CLI application design engagement
For teams shipping or refactoring one command-line product—deployment tool, data migrator, ops utility, or customer-facing installer—who need a coherent interface before implementation velocity outruns maintainability.
Result you receive
A documented CLI contract: command tree, flag conventions, stdin/stdout/stderr behavior, exit-code matrix, packaging notes, and a phased implementation plan your engineers can execute without us on the keyboard full time.
Who leads the work
A principal consultant from Orbit Console with eight or more years writing production CLIs in Python, Go, or Rust contexts, plus shell glue experience. A second reviewer reads all deliverables before handoff.
Typical timeline
Three to six weeks calendar time, assuming one hour weekly stakeholder sync and access to a staging environment. Rush schedules are available with a written change order.
Included
- Kickoff interviews with operators and developers who invoke the tool today
- Annotated wireframes for help output and error paths
- Pairing blocks (remote or at 42 Bree Street,Cape Town,Western Cape,8001) on critical parsing and config loading
- Written handoff binder: decision log, open questions, and test scenarios
Excluded
- Full implementation of every subcommand unless added via change order
- GUI or web dashboard design
- 24/7 on-call coverage for your production systems
Preparation
Share repository access or representative samples, sample invocations from logs, and any compliance constraints on logging or credential handling. Redacted samples are fine for the first call.
Pricing basis
Fixed fee from R 85 000 ex VAT for a three-week core scope; six-week engagements with pairing-heavy delivery are quoted after the discovery call. See rates for factors that move the estimate.
Next step
Request a scope call and mention “CLI design engagement” in your message. We respond within two business days with available start weeks.