Design terminal output for a CLI tool with chalk colors, Unicode glyphs, multiple verbosity levels (human, verbose, quiet, JSON), and consistent voice rules. Covers color palette selection, status indicator design, reporter function architecture, ceremony/narrative output variants, and cross-terminal compatibility. Use when building a new CLI reporter module, adding warm narrative output to an existing tool, standardizing output across multiple commands, or designing machine-readable JSON alo...
Scanned 9/3/2026
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---
name: design-cli-output
locale: wenyan-ultra
source_locale: en
source_commit: 2630b6e9
fence_basis_commit: 2630b6e9
translator: "Julius Brussee homage — caveman"
translation_date: "2026-07-30"
description: >
Design terminal output for a CLI tool with chalk colors, Unicode glyphs,
multiple verbosity levels (human, verbose, quiet, JSON), and consistent
voice rules. Covers color palette selection, status indicator design,
reporter function architecture, ceremony/narrative output variants, and
cross-terminal compatibility. Use when building a new CLI reporter module,
adding warm narrative output to an existing tool, standardizing output
across multiple commands, or designing machine-readable JSON alongside
human-readable text.
license: MIT
allowed-tools: Read Write Edit Bash Grep Glob
metadata:
author: Philipp Thoss
version: "1.0"
domain: cli
complexity: basic
language: TypeScript
tags:
- cli
- terminal
- ux
- chalk
- unicode
---
# 設計 CLI 輸出
為命令行工具設一致多級終端輸出。
## 用
- 構 CLI 新報告者模組
- 加暖敘事輸出於標事務輸出
- 標準化多命令輸出格式
- 設並行機可讀 JSON+人可讀輸出
- 擇色、符、冗繁級予新終端工具
## 入
- **必**:CLI 名+主受眾(開發者、運維、終用戶)
- **必**:需格式化輸出之命令
- **可**:是否欲「儀式」或敘事變體
- **可**:品牌限(色板、調)
## 法
### 一:定色板
以 chalk 建名板對象。
**載 chalk 須置無色退於後。** 退須代板所用諸調用形,僅過字串不足:
```javascript
// A factory returns a *function*; a direct style returns a string. Enumerate
// this list against the installed chalk, not from memory — chalk 6 added the
// three underline* variants, and a list that omits them is wrong for those names.
const FACTORIES = new Set(['ansi256', 'bgAnsi256', 'bgHex', 'bgRgb', 'hex',
'rgb', 'underlineAnsi256', 'underlineHex', 'underlineRgb']);
function makeChalkStub() {
return new Proxy((text) => text, {
get(target, prop) {
if (prop === 'then') return undefined; // must not be a thenable
if (prop === 'level') return 0; // no color support, truthfully
if (typeof prop === 'symbol') return Reflect.get(target, prop);
return FACTORIES.has(prop) ? () => makeChalkStub() : makeChalkStub();
},
});
}
let chalk;
try { chalk = (await import('chalk')).default; }
catch { chalk = makeChalkStub(); }
```
四不變式,簡退各誤其一:
1. **代理標的可調用**——`(text) => text`,非 `{}`。鏈式(`chalk.bold.cyan('x')`)每節須既可索又可調。
2. **工廠返函。** `new Proxy({}, { get: () => (s) => s })` 足直式而壞工廠:`chalk.hex('#FF6B35')` 遂為*字串* `'#FF6B35'`,調之則擲 `TypeError: ... is not a function`。板於模組載時即建,故此退於引入之際即斃工具——正當本欲降為素文之境。
3. **`then` 須 `undefined`。** 凡屬皆返函之退令 `await chalk` 永懸:運行時調 `.then` 而待無人喚之回調。Node 報 `Detected unsettled top-level await` 而以 13 退。
