# CLI Anything Harnesses

Builds, tests, and validates Python CLI harnesses that wrap GUI apps and repositories.

- Repository: https://github.com/HKUDS/CLI-Anything (58029 stars)
- Category: Engineering
- License: Apache-2.0
- Last updated: 2026-09-22
- Runs scripts: yes, review before use

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add HKUDS/CLI-Anything --skill cli-anything -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add HKUDS/CLI-Anything --skill cli-anything -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add HKUDS/CLI-Anything --skill cli-anything -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add HKUDS/CLI-Anything --skill cli-anything -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add HKUDS/CLI-Anything`

## Description

Use when the user wants Codex to build, refine, test, validate, or list CLI-Anything harnesses for GUI applications or source repositories. Adapts the full CLI-Anything methodology to Codex without changing the generated Python harness format.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# CLI-Anything for Codex

Use this skill when the user wants Codex to act like the `CLI-Anything` builder.

## Read the Full Methodology First

Before implementation, use the full methodology source of truth:

1. Read `references/HARNESS.md` relative to this skill directory.
2. Read the matching mode specification under `references/commands/`.
3. Read referenced files under `references/guides/` only when they apply to the target.
4. If the installed resources are unavailable and this skill is being used from a
   `CLI-Anything` repository checkout, read `../cli-anything-plugin/HARNESS.md` and
   the resources around it.
5. If neither local source is available, clone or download
   `https://github.com/HKUDS/CLI-Anything` and use `cli-anything-plugin/HARNESS.md`.
6. Only if all full-methodology sources are unavailable, follow the condensed rules below.

The installer vendors the canonical resources from `cli-anything-plugin/` into this
skill so a normal Codex installation is self-contained.

## Resource Map

| Path | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `references/HARNESS.md` | Complete methodology and quality rules |
| `references/commands/cli-anything.md` | Build-mode specification |
| `references/commands/refine.md` | Refine-mode specification |
| `references/commands/test.md` | Test-mode specification |
| `references/commands/validate.md` | Validation checklist |
| `references/commands/list.md` | Installed/generated harness discovery |
| `references/guides/` | On-demand implementation guidance |
| `scripts/repl_skin.py` | Copy into generated harnesses as `utils/repl_skin.py` |
| `scripts/preview_bundle.py` | Copy into preview-capable harnesses as `utils/preview_bundle.py` |
| `scripts/skill_generator.py` | Generate canonical and packaged CLI skills |
| `scripts/templates/SKILL.md.template` | Skill generation template used by `skill_generator.py` |
| `references/docs/PREVIEW_PROTOCOL.md` | Shared preview bundle protocol |

The rest: https://github.com/HKUDS/CLI-Anything/blob/HEAD/codex-skill/SKILL.md