Cli Tools

---
name: cli-tools
description: 'Picks the fast tool for a shell task: rg to find each file that mentions a word, fd to list files, jq or yq for a JSON or YAML field, curl for an HTTP endpoint.'
---
<!-- Generated by `basicly skills-build` from skill.yaml. Do not edit; edit the source. -->

# Command-line tools

Pick the tool for the task, then read its reference for the flags, the rules and the output. When a tool is missing, say so and use the fallback in the last column.

| Task | Tool | Reference | Fallback |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Search text in files | `rg` | [ripgrep](references/ripgrep.md) | `grep -rn` |
| Find files by name or type | `fd` | [fd](references/fd.md) | `find` |
| Read a file with line numbers | `bat` | [bat](references/bat.md) | `cat -n` |
| Read or reshape JSON | `jq` | [jq](references/jq.md) | a script |
| Read or reshape YAML or TOML | `yq` | [yq](references/yq.md) | a script |
| Replace text in files | `sd` | [sd](references/sd.md) | `sed` |
| Search or rewrite code structure | `ast-grep` | [ast-grep](references/ast-grep.md) | `rg` |
| Call an HTTP API | `xh`, `curl` | [xh](references/xh.md), [curl](references/curl.md) | `curl` |
| Download a file | `wget` | [wget](references/wget.md) | `curl -O` |
| Read a diff | `delta` | [git-delta](references/git-delta.md) | `git diff` |
| Run a project recipe | `just` | [just](references/just.md) | the README command |
| Run with the project variables | `direnv exec .` | [direnv](references/direnv.md) | set them by hand |
| Large binary files in git | `git lfs` | [git-lfs](references/git-lfs.md) | none |
| Check a shell script | `shellcheck` | [shellcheck](references/shellcheck.md) | none |
| Find spelling mistakes | `typos` | [typos](references/typos.md) | none |
| Show a directory tree | `tree` | [tree](references/tree.md) | `fd` |
| Git commands | `git` | [git](references/git.md) | none |
| Review and stage by hand | `lazygit` | [lazygit](references/lazygit.md) | `git` |
| Pick a line from a list | `fzf` | [fzf](references/fzf.md) | `rg` |
| Python projects and scripts | `uv` | [uv](references/uv.md) | `pip` |
| Wait for a command or CI | Host wait tools | [bounded waiting](references/waiting.md) | One CLI watcher and the same execution handle |
| Sessions and panes | `tmux` | [tmux](references/tmux.md) | none |
| Shell startup and config errors | `zsh` | [zsh](references/zsh.md) | none |
| Shell prompt segments | `starship` | [starship](references/starship.md) | none |
| Terminal tabs, panes and keys | `wezterm` | [wezterm](references/wezterm.md) | none |

To give every repo on this machine this skill and its references, run `basicly skills-user cli-tools` once.

## Rules

- **Never start an interactive tool.** `fzf`, `lazygit` and `tmux` wait for a person; their references say which forms are safe.
- **Prefer the tool over a custom script.** It is faster, and a person can read the command.
- **Read the output before you act on it.** An empty result is not proof of absence; run a search that must match first.