4. **`level` 須數。** 能力閘讀 `chalk.level >= 1`;真值之退啟閘而其後實無色可支。
以引入後倖存之對象建板。
**標板**(事務輸出):
```javascript
// Status colors
const ok = chalk.green; // success
const fail = chalk.red; // errors
const warn = chalk.yellow; // warnings
const info = chalk.cyan; // identifiers, names
const dim = chalk.dim; // secondary info, paths
const bold = chalk.bold; // headers
```
**暖板**(儀式/敘事輸出):
```javascript
const C = {
flame: chalk.hex('#FF6B35'), // active elements, fire
amber: chalk.hex('#FFB347'), // arriving items, warm highlights
spark: chalk.hex('#FFF4E0'), // individual items (sparks/skills)
ember: chalk.hex('#8B4513'), // cold/dormant states
warm: chalk.hex('#D4A574'), // neutral warm text
dim: chalk.dim, // background, secondary
fail: chalk.red, // errors stay red (honest)
};
```
色板設規:
- 常供無色退,且以板實用之調用形驗之——上暖板幾盡工廠
- 自定板用十六進(`chalk.hex('#FF6B35')`)
- 失敗/錯色無論板主題守紅
- 按語義角名非視外觀
- 諸模組共一退,勿於各引入處重造,否則同瑕須逐處覓而修
**得:** 板對象含名項,且退已行非僅書。
**敗:** 徑試退路;板非覺其壞之所。退在域中,則:
```javascript
console.assert(chalk.dim('x') === 'x'); // direct style
console.assert(chalk.hex('#fff')('x') === 'x'); // factory — the usual defect
console.assert(chalk.bold.cyan('x') === 'x'); // chain
console.assert(chalk.level === 0); // capability gate stays shut
await chalk; // must not hang
```
`NO_COLOR=1` 不覆此。彼試*可用*之 chalk 而擇不發轉義;退則試引入敗之 chalk。二路無共碼。註解之生產退、瑕之複現、上諸查之可運行版,見
[Extended Examples](references/EXAMPLES.md#step-1-the-no-color-chalk-fallback)。
### 二:擇狀態指示符
擇 Unicode 符或 ASCII 字元傳狀態:
**ASCII**(最大相容):
```text
+ created/installed (green)
- removed/deleted (red)
= skipped/unchanged (dim)
! error/warning (red)
```
**Unicode**(富,需 UTF-8 終端):
```text
✦ item/skill/practice (spark)
◉ active/burning state
◎ cooling/embers state
○ cold/dormant state
◌ available/not installed
✗ failed item
✓ success (use sparingly — not all terminals render it well)
```
擇標:
- CI 或管式運行→ASCII
- 交互終端用戶→Unicode
- 以 `--ascii` 旗或 `NO_COLOR` 檢供兩者
- 於此測:macOS Terminal、Windows Terminal、VS Code 終端、SSH 會話
**得:** 不賴色一目傳狀態之符集。
**敗:** 測中符示為 `?` 或方框→替以 ASCII 等。`+/-/=/!` 集處處可。
### 三:設冗繁級
每命令當支四輸出級:
| Level | Flag | Audience | Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Default** | (none) | Human at terminal | Formatted, colored, informative |
| **Verbose** | `--verbose` or `--ceremonial` | Human wanting detail | Per-item breakdown, arrival sequences |
| **Quiet** | `--quiet` | Scripts, CI | Minimal lines, status icons, no decoration |
| **JSON** | `--json` | Machine consumers | Structured, parseable, complete |
實現模式:
```javascript
function output(data, options) {
if (options.json) {
console.log(JSON.stringify(data, null, 2));
return;
}
if (options.quiet) {
for (const item of data.items) {
const icon = item.ok ? '+' : '!';
console.log(`${icon} ${item.id}`);
}
return;
}
// Default (or verbose) human output
printFormatted(data, { verbose: options.verbose });
}
```
JSON 輸出規:
- 常有效 JSON(無雜人文)
- 含人輸出所示諸數據+機有用字段
- 跨命令一致鍵命名
- 退出碼 0 成,1 錯(無論輸出模式)
**得:** 四清晰輸出級跨命令行為一致。
**敗:** verbose 過噪→改為選入(`--ceremonial`)而非分級冗繁。
### 四:立調規
定諸輸出函遵之調+風。防跨命令不一致。
調規例(由 campfire 報告者):
