOrExitWithConfig(config, "server", "rag", "universal-runtime")

Guidelines

1. User Experience First: CLI should feel responsive and provide clear feedback
2. Graceful Degradation: Handle missing services, network errors, and timeouts gracefully
3. Consistent Output: Use the output API for all user-facing messages
4. Cross-Platform: Test on macOS, Linux, and Windows
5. Terminal Compatibility: Test with different terminal emulators and sizes