title: "C# CUI Frameworks" description: "Overview of frameworks and libraries for building CLI applications in C#"
C# CUI Frameworks
Overview
C#, as the primary language of the .NET ecosystem, is an excellent choice for enterprise-grade CLI tool development. With its powerful type system, LINQ, async/await, and cross-platform support (.NET Core/.NET 5+), you can build high-quality CLI applications that run on Windows, Linux, and macOS. It's widely used for development tools, system administration tools, and CLI interfaces for business applications.
Major Libraries
System.CommandLine
The official CLI framework developed by Microsoft. It provides modern design, excellent performance, tab completion, help generation, and other advanced features.
CommandLineParser
The most popular third-party CLI library. Features attribute-based declarative APIs, rich functionality, and a mature codebase.
McMaster.Extensions.CommandLineUtils
A library developed by ASP.NET Core team members. Supports both fluent API and attribute-based approaches.
Spectre.Console
A library for creating beautiful console output and interactive elements. Provides rich UI components including tables, charts, and prompts.
CliFx
A declarative and type-safe CLI framework. Designed with focus on dependency injection, validation, and testability.
PowerArgs
A comprehensive framework supporting complex argument models and rich console UI.
Selection Guide
When to Choose System.CommandLine
- Want to leverage latest .NET features
- Need official Microsoft support
- Advanced tab completion features
- Performance is important
- Prioritize future-proofing
When to Choose CommandLineParser
- Proven solution
- Rich documentation and samples
- Concise attribute-based definitions
- Large community
- Prioritize stability
When to Choose McMaster.Extensions.CommandLineUtils
- Integration with ASP.NET Core
- Prefer fluent APIs
- Medium-sized projects
- Balanced feature set
- Flexible design approach
When to Choose Spectre.Console
- Beautiful terminal output
- Interactive UI elements
- Dashboards and reports
- Visual feedback
- Modern CLI experience
When to Choose CliFx
- Leveraging dependency injection
- Test-driven development
- Type safety is top priority
- Clean architecture
- Leveraging modern C# features
When to Choose PowerArgs
- Complex argument structures
- Rich console UI
- Advanced tab completion control
- Interactive modes
- Comprehensive feature set
With the evolution of the .NET ecosystem, System.CommandLine is gaining attention as the next-generation standard, but CommandLineParser's stability and track record remain valuable. It's important to select the appropriate library based on project requirements, team experience, and required features.
GitHub Star Comparison
| No | Name | GitHub Stars | Description | Trend | License | Official Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spectre.Console | ⭐ 10.4k | A library for creating beautiful console applications for .NET. Provides rich tables, charts, and prompts. | Rapidly growing in popularity due to beautiful CLI output and interactive features. Widely adopted in modern .NET applications. | MIT | Official |
| 2 | System.CommandLine | ⭐ 3.6k | The official command-line parsing library for .NET developed by Microsoft. Provides a modern and flexible API. | Adoption is expanding in .NET Core/.NET 5+ projects with Microsoft's official support. | MIT | Official |
| 3 | CommandLineParser | - | A mature command-line argument parser for C#. Features an attribute-based declarative approach. | Maintains stable popularity over the years and is trusted in many .NET projects. | MIT | Official |
| 4 | McMaster.Extensions.CommandLineUtils | - | A command-line parsing and utilities library for .NET Core/Standard. | Developed by ASP.NET Core team members with excellent integration in the .NET Core ecosystem. | Apache-2.0 | Official |