1. **現在時主動語態**:「mystic arrives」非「mystic has been installed」
2. **無驚嘆**:靜信。工具不喊。
3. **喻替術語**:「practices」非「dependencies」(僅儀式模式)
4. **失誠非災**:「A spark was lost」非「ERROR: installation failed with exit code 1」
5. **結句反映狀**:每操作以狀總結
6. **無 emoji**:Unicode 符有視覺重不裝飾
7. **每字載信息**:字不加解→除
標(非儀式)輸出調規:
- 簡事實行
- 狀圖+項 ID+脈絡
- 總結行含計
- 錯訊建議糾正動作
**得:** 書 3-7 調規,輸出函須遵。
**敗:** 規任意→測:同輸出以無此規書。除規不減質→規不需。
### 五:實作報告者函
組輸出入聚焦模組:
```javascript
// reporter.js — standard output
export function printResults(results) { ... }
export function printItemTable(items) { ... }
export function printDetections(detections) { ... }
export function printAudit(auditResults) { ... }
export function printDryRun() { ... }
export function warn(msg) { ... }
export function error(msg) { ... }
export { chalk };
```
每函從同結構:
1. 空/null 輸入優雅處
2. 計布局(列寬、填充)
3. 以板色輸出
4. 底總結行
儀式輸出建分離模組:
```javascript
// campfire-reporter.js — warm narrative output
export function printArrival({ teamId, agents, results, ceremonial }) { ... }
export function printScatter({ teamId, agents, results }) { ... }
export function printTend(fires) { ... }
export function printCampfireList({ teams, state, reg }) { ... }
export function printFireSummary({ team, fireData, reg }) { ... }
export function printJson(data) { ... }
```
**得:** 報告者函獨立可用——各自理格式不賴調用者狀。
**敗:** 函超 ~50 行→提助手。報告者函當易孤立審。
### 六:測諸環境輸出
驗諸上下文正確渲染:
```bash
# With colors (interactive terminal)
node cli/index.js list --domains
# Without colors (piped)
node cli/index.js list --domains | cat
# With NO_COLOR environment variable
NO_COLOR=1 node cli/index.js list --domains
# JSON mode (parseable)
node cli/index.js campfire --json | jq .
# In CI (typically no TTY)
CI=true node cli/index.js audit
# The no-color fallback. A failed import cannot be provoked with an env var, so
# assert on the stub itself in the suite rather than reaching it through the CLI.
# Pass a glob, not a directory: `node --test <dir>` stopped expanding at Node 22.
node --test 'cli/test/*.test.js'
```
查:
- 交互模色正顯
- 管/重定向輸出無 ANSI 轉義漏
- JSON 有效(管至 `jq .` 驗)
- 目標終端渲染 Unicode 符
- 內容寬變時列對齊守
- 無色退答板所用諸調用形,於測套斷言,非手示一回
**得:** 六上下文輸出皆正。
**敗:** ANSI 漏→確 chalk 尊 `NO_COLOR`。Unicode 壞→供 ASCII 退模。又:測套綠不言色之有無——測運行器管 stdout,`chalk.level` 遂為 0,著色與否輸出同位元,色全壞而斷言猶立。證色實工,須 `FORCE_COLOR=3` 並斷言於轉義序列。
## 驗
- [ ] 色板有無色退,且退已行:直式、工廠、鏈、`level === 0`、`await` 皆查
- [ ] 狀態指示符於色+無色模式皆工作
- [ ] 四冗繁級生有用輸出
- [ ] JSON 有效可為 `jq` 解
- [ ] 調規錄並一致遵
- [ ] 報告者函優雅處空/null
- [ ] 輸出於此測:終端、管、NO_COLOR、CI
## 忌
- **僅理直式之無色退**:`new Proxy({}, { get: () => (s) => s })` 讀之若全,誠覆 `chalk.dim` 與 `chalk.red`,然每工廠遂返字串,而調用者即欲調之。板於模組載時即建,故 `TypeError` 落於引入之際——退於其所以存在之唯一境敗得最烈。退須足之四不變式,列於步一。
- **混人文於 JSON**:`--json` 模式僅輸出有效 JSON。單雜行(如「DRY RUN」)破 JSON 解析。若命令須示兩者→明分或於 JSON 模抑人文。
- **硬編碼列寬**:內容長變。用 `Math.max(...items.map(i => i.id.length))` 動計填充。
- **僅色傳義**:若色為唯一別成敗者→色盲用戶+管輸出失信息。常配色+文指示(`+`、`OK`、`ERR`)。
- **儀式於錯脈絡**:暖敘事輸出宜交互終端。CI、腳本、`--quiet` 模→加噪。儀式輸出門於明旗後。
- **忘總結行**:用戶先掃末行。每操作當以一行總結結(成/敗/略計)。
## 參
- `scaffold-cli-command`
- `test-cli-application`
- `build-cli-plugin`
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