glow CLI

CuratedAudited 2026-10-05 by anc 0.6.0Markdown · JSON
69pass rate

2/8 principles met

Render markdown on the CLI

$ anc audit glow --json

workhorse Go charmbracelet/glow
MUST 19 / 28SHOULD 14 / 222 failing13 warningsaudited 2026-10-05 · anc 0.6.0

Eight principles, scored

Behavioral and source checks. Every non-pass row carries a copy-paste remediation prompt.

  1. P1
    Non-Interactive by Default

    10 flag(s) found in --help but no `[env: NAME]` bindings advertised · no default-value annotations found in --help. SHOULD-tier — agents reading help text need to see what value a flag falls back to when omitted (`[default: <value>]` per clap convention).

    Remediation · P1
    Make glow satisfy P1 (Non-Interactive by Default) from the agent-native CLI standard. Address:
    - Flags advertise env-var bindings in --help (10 flag(s) found in --help but no `[env: NAME]` bindings advertised)
    - `--help` advertises default values for flags (no default-value annotations found in --help. SHOULD-tier — agents reading help text need to see what value a flag falls back to when omitted (`[default: <value>]` per clap convention).)
    Requirements: https://anc.dev/p1
    warn
  2. P2
    Structured, Parseable Output

    no --json or --jsonl short alias found. Agents and pipelines benefit from short forms alongside the canonical `--output` enum. · no `--raw` flag advertised. MAY-tier — useful for pipelines that want to strip formatting before piping to other tools.

    Remediation · P2
    Make glow satisfy P2 (Structured, Parseable Output) from the agent-native CLI standard. Address:
    - --json / --jsonl short aliases for --output (no --json or --jsonl short alias found. Agents and pipelines benefit from short forms alongside the canonical `--output` enum.)
    - `--raw` flag for pipe-safe unformatted output (no `--raw` flag advertised. MAY-tier — useful for pipelines that want to strip formatting before piping to other tools.)
    - Bad invocation exits with structured usage-error code (2) (bad invocation exited with code 1. The 0/1/2/77/78 convention reserves code 2 for usage errors; using a different non-zero code (often 1) blurs the distinction between usage errors and general failure.)
    Requirements: https://anc.dev/p2
    warn
  3. P3
    Progressive Help Discovery

    no `examples` subcommand or `--examples` flag found. MAY-tier — a curated usage block keeps agents from hunting through long help text. · `-h` and `--help` produce byte-identical output. SHOULD-tier — clap renders the short summary on `-h` and the full description on `--help` when `long_about` is set; collapsing them gives agents no concise list-level grep target.

    Remediation · P3
    Make glow satisfy P3 (Progressive Help Discovery) from the agent-native CLI standard. Address:
    - `examples` subcommand or `--examples` flag for curated usage patterns (no `examples` subcommand or `--examples` flag found. MAY-tier — a curated usage block keeps agents from hunting through long help text.)
    - Short `-h` summary differs from `--help` long form (`-h` and `--help` produce byte-identical output. SHOULD-tier — clap renders the short summary on `-h` and the full description on `--help` when `long_about` is set; collapsing them gives agents no concise list-level grep target.)
    - Help text pairs human and `--output json` example invocations (no paired text + `--output json` example found within 5 lines in top-level or any subcommand `--help`. Pairing keeps agents from reverse-engineering the JSON invocation from the text one.)
    Requirements: https://anc.dev/p3
    warn
  4. P4
    Fail-Fast, Actionable Errors

    stderr lacks a hint phrase. Looked for one of: try , use , expected , did you mean, see , run , for more, tip:, help:, hint:, suggestion:, available . Error messages must name what to do next, not just the symptom.

    Remediation · P4
    Make glow satisfy P4 (Fail-Fast, Actionable Errors) from the agent-native CLI standard. Address:
    - Error messages include a hint or remediation phrase (stderr lacks a hint phrase. Looked for one of: try , use , expected , did you mean, see , run , for more, tip:, help:, hint:, suggestion:, available . Error messages must name what to do next, not just the symptom.)
    Requirements: https://anc.dev/p4
    fail
  5. P5pass
  6. P6
    Composable, Predictable Command Structure

    pager referenced in --help but no --no-pager escape hatch advertised · output contains ANSI escape sequences despite NO_COLOR=1

    Remediation · P6
    Make glow satisfy P6 (Composable, Predictable Command Structure) from the agent-native CLI standard. Address:
    - Pager-using CLI ships --no-pager escape hatch (pager referenced in --help but no --no-pager escape hatch advertised)
    - Respects NO_COLOR (output contains ANSI escape sequences despite NO_COLOR=1)
    - Subcommand verbs follow community-standard names (2/3 subcommand(s) follow standard verb names. Non-standard: completion. MAY-tier — community-standard verbs (get/list/create/update/delete) help agents predict subcommand behavior across CLIs.)
    - `--color` flag for explicit color control (no `--color` flag advertised. MAY-tier — `auto|always|never` lets agents and pipelines override the TTY-based default.)
    Requirements: https://anc.dev/p6
    fail
  7. P7
    Bounded, High-Signal Responses

    no --quiet/-q flag detected in --help output · no TTY-aware language found in `--help`. MAY-tier — automatic verbosity reduction when stdout is piped or redirected lets agents skip the explicit `--quiet` flag. Behavioral probes cannot simulate a real TTY without a pty crate, so this audit relies on documented intent.

