Top 10 JavaScript Command Line Utility Libraries in 2023

Here are some of the famous JavaScript Command Line Utility Libraries The use cases of these libraries include Data Manipulation, Automating Tasks, Accessing APIs, Debugging and Monitoring, and Building Applications.  

JavaScript Command Line Utility Libraries are libraries that allow developers to create custom command-line tools for their applications. These libraries provide a variety of tools and functions to simplify the development of powerful command-line tools, such as argument parsing, output formatting, and interacting with the user. These libraries also provide flexibility and scalability, allowing developers to create complex command-line tools and scripts. 

Let us look at some of these famous libraries. 

nodemon

• Allows developers to customize the configuration options.
• Allows automatic server restarting when it detects changes in the source code.
• Allows to filter which files should be watched by filename or by extension.

ink

• Enables developers to create interactive command line tools.
• Supports automated testing, making it possible to quickly write reliable and maintainable tests for CLI applications.
• Provides an intuitive layout and UI system.

chalk

• Allows styling of individual words within a string of text.
• Supports a wide variety of colors, styles, and background colors.
• Supports ANSI escape codes, allowing for more complex styling.

Inquirer.js

• Offers high-level abstractions, such as prompts and choice lists.
• Allows developers to easily extend the library with their own custom prompts and validators.
• Provides built-in validation to ensure that user input is valid before processing it.

shelljs

• Supports Promises, making it easy to chain asynchronous tasks together and handle errors.
• Includes an extensive library of shell commands such as grep, sed, and awk.
• Provides an easy-to-use API that allows developers to quickly and easily create powerful command line scripts.

yargs

• Supports multiple levels of sub-commands for complex CLI applications.
• Provides powerful features like autocomplete, auto-suggestion, and parsing of complex options.
• Provides a sophisticated way of prompting users for values and allows for customizing the prompt message.

ora

• Allows developers to easily animate the cursor of their terminal window.
• Features an advanced Typescript-based API that provides type checking, code completion, and more.
• Provides a highly customizable output experience.

prompts

• Allow easy input validation so that the user can only input valid commands.
• Allow multiple input types such as strings, numbers, and Booleans.
• Provides built-in support for tab completion, allowing the user to type in commands quickly.

enquirer

• Allows users to create complex, multi-step prompts using a “steps” API.  
• Supports async/await promises, making it easy to handle user input without blocking the main thread.  
• Provides powerful validation support, allowing users to validate their user’s input easily .

meow

• Is highly customizable, allowing users to tailor the utility library to fit their needs.  
• Provides a focus on modularity and extensibility, allowing users to create custom tasks and plugins easily.  
• Supports an easy-to-understand syntax, making it a great choice for someone new to command-line utilities.