Create a CLI

Step-by-step guide to wrapping any REST API into a standardized CLI.

Step 1: Discover the API

Before creating anything, gather information about the API you want to wrap:

1. Find the API documentation URL or OpenAPI spec
2. Identify the base URL (e.g. https://api.example.com)
3. Determine the auth type: bearer token, API key, basic auth, or custom
4. List all resources and their endpoints

Step 2: Scaffold

api2cli create <app-name> \
  --base-url <api-base-url> \
  --auth-type <bearer|api-key|basic|custom> \
  --docs <docs-url>            # optional
  --openapi <openapi-url>      # optional

Options

Step 3: Add Resources

Each API resource (drafts, users, links, etc.) gets its own file. See the Resources guide for the full pattern.

Step 4: Build and Link

# Build the CLI
api2cli bundle <app>

# Add to your PATH (auto-updates .zshrc/.bashrc)
api2cli link <app>

# Verify it works
<app>-cli --help

api2cli link creates a symlink in ~/.local/bin/ and adds it to your shell profile automatically. No manual PATH setup needed.

Step 5: Update the AgentSkill

The scaffold includes skills/<app>-cli/SKILL.md with placeholder sections. After implementing resources, update it with the actual commands and flags.

This file teaches AI agents how to use your CLI. When you publish the skill, anyone can install it:

# Via Sundial Hub
npx sundial-hub add your-username/app-cli

# Via Skills CLI
npx skills add owner/repo

Step 6: Publish

To Sundial Hub (recommended)

Publish your skill so any agent (Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, etc.) can install it:

# Login (one-time)
npx sundial-hub auth login

# Push the skill
npx sundial-hub push path/to/skills/<app>-cli --visibility public --categories coding

Others can then install with:

npx sundial-hub add your-username/<app>-cli

To the api2cli.dev registry

Push your repo to GitHub, then publish it to the registry:

• Web: Click "+ Add my CLI" on the registry page and paste your GitHub URL
• API: curl -X POST https://api2cli.dev/api/publish-cli -H "Content-Type: application/json" -d '{"githubUrl":"owner/repo"}'