    Remediation · P7
    Make glow satisfy P7 (Bounded, High-Signal Responses) from the agent-native CLI standard. Address:
    - Quiet mode available (no --quiet/-q flag detected in --help output)
    - Help text advertises TTY-aware verbosity behavior (no TTY-aware language found in `--help`. MAY-tier — automatic verbosity reduction when stdout is piped or redirected lets agents skip the explicit `--quiet` flag. Behavioral probes cannot simulate a real TTY without a pty crate, so this audit relies on documented intent.)
    Requirements: https://anc.dev/p7
    warn
  8. P8pass

All Audits

P1: Non-Interactive by Default

PASSNon-interactive by default
SKIPNon-interactive gate flag advertised in --helptarget satisfies P1 via alternative gate (help-on-bare or stdin-primary)
WARNFlags advertise env-var bindings in --help10 flag(s) found in --help but no `[env: NAME]` bindings advertised
PASSSecret-bearing flags expose stdin or *-file companion
WARN`--help` advertises default values for flagsno default-value annotations found in --help. SHOULD-tier — agents reading help text need to see what value a flag falls back to when omitted (`[default: <value>]` per clap convention).
PASSRich-TUI affordance for TTY contexts

P2: Structured, Parseable Output

OPT-OUTStructured output supportno --output/--format flag detected in any subcommand — tool does not ship structured output.
N/AStructured-output CLI exposes its schema at runtimeantecedent `p2-json-output` is opt_out: no --output/--format flag detected in any subcommand — tool does not ship structured output.
WARN--json / --jsonl short aliases for --outputno --json or --jsonl short alias found. Agents and pipelines benefit from short forms alongside the canonical `--output` enum.
WARN`--raw` flag for pipe-safe unformatted outputno `--raw` flag advertised. MAY-tier — useful for pipelines that want to strip formatting before piping to other tools.
SKIP`--output` advertises additional formats beyond text/jsonno `--output` or `--format` flag advertised; vacuous skip for MAY-tier extra formats.
WARNBad invocation exits with structured usage-error code (2)bad invocation exited with code 1. The 0/1/2/77/78 convention reserves code 2 for usage errors; using a different non-zero code (often 1) blurs the distinction between usage errors and general failure.
SKIPErrors emit JSON envelope with discriminant + type id + message roles under `--output json`binary does not advertise `--output json` in --help; MUST applies only to CLIs that opt into the JSON contract.
SKIPJSON success and error envelopes share their non-payload key setbinary does not advertise `--output json` in --help; envelope-consistency only applies to CLIs that opt into the JSON contract.

P3: Progressive Help Discovery

PASSHelp flag produces useful output
PASSVersion flag works (`--version` plus short alias)
PASSVersion flag works (`--version` plus short alias)
WARN`examples` subcommand or `--examples` flag for curated usage patternsno `examples` subcommand or `--examples` flag found. MAY-tier — a curated usage block keeps agents from hunting through long help text.
WARNShort `-h` summary differs from `--help` long form`-h` and `--help` produce byte-identical output. SHOULD-tier — clap renders the short summary on `-h` and the full description on `--help` when `long_about` is set; collapsing them gives agents no concise list-level grep target.
PASSEach subcommand's `--help` ships at least one invocation example
WARNHelp text pairs human and `--output json` example invocationsno paired text + `--output json` example found within 5 lines in top-level or any subcommand `--help`. Pairing keeps agents from reverse-engineering the JSON invocation from the text one.
PASSCommand-list entries name the command without repeating the binary name

P4: Fail-Fast, Actionable Errors

PASSRejects invalid arguments
FAILError messages include a hint or remediation phrasestderr lacks a hint phrase. Looked for one of: try , use , expected , did you mean, see , run , for more, tip:, help:, hint:, suggestion:, available . Error messages must name what to do next, not just the symptom.
SKIP`--output json` produces JSON-formatted errorsbinary does not advertise `--output json` in --help; SHOULD applies only to CLIs that opt into the JSON contract.

P5: Safe Retries & Mutation Boundaries

SKIPDestructive subcommands require `--force` or `--yes`no destructive subcommands detected; MUST applies conditionally to CLIs with destructive operations.
SKIPRead and write surfaces are both visible in subcommand listno recognizable read or write subcommand verbs; the read/write distinction is unobservable from the help surface alone.

P6: Composable, Predictable Command Structure

PASSHandles SIGPIPE gracefully
WARNPager-using CLI ships --no-pager escape hatchpager referenced in --help but no --no-pager escape hatch advertised
FAILRespects NO_COLORoutput contains ANSI escape sequences despite NO_COLOR=1
WARNSubcommand verbs follow community-standard names2/3 subcommand(s) follow standard verb names. Non-standard: completion. MAY-tier — community-standard verbs (get/list/create/update/delete) help agents predict subcommand behavior across CLIs.
WARN`--color` flag for explicit color controlno `--color` flag advertised. MAY-tier — `auto|always|never` lets agents and pipelines override the TTY-based default.
SKIPInput-accepting commands read from stdin when no file is givenno input-accepting subcommand detected (process/parse/convert/transform/analyze/validate/format/lint/audit); vacuous skip for the conditional SHOULD.
SKIPSubcommand naming follows a consistent verb/noun conventionfewer than 2 user-defined subcommands; vacuous skