# vx-cli
[](https://crates.io/crates/vx-cli)
[](https://docs.rs/vx-cli)
[](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
Command-line interface for the vx universal tool manager.
## Overview
`vx-cli` provides the command-line interface for vx, a universal development tool manager. It offers a unified interface for managing, installing, and executing development tools across different languages and ecosystems.
## Features
- **Universal Tool Execution**: Run any supported tool through a single interface
- **Automatic Installation**: Download and install missing tools automatically
- **Version Management**: Install, switch, and manage multiple tool versions
- **Virtual Environments**: Create isolated environments for projects
- **Project Configuration**: Support for project-specific tool configurations
- **Interactive UI**: Rich terminal interface with progress bars and colors
- **Shell Integration**: Auto-completion and shell hooks
## Installation
### From Crates.io
```bash
cargo install vx-cli
```
### From Source
```bash
git clone https://github.com/loonghao/vx
cd vx
cargo install --path crates/vx-cli
```
## Quick Start
### Basic Usage
```bash
# Execute tools transparently
vx node --version
vx uv pip install requests
vx go build
# Install specific versions
vx install node@18.17.0
vx install uv@latest
# List available tools
vx list
# Create virtual environment
vx venv create myproject --tools node@18.17.0,uv@latest
```
### Project Configuration
```bash
# Initialize project configuration
vx init
# Edit .vx.toml
echo '[tools]
node = "18.17.0"
uv = "latest"' > .vx.toml
# Sync project tools
vx sync
```
## Commands
### Tool Execution
```bash
# Direct tool execution (transparent proxy)
vx <tool> [args...]
# Examples
vx node --version
vx npm install express
vx uv pip install requests
vx go build ./...
vx cargo test
```
### Tool Management
```bash
# Install tools
vx install <tool>[@version]
vx install node@18.17.0 uv@latest
# List tools
vx list # All available tools
vx list --installed # Only installed tools
vx list node # Specific tool versions
# Update tools
vx update # Update all tools
vx update node # Update specific tool
# Remove tools
vx remove node@18.17.0 # Remove specific version
vx remove node --all # Remove all versions
# Search tools
vx search python # Search for tools
vx search --category python
```
### Virtual Environments
```bash
# Create environments
vx venv create myproject
vx venv create myproject --tools node@18.17.0,uv@latest
# Use environments
vx venv use myproject
vx venv run myproject node --version
# Manage environments
vx venv list # List all environments
vx venv remove myproject # Remove environment
```
### Project Management
```bash
# Initialize project
vx init # Interactive setup
vx init --template node # Use template
# Sync project tools
vx sync # Install project tools
vx sync --check # Check without installing
# Configuration
vx config # Show current config
vx config edit # Edit global config
vx config edit --local # Edit project config
```
### Maintenance
```bash
# Statistics
vx stats # Show usage statistics
vx stats --detailed # Detailed statistics
# Cleanup
vx cleanup # Clean orphaned files
vx cleanup --dry-run # Preview cleanup
# Global tool management
vx global list # List global tools
vx global cleanup # Clean unused tools
```
## Configuration
### Global Configuration
Location: `~/.vx/config/global.toml`
```toml
[auto_install]
enabled = true
timeout = 300
confirm_before_install = false
[settings]
cache_duration = "7d"
parallel_downloads = 4
use_system_path = false
[ui]
show_progress = true
use_colors = true
```
### Project Configuration
Location: `.vx.toml` in project root
```toml
[tools]
node = "18.17.0"
uv = "latest"
go = "^1.21.0"
[settings]
auto_install = true
cache_duration = "7d"
[scripts]
dev = "npm run dev"
build = "npm run build"
test = "npm test"
```
## Shell Integration
### Bash/Zsh
```bash
# Add to ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc
eval "$(vx shell-init)"
source <(vx completion bash) # or zsh
```
### Fish
```fish
# Add to ~/.config/fish/config.fish
vx shell-init | source
vx completion fish | source
```
### PowerShell
```powershell
# Add to PowerShell profile
Invoke-Expression (vx shell-init)
vx completion powershell | Out-String | Invoke-Expression
```
## Supported Tools
### Languages & Runtimes
- **Node.js**: JavaScript runtime and npm
- **Python**: UV package manager and Python tools
- **Go**: Go compiler and tools
- **Rust**: Rust compiler and Cargo
### Package Managers
- **npm**: Node.js package manager
- **UV**: Fast Python package manager
- **Cargo**: Rust package manager
### Package Runners
- **npx**: Node.js package runner
- **uvx**: Python application runner
## Architecture
vx-cli is built on top of several core components:
- **vx-core**: Core traits and functionality
- **Tool Plugins**: Individual tool implementations
- **Package Manager Plugins**: Package manager integrations
- **UI Components**: Terminal interface and progress tracking
## Development
### Building
```bash
cargo build
```
### Testing
```bash
cargo test
```
### Running
```bash
cargo run -- --help
```
### Debugging
```bash
# Enable verbose logging
RUST_LOG=debug cargo run -- <command>
# Or use the verbose flag
cargo run -- --verbose <command>
```
## Error Handling
vx-cli provides detailed error messages and suggestions:
```bash
$ vx nonexistent-tool
Error: Tool 'nonexistent-tool' not found
Suggestions:
- Run 'vx list' to see available tools
- Run 'vx search nonexistent' to search for similar tools
- Check if the tool name is spelled correctly
```
## Performance
- **Fast Startup**: Optimized for quick command execution
- **Parallel Downloads**: Multiple tools can be downloaded simultaneously
- **Caching**: Version information and downloads are cached
- **Lazy Loading**: Plugins are loaded only when needed
## Troubleshooting
### Common Issues
1. **Tool not found**: Run `vx list` to see available tools
2. **Installation fails**: Check network connection and permissions
3. **Version conflicts**: Use `vx cleanup` to remove orphaned versions
4. **Shell integration**: Ensure shell configuration is properly loaded
### Debug Mode
```bash
# Enable debug logging
vx --verbose <command>
# Check configuration
vx config --sources
# Verify installation
vx stats
```
## License
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the [LICENSE](../../LICENSE) file for details.
## Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Please see the [contributing guidelines](../../CONTRIBUTING.md) for more information.
## Related Crates
- [`vx-core`](../vx-core/README.md) - Core functionality
- [`vx-tool-node`](../vx-tools/vx-tool-node/README.md) - Node.js plugin
- [`vx-tool-uv`](../vx-tools/vx-tool-uv/README.md) - UV Python plugin
- [`vx-pm-npm`](../vx-package-managers/vx-pm-npm/README.md) - NPM plugin