9 ms·
Show HN: I built a tool that turns any API into a CLI for agents
TLDR; I built a tool that turns any API into a CLI designed for ai agents
---
Got tired of dealing with bloated context windows from MCP servers and skills that stuff entire API docs into the agent's context
CLIs fix this, agents run a single command to self-discover everything an API has to offer
So, built a tool to generate them for any api. All CLIs are written in Go, fast and lightweight, no dependencies
Help text (via the --help flag) is the killer feature: all context for each command/endpoint/parameter is extracted directly from the user-facing API docs and enhanced with llms. It's bundled directly with the CLI and agents fetch only what they need at runtime. No context overhead, no fumbled API calls.
Most APIs don't have a CLI yet. Can have Opus one-shot simple ones, but building a great one with cross-platform binaries, install scripts, detailed help text, and auto-updates takes time and is frustrating to repeat for every API. Maintaining it the API grows is a headache
Give InstantCLI any API docs url and it generates a production-ready CLI in minutes. It includes binaries + install scripts for all platforms, auto-updates as your API changes, docs-enhanced help text designed for agents, and hosting
- bubblegumbi 7mo agosweet - does it take openapi spec ?
- stugreen13 7mo agoYep can use spec or docs
- esafranchik 7mo agoThe new API2MCP
- stugreen13 7mo agoMCP is a mess, CLIs are the way
- rvz 7mo agoMCPs were already a mess an a bad standard, but this does not mean command line tools are any better. This does not make any sense whatsoever and this looks like it is just because Kaparthy said so. Not every API has to be a CLI.
- stugreen13 7mo agoDepends on use-case for sure - I think there is room for both
- talljohnson1234 7mo agoNice - can it work with docs hosted on readme or postman
- stugreen13 7mo agoYep - as long as it's public url can crawl it. Lmk if any issues will fix
- yashpxl 7mo agothat's so cool