3rd chunk of `doc/manual/source/development/cli-guideline.md`
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
Did you mean:
|> nix init
|> nix input
```
Sometimes users will make mistake either because of a typo or simply because of
lack of discoverability. Our handling of this cases needs to be context
sensitive.
```shell
$ nix init --template=template#python
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Error! Template `template#python` not found.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Initializing Nix project at `/path/to/here`.
Select a template for you new project:
|> template#python
template#python-pip
template#python-poetry
```
### Next steps
It can be invaluable to newcomers to show what a possible next steps and what
is the usual development workflow with Nix. For example:
```shell
$ nix init --template=template#python
Initializing project `template#python`
in `/home/USER/dev/new-project`
Next steps
|> nix develop -- to enter development environment
|> nix build -- to build your project
```
### Educate the user
We should take any opportunity to **educate users**, but at the same time we
must **be very very careful to not annoy users**. There is a thin line between
being helpful and being annoying.
An example of educating users might be to provide *Tips* in places where they
are waiting.
```shell
$ nix build
Started building my-project 1.2.3
Downloaded python3.8-poetry 1.2.3 in 5.3 seconds
Downloaded python3.8-requests 1.2.3 in 5.3 seconds
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press `v` to increase logs verbosity
|> `?` to see other options
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Learn something new with every build...
|> See last logs of a build with `nix log --last` command.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evaluated my-project 1.2.3 in 14.43 seconds
Downloading [12 / 200]
|> firefox 1.2.3 [#########> ] 10Mb/s | 2min left
Building [2 / 20]
|> glibc 1.2.3 -> buildPhase: <last log line>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
```
Now **Learn** part of the output is where you educate users. You should only
show it when you know that a build will take some time and not annoy users of
the builds that take only few seconds.
Every feature like this should go through an intensive review and testing to
collect as much feedback as possible and to fine tune every little detail. If
done right this can be an awesome features beginners and advance users will
love, but if not done perfectly it will annoy users and leave bad impression.
# Input
Input to a command is provided via `ARGUMENTS` and `OPTIONS`.
`ARGUMENTS` represent a required input for a function. When choosing to use
`ARGUMENTS` over `OPTIONS` please be aware of the downsides that come with it:
- User will need to remember the order of `ARGUMENTS`. This is not a problem if
there is only one `ARGUMENT`.
- With `OPTIONS` it is possible to provide much better auto completion.
- With `OPTIONS` it is possible to provide much better error message.
- Using `OPTIONS` it will mean there is a little bit more typing.
We don’t discourage the use of `ARGUMENTS`, but simply want to make every
developer consider the downsides and choose wisely.
## Naming the `OPTIONS`
The only naming convention - apart from the ones mentioned in Naming the
`COMMANDS` section is how flags are named.
Flags are a type of `OPTION` that represent an option that can be turned ON of
OFF. We can say **flags are boolean type of** `**OPTION**`.
Here are few examples of flag `OPTIONS`:
- `--colors` vs. `--no-colors` (showing colors in the output)
- `--emojis` vs. `--no-emojis` (showing emojis in the output)
## Prompt when input not provided
For *main commands* (as [per classification](#classification)) we want command