# CLI and MCP Development - Processes Backlog

This document contains identified processes, workflows, and methodologies specific to CLI and MCP Development that can be implemented as Babysitter SDK orchestration processes.

## Implementation Guidelines

Each process should be implemented following the Babysitter SDK patterns:
- **Process file**: `processes/[process-name].js` or `processes/[process-name]/index.js`
- **JSDoc required**: `@process`, `@description`, `@inputs`, `@outputs`
- **Export pattern**: `export async function process(inputs, ctx) { ... }`
- **Task definitions**: Use `defineTask` from `@a5c-ai/babysitter-sdk`
- **Breakpoints**: Use `ctx.breakpoint()` for human approval gates
- **Parallel execution**: Use `ctx.parallel.all()` for independent tasks

---

## Process Categories

### CLI Application Scaffolding

#### 1. CLI Application Bootstrap
**Description**: Create a new CLI application with project structure, argument parsing, and basic commands

**Key Activities**:
- Select CLI framework (Commander.js, Click, Cobra) based on requirements
- Initialize project with package manager (npm, pip, go mod)
- Create project structure with src, tests, docs directories
- Implement base command with version and help
- Set up argument parsing configuration
- Add initial subcommands structure
- Configure TypeScript/type hints if applicable
- Set up linting and formatting (ESLint, Black, golint)
- Create README with usage documentation
- Add initial test setup

**References**:
- https://github.com/tj/commander.js
- https://click.palletsprojects.com/
- https://cobra.dev/

**Estimated Complexity**: Medium

---

#### 2. CLI Command Structure Design
**Description**: Design and implement hierarchical command structure for complex CLI applications

**Key Activities**:
- Analyze user workflows and use cases
- Design command hierarchy (root -> groups -> commands)
- Define global vs. command-specific options
- Create consistent naming conventions
- Implement command groups/namespaces
- Add command aliases for common operations
- Design flag naming patterns
- Document command structure
- Review with stakeholders

**References**:
- https://clig.dev/

**Estimated Complexity**: Medium

---

### Argument Parsing Implementation

#### 3. Argument Parser Setup
**Description**: Implement comprehensive argument parsing with validation, help generation, and completion

**Key Activities**:
- Configure argument parser library
- Define positional arguments with types
- Implement optional flags with defaults
- Add mutually exclusive option groups
- Create custom argument types/validators
- Implement environment variable fallbacks
- Generate help text with examples
- Add shell completion scripts
- Test argument edge cases
- Document all options

**References**:
- https://yargs.js.org/
- https://docs.python.org/3/library/argparse.html

**Estimated Complexity**: Medium

---

#### 4. Interactive Prompt System
**Description**: Implement interactive prompts for gathering user input when arguments are missing

**Key Activities**:
- Select prompting library (Inquirer, questionary, survey)
- Design prompt flow based on command requirements
- Implement text input prompts with validation
- Add selection prompts (single, multi-select)
- Create confirmation prompts for destructive actions
- Implement password/secret input prompts
- Add progress indicators during operations
- Handle non-interactive mode fallback
- Test prompt accessibility
- Document interactive mode behavior

**References**:
- https://github.com/SBoudrias/Inquirer.js
- https://github.com/tmbo/questionary

**Estimated Complexity**: Medium

---

### MCP Server Development

#### 5. MCP Server Bootstrap
**Description**: Create a new MCP server with transport configuration and basic tool/resource structure

**Key Activities**:
- Initialize project with MCP SDK dependency
- Configure server metadata (name, version)
- Set up stdio transport (default)
- Implement server initialization
- Add capability declarations
- Create request handler structure
- Implement error handling
- Add logging configuration
- Set up development workflow
- Create basic test infrastructure
- Document server setup

**References**:
- https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/quickstart
- https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/typescript-sdk

**Estimated Complexity**: Medium

---

#### 6. MCP Tool Implementation
**Description**: Design and implement a new MCP tool with schema, validation, and execution logic

**Key Activities**:
- Define tool purpose and use cases
- Design input schema with JSON Schema
- Implement parameter validation
- Create tool execution handler
- Add error handling with MCP error codes
- Implement result formatting
- Add rate limiting if needed
- Create comprehensive tests
- Write tool documentation for AI consumption
- Test with MCP client

**References**:
- https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/concepts/tools

**Estimated Complexity**: Medium

---

#### 7. MCP Resource Provider
**Description**: Implement MCP resource provider for exposing dynamic content to AI assistants

**Key Activities**:
- Define resource URI scheme
- Implement resource listing handler
- Create resource content fetching
- Add MIME type detection
- Implement resource templates (parameterized URIs)
- Add caching strategy
- Handle large content with pagination
- Implement subscription for resource changes
- Create tests for resource access
- Document resource patterns

**References**:
- https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/concepts/resources

**Estimated Complexity**: Medium

---

#### 8. MCP Transport Layer Implementation
**Description**: Implement additional transport layers beyond stdio (HTTP/SSE, WebSocket)

**Key Activities**:
- Select transport protocol based on use case
- Implement transport server (Express, Fastify)
- Configure SSE endpoint for server-to-client
- Add POST endpoint for client-to-server
- Implement connection management
- Add authentication/authorization
- Configure CORS for web clients
- Implement reconnection handling
- Add health check endpoint
- Create integration tests
- Document transport configuration

**References**:
- https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/concepts/transports

**Estimated Complexity**: High

---

#### 9. MCP Server Security Hardening
**Description**: Implement security measures for MCP server including sandboxing and input validation

**Key Activities**:
- Audit all input paths
- Implement path traversal prevention
- Add command injection protection
- Create sandboxed execution environment
- Implement rate limiting
- Add request size limits
- Configure allowed directories/resources
- Implement permission model
- Add audit logging
- Create security tests
- Document security model

**References**:
- https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/concepts/security

**Estimated Complexity**: High

---

### CLI Output and UX

#### 10. CLI Output Formatting System
**Description**: Implement flexible output formatting with support for multiple formats (text, JSON, table)

**Key Activities**:
- Design output format strategy
- Implement human-readable text output
- Add JSON output mode (--json flag)
- Create table formatting for lists
- Implement color and styling helpers
- Add quiet mode (--quiet flag)
- Create verbose mode with debug info
- Implement output to file option
- Handle piped output detection
- Test cross-platform output
- Document output options

**References**:
- https://github.com/chalk/chalk
- https://github.com/cli-table/cli-table3

**Estimated Complexity**: Medium

---

#### 11. Progress and Status Indicators
**Description**: Implement progress bars, spinners, and status messages for long-running operations

**Key Activities**:
- Select progress indicator libraries
- Implement spinner for indeterminate progress
- Create progress bar for known duration tasks
- Add multi-step progress tracking
- Implement task list with status
- Handle non-TTY environments gracefully
- Add ETA calculations
- Create download/upload progress
- Implement concurrent progress indicators
- Test performance impact
- Document progress patterns

**References**:
- https://github.com/sindresorhus/ora
- https://github.com/npkgz/cli-progress

**Estimated Complexity**: Medium

---

#### 12. Error Handling and User Feedback
**Description**: Implement comprehensive error handling with helpful messages and suggestions

**Key Activities**:
- Design error message format
- Create error hierarchy/types
- Implement contextual error messages
- Add fix suggestions for common errors
- Create "did you mean" suggestions for typos
- Implement stack trace handling (debug vs. production)
- Add error codes for scripting
- Create error documentation
- Implement error reporting/telemetry (opt-in)
- Test error scenarios comprehensively
- Document error handling patterns

**References**:
- https://clig.dev/#errors

**Estimated Complexity**: Medium

---

### Interactive Terminal Applications

#### 13. TUI Application Framework Setup
**Description**: Set up terminal user interface framework for interactive applications

**Key Activities**:
- Select TUI framework (Ink, Bubble Tea, Textual)
- Configure project for TUI development
- Implement main application component
- Create layout system
- Add input handling
- Implement focus management
- Create base component library
- Add keyboard navigation
- Implement responsive layout
- Set up hot reloading for development
- Create testing utilities

**References**:
- https://github.com/vadimdemedes/ink
- https://github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea

**Estimated Complexity**: High

---

#### 14. Interactive Form Implementation
**Description**: Create multi-field interactive forms for complex data entry in terminal

**Key Activities**:
- Design form component structure
- Implement text input fields
- Add select/dropdown fields
- Create checkbox and toggle fields
- Implement date/time pickers
- Add field validation
- Create form navigation (tab, arrows)
- Implement form submission handling
- Add form state management
- Create field dependencies
- Test keyboard accessibility

**References**:
- https://github.com/charmbracelet/huh
- https://github.com/enquirer/enquirer

**Estimated Complexity**: Medium

---

#### 15. Dashboard and Monitoring TUI
**Description**: Build real-time dashboard for monitoring data in terminal

**Key Activities**:
- Design dashboard layout
- Implement data fetching/streaming
- Create chart components (line, bar, gauge)
- Add log viewer component
- Implement metrics display
- Create alert indicators
- Add refresh controls
- Implement scrollable regions
- Create keyboard shortcuts
- Add help overlay
- Test performance with large data

**References**:
- https://github.com/yaronn/blessed-contrib
- https://textual.textualize.io/

**Estimated Complexity**: High

---

### CLI Testing Strategies

#### 16. CLI Unit and Integration Testing
**Description**: Implement comprehensive testing strategy for CLI applications

**Key Activities**:
- Set up test framework
- Create argument parsing tests
- Implement command execution tests
- Add input/output mocking
- Create fixture management
- Implement snapshot testing for output
- Add cross-platform tests
- Create performance benchmarks
- Implement E2E tests with real execution
- Set up CI test pipeline
- Document testing patterns

**References**:
- https://click.palletsprojects.com/en/8.1.x/testing/
- https://github.com/oclif/test

**Estimated Complexity**: Medium

---

#### 17. MCP Server Testing Suite
**Description**: Create testing infrastructure for MCP servers including unit and integration tests

**Key Activities**:
- Set up MCP testing utilities
- Create mock MCP client
- Implement tool execution tests
- Add resource access tests
- Create transport layer tests
- Implement error scenario tests
- Add schema validation tests
- Create performance tests
- Implement security tests
- Set up integration test environment
- Document testing approach

**References**:
- https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/testing

**Estimated Complexity**: Medium

---

### Documentation Generation

#### 18. CLI Documentation Generation
**Description**: Implement automated documentation generation from CLI command definitions

**Key Activities**:
- Analyze documentation needs
- Implement help text extraction
- Generate markdown documentation
- Create man page generation
- Add command reference generation
- Implement example extraction
- Create changelog automation
- Generate shell completion docs
- Add API documentation (if applicable)
- Set up documentation CI
- Publish to documentation site

**References**:
- https://github.com/spf13/cobra/blob/main/doc/README.md
- https://oclif.io/docs/commands#readme-generation

**Estimated Complexity**: Medium

---

#### 19. MCP Tool Documentation
**Description**: Create documentation for MCP tools optimized for AI consumption

**Key Activities**:
- Document tool purposes clearly
- Write parameter descriptions
- Add usage examples
- Create error documentation
- Document rate limits and constraints
- Add best practices for AI usage
- Create integration guides
- Document security considerations
- Generate schema documentation
- Test documentation clarity with AI
- Maintain documentation accuracy

**References**:
- https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/concepts/tools

**Estimated Complexity**: Medium

---

### Distribution and Packaging

#### 20. CLI Binary Distribution
**Description**: Package CLI application as standalone binaries for multiple platforms

**Key Activities**:
- Select packaging tool (pkg, PyInstaller, goreleaser)
- Configure build for multiple platforms
- Optimize binary size
- Implement update mechanism
- Create installation scripts
- Set up code signing (macOS, Windows)
- Configure CI/CD for releases
- Create checksums and signatures
- Implement version checking
- Create release automation
- Document installation process

**References**:
- https://goreleaser.com/
- https://pyinstaller.org/

**Estimated Complexity**: High

---

#### 21. Package Manager Publishing
**Description**: Publish CLI to package managers (npm, pip, Homebrew, etc.)

**Key Activities**:
- Configure package metadata
- Set up publishing credentials
- Create package manifest (package.json, setup.py)
- Implement pre-publish validation
- Configure CI/CD for publishing
- Create Homebrew formula/cask
- Add Chocolatey/Scoop packages
- Implement version management
- Create release notes automation
- Test installation on clean systems
- Document installation methods

**References**:
- https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v9/commands/npm-publish
- https://docs.brew.sh/Formula-Cookbook

**Estimated Complexity**: Medium

---

### Shell Scripting

#### 22. Shell Script Development
**Description**: Create robust, portable shell scripts following best practices

**Key Activities**:
- Define script requirements
- Choose shell compatibility (bash, POSIX)
- Implement argument parsing
- Add error handling (set -e, traps)
- Create logging functions
- Implement cross-platform compatibility
- Add ShellCheck validation
- Create usage documentation
- Implement dependency checking
- Write tests with Bats
- Document usage and examples

**References**:
- https://www.shellcheck.net/
- https://github.com/bats-core/bats-core

**Estimated Complexity**: Medium

---

#### 23. Shell Completion Scripts
**Description**: Implement shell completion for CLI commands (Bash, Zsh, Fish)

**Key Activities**:
- Analyze completion requirements
- Implement Bash completions
- Create Zsh completions with descriptions
- Add Fish completions
- Implement dynamic completions
- Add file/directory completion
- Create remote data completion
- Test completions in each shell
- Create installation instructions
- Document completion features

**References**:
- https://cobra.dev/#generating-shell-completions
- https://github.com/SBoudrias/Inquirer.js#autocomplete-prompt

**Estimated Complexity**: Medium

---

### Advanced CLI Features

#### 24. Configuration Management System
**Description**: Implement configuration file and environment variable management for CLI

**Key Activities**:
- Design configuration hierarchy
- Implement config file loading (JSON, YAML, TOML)
- Add environment variable support
- Create configuration validation
- Implement config file generation
- Add profile/environment support
- Create config migration utilities
- Implement sensitive data handling
- Add config documentation
- Create config debugging tools
- Test configuration scenarios

**References**:
- https://github.com/spf13/viper
- https://www.npmjs.com/package/cosmiconfig

**Estimated Complexity**: Medium

---

#### 25. Plugin Architecture Implementation
**Description**: Design and implement plugin system for extensible CLI applications

**Key Activities**:
- Design plugin interface/API
- Implement plugin discovery
- Create plugin loading mechanism
- Add plugin validation
- Implement plugin configuration
- Create plugin registry
- Add plugin lifecycle hooks
- Implement plugin dependencies
- Create plugin development guide
- Test plugin isolation
- Document plugin development

**References**:
- https://oclif.io/docs/plugins
- https://github.com/hashicorp/go-plugin

**Estimated Complexity**: High

---

#### 26. CLI Update Mechanism
**Description**: Implement self-update capability for CLI applications

**Key Activities**:
- Design update workflow
- Implement version checking
- Create update download logic
- Add update verification (signatures)
- Implement rollback capability
- Create update notifications
- Add opt-out mechanism
- Implement staged rollout
- Create changelog display
- Test update scenarios
- Document update process

**References**:
- https://github.com/tj/n (example)
- https://github.com/electron/update-electron-app

**Estimated Complexity**: High

---

### Cross-Platform Considerations

#### 27. Cross-Platform CLI Compatibility
**Description**: Ensure CLI works correctly across Windows, macOS, and Linux

**Key Activities**:
- Audit platform-specific code
- Implement path handling
- Fix line ending handling
- Add terminal capability detection
- Implement color support detection
- Create platform-specific installers
- Test on all target platforms
- Handle shell differences
- Fix permission handling
- Document platform differences
- Set up multi-platform CI

**References**:
- https://nodejs.org/api/path.html
- https://github.com/chalk/supports-color

**Estimated Complexity**: High

---

### MCP Ecosystem

#### 28. MCP Client Implementation
**Description**: Build MCP client for consuming MCP servers

**Key Activities**:
- Initialize MCP client SDK
- Implement server connection
- Create tool discovery
- Implement tool invocation
- Add resource fetching
- Create prompt handling
- Implement error handling
- Add connection management
- Create client configuration
- Implement caching
- Test with various servers

**References**:
- https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/clients

**Estimated Complexity**: Medium

---

#### 29. MCP Server Registry/Discovery
**Description**: Implement discovery mechanism for MCP servers

**Key Activities**:
- Design registry schema
- Implement server registration
- Create server discovery API
- Add server health checking
- Implement capability filtering
- Create server metadata
- Add authentication for registry
- Implement caching
- Create CLI for registry management
- Test discovery scenarios
- Document registry usage

**References**:
- https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/concepts/architecture

**Estimated Complexity**: High

---

#### 30. MCP Server Monitoring and Debugging
**Description**: Create monitoring and debugging tools for MCP servers

**Key Activities**:
- Implement request logging
- Create performance metrics
- Add error tracking
- Implement debug mode
- Create request inspector
- Add tool execution tracing
- Implement resource access logging
- Create health dashboard
- Add alerting
- Implement log aggregation
- Document debugging workflow

**References**:
- https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/concepts/debugging

**Estimated Complexity**: Medium

---

## Implementation Priority

### Phase 1: Foundation (High Priority)
1. CLI Application Bootstrap
2. Argument Parser Setup
3. MCP Server Bootstrap
4. MCP Tool Implementation
5. CLI Output Formatting System
6. CLI Unit and Integration Testing

### Phase 2: Core Features (Medium Priority)
7. MCP Resource Provider
8. Interactive Prompt System
9. Progress and Status Indicators
10. Error Handling and User Feedback
11. CLI Documentation Generation
12. MCP Server Testing Suite

### Phase 3: Distribution (Medium Priority)
13. CLI Binary Distribution
14. Package Manager Publishing
15. Shell Completion Scripts
16. Configuration Management System
17. Cross-Platform CLI Compatibility

### Phase 4: Advanced Features (Lower Priority)
18. TUI Application Framework Setup
19. Interactive Form Implementation
20. MCP Transport Layer Implementation
21. MCP Server Security Hardening
22. Plugin Architecture Implementation
23. CLI Update Mechanism

### Phase 5: Ecosystem (As Needed)
24. Dashboard and Monitoring TUI
25. MCP Client Implementation
26. MCP Server Registry/Discovery
27. MCP Server Monitoring and Debugging
28. Shell Script Development
29. MCP Tool Documentation
30. CLI Command Structure Design

---

## Process Patterns

### Common Task Types
- **Research/Discovery**: Analyze requirements, evaluate tools/libraries
- **Design**: Architecture decisions, API design, schema definition
- **Implementation**: Build, configure, integrate
- **Testing**: Unit tests, integration tests, cross-platform testing
- **Documentation**: Help text, guides, API docs, man pages
- **Distribution**: Package, publish, release automation
- **Maintenance**: Updates, bug fixes, compatibility

### Common Breakpoints (Human Approval Gates)
- Command structure design review
- MCP tool schema approval
- Security review for MCP servers
- Package manager publishing approval
- Major version release approval
- Plugin architecture review

### Parallel Execution Opportunities
- Multi-platform binary builds
- Test suite execution across platforms
- Documentation generation for multiple formats
- Package manager publishing (npm, pip, brew)
- Shell completion generation (bash, zsh, fish)

---

**Created**: 2026-01-24
**Version**: 1.0.0
**Status**: Phase 2 - Processes Identified
**Next Step**: Phase 3 - Implement process JavaScript files
