Designing a Human-Friendly CLI for API-Driven Infrastructure

Explore a 32-minute conference talk from EuroPython 2023 that delves into the design of a human-friendly Command Line Interface (CLI) for API-driven infrastructure management. Learn how Bloomberg's team developed a REST API and CLI to create a unified interface for both programmatic and human interaction with their growing infrastructure. Discover the innovative approach of dynamically generating CLI commands based on OpenAPI JSON documentation, eliminating the need for separate codebases. Gain insights into designing APIs that include information necessary for implementing user-friendly CLIs. Understand how the team leveraged Python, FastAPI, and various open-source projects to build a stable and extensible tool that significantly enhances infrastructure interaction. This talk offers valuable lessons for developers and infrastructure managers looking to streamline their tools and improve user experience in complex systems.