Python click: Build Beautiful CLI Tools in Minutes

# argparse — 12 lines for a simple command

import argparse

parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Say hello")

parser.add_argument("name", help="Your name")

parser.add_argument("--count", type=int, default=1, help="Times to repeat")

args = parser.parse_args()

for _ in range(args.count):

    print(f"Hello, {args.name}!")



# click — same result, cleaner

import click



@click.command()

@click.argument("name")

@click.option("--count", default=1, help="Times to repeat")

def hello(name, count):

    for _ in range(count):

        click.echo(f"Hello, {name}!")

import click



@click.command()

@click.argument("filename")

@click.option("--output", "-o", default="output.txt", help="Output file")

@click.option("--verbose", "-v", is_flag=True, help="Show details")

def process(filename, output, verbose):

    """Process FILENAME and write results to OUTPUT."""

    if verbose:

        click.echo(f"Processing {filename}...")



    # Your logic here

    click.echo(f"Done → {output}")



if __name__ == "__main__":

    process()

Usage: script.py [OPTIONS] FILENAME



  Process FILENAME and write results to OUTPUT.



Options:

  -o, --output TEXT  Output file

  -v, --verbose      Show details

  --help             Show this message and exit.

@click.command()

@click.argument("src")              # Required, positional

@click.argument("dst", default=".")  # Optional, positional

@click.option("--force", is_flag=True)  # Optional, named flag

@click.option("--mode", type=click.Choice(["fast", "safe"]), default="safe")

def copy(src, dst, force, mode):

    click.echo(f"Copying {src} → {dst} (mode={mode}, force={force})")

@click.command()

@click.option("--count", type=int, default=1)          # Must be integer

@click.option("--ratio", type=float)                   # Must be float

@click.option("--mode", type=click.Choice(["a", "b"])) # Must be one of

@click.option("--file", type=click.Path(exists=True))  # Must exist

@click.option("--out", type=click.Path())              # Path (doesn't check)

@click.option("--range", type=click.IntRange(1, 10))   # Int within range

def process(count, ratio, mode, file, out, range):

    pass

@click.command()

@click.option("--name", prompt="Your name", help="Who to greet")

@click.option("--password", prompt=True, hide_input=True, confirmation_prompt=True)

def setup(name, password):

    click.echo(f"Hello, {name}!")



@click.command()

@click.argument("path")

def delete(path):

    click.confirm(f"Delete {path}?", abort=True)  # Stops if user says no

    click.echo(f"Deleted {path}")

import click



@click.group()

def cli():

    """My project CLI."""

    pass



@cli.command()

@click.argument("name")

def add(name):

    """Add a new item."""

    click.echo(f"Added: {name}")



@cli.command()

def list():

    """List all items."""

    click.echo("item1\nitem2\nitem3")



@cli.command()

@click.argument("name")

def delete(name):

    """Delete an item."""

    click.confirm(f"Delete {name}?", abort=True)

    click.echo(f"Deleted: {name}")



if __name__ == "__main__":

    cli()

python cli.py add "my item"

python cli.py list

python cli.py delete "my item"

python cli.py --help

@click.command()

def status():

    click.echo(click.style("✅ Success", fg="green"))

    click.echo(click.style("⚠️  Warning", fg="yellow"))

    click.echo(click.style("❌ Error", fg="red", bold=True))



    # Progress bar

    items = list(range(100))

    with click.progressbar(items, label="Processing") as bar:

        for item in bar:

            process(item)

@click.group()

@click.option("--debug", is_flag=True)

@click.pass_context

def cli(ctx, debug):

    ctx.ensure_object(dict)

    ctx.obj["debug"] = debug



@cli.command()

@click.pass_context

def run(ctx):

    if ctx.obj["debug"]:

        click.echo("Debug mode on")

    click.echo("Running...")

[project.scripts]

mytool = "mypackage.cli:cli"

mytool add "item"    # Works globally