Guide · Agent skill
How to use the CLI-Anything Generator agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The CLI-Anything Generator skill teaches an AI coding agent in Cursor how to turn a desktop application with no command-line interface into a command-line tool, called a harness, that the agent can call. It is aimed at developers who want an agent to script or automate a GUI program. By the end of this guide you will know what the skill does, how to install it, how to trigger it with plain requests or slash commands, and what to check before running the generated code.
CLI-Anything GeneratorHKUDS/CLI-Anything · Apache-2.0 Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download and unzip. Download the skill ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ or a project's .claude/skills/ folder.
- 2Or upload in Claude apps. In the Claude apps, open Settings, go to Capabilities, then Skills, and upload the skill.
- 3Confirm prerequisites. Make sure Cursor has the CLI-Anything plugin, and that Python, pip, Git and shell access are available.
- 4Run a build. Ask for a build with /cli-anything followed by a path or repository, such as ./gimp.
- 5Refine if needed. Use /cli-anything-refine with a path and an optional focus to expand coverage.
- 6Test and validate. Run /cli-anything-test and /cli-anything-validate on the harness path.
- 7Review the output. Read the generated code and tests before relying on the CLI.
What is an agent skill and what does this one do?
An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file and any supporting files. When a skill is installed, the AI agent reads its instructions when a request matches the skill's description, and follows them. This particular skill is packaged inside the CLI-Anything plugin for Cursor.
The skill makes the agent build a harness for a GUI application. It follows a seven-phase workflow with progress tracking, stored in a file named .cli-anything-progress.json under an agent-harness/ folder. It can also refine a harness to expand coverage, run its tests, validate it against a checklist, and list the tools that exist.
- Build: turn a path or repository into a harness (full 7-phase workflow)
- Refine: expand coverage, optionally with a focus area
- Test: run the harness tests
- Validate: check the harness against the checklist
- List: show the available tools
Install the skill (ZIP or Claude apps upload)
Download the skill ZIP from this page and unzip it into one of these locations: ~/.claude/skills/ for all your projects, or a project's .claude/skills/ folder for one project only. The folder should contain SKILL.md.
If you use the Claude apps instead, open Settings, go to Capabilities, then Skills, and upload the skill there.
- Personal install: ~/.claude/skills/
- Project install: .claude/skills/ inside your project
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills
Check the prerequisites
The skill assumes a working setup. Its own instructions say it is packaged inside the Cursor plugin, so you need the Cursor editor with the CLI-Anything plugin installed. The workflow also uses Python and pip (for pytest and pip), Git (to clone the target software repository), and shell access to run the generated CLIs.
- Cursor editor with the CLI-Anything plugin installed
- Python and pip
- Git
- Shell access
Trigger the skill with natural requests or slash commands
The source prefers slash commands for the primary workflow. Use them when you can. If you ask naturally, for example 'build a CLI for ./gimp', the agent runs the same workflow as the matching command.
The skill's own table lists the commands and what each one does.
- /cli-anything <path-or-repo> runs the full 7-phase build
- /cli-anything-refine <path> [focus] expands coverage
- /cli-anything-test <path> runs tests
- /cli-anything-validate <path> runs the validation checklist
- /cli-anything-list lists tools
/cli-anything ./gimpUnderstand what the agent reads and runs
The skill tells the agent to read its methodology before doing any work: the HARNESS.md reference, a matching command file, and guides on demand. It also points to helper scripts such as repl_skin.py, preview_bundle.py and skill_generator.py, plus a templates folder. Output should match the harness layout and --json conventions of the Claude Code plugin and Codex skill, so the skill does not invent a different harness format.
The agent uses Cursor tools for this work: Read and Grep/Glob for analysis, Shell for cloning, pytest, pip and running CLIs, and Write or StrReplace for the implementation.
- Reads references/HARNESS.md and references/commands/
- Runs helper scripts from the plugin's scripts/ folder
- Uses Shell for clone, pytest, pip and CLI runs
Safety notes: scripts and network access
This skill runs scripts and uses the network. The Shell tool clones repositories and installs packages with pip, and the generated CLIs are executed in your shell. Review the commands the agent proposes before you approve them, and read the generated code before relying on it.
The output is generated code and tests that need a developer to review. Do not use it on systems or data you are not allowed to automate.
- Review shell commands before approving them
- Check cloned repositories and installed packages
- Read generated code and tests before use
Tips for better results
Give the agent a clear path or repository. Use the slash commands when you want a predictable workflow. Keep the phase-tracking file so an interrupted run can resume, since the skill says to resume non-terminal runs rather than restart. Do not expect the skill to install an already published CLI; that job belongs to the separate cli-hub-meta-skill.
- Name the software root or repository explicitly
- Use /cli-anything-test and /cli-anything-validate after a build
- Let an unfinished run resume instead of starting over
What people use it for
- Scripting a desktop application that has no command-line interface, so an agent can call it
- Refining an existing harness to cover more of the application's features
- Running tests and validation checks on a harness after a build
- Listing the tools already available in a project
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the cli-anything-generator skill?
Download the skill ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder. You can also upload it in the Claude apps under Settings, then Capabilities, then Skills.
What do I need to use it?
You need the Cursor editor with the CLI-Anything plugin installed, Python and pip, Git for cloning the target software repository, and shell access for running the generated CLIs.
Is the cli-anything-generator skill free?
The source material provided for this page does not state pricing or licence terms beyond the licence listed as Apache-2.0. Check the repository's licence file for the terms that apply.
How do I install an existing published CLI instead?
That is a separate skill called cli-hub-meta-skill. The source gives the command npx skills add HKUDS/CLI-Anything --skill cli-hub-meta-skill -g -y for it. This generator skill does not handle that job.
Why does the skill need network access and scripts?
The workflow clones repositories with Git, installs packages with pip, and runs pytest and generated CLIs through the shell. Review those commands before approving them.
Can a non-technical user use it?
The skill is aimed at developers. Its output is generated code and tests that need a developer to review before they are relied on.
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Our verdict
This skill suits developers who want an AI agent in Cursor to turn a GUI application without a CLI into a callable tool, and who already use the CLI-Anything plugin. It is not the right choice if you only want to install an existing published CLI, which is a different skill, or if you need a finished product without developer review.
Download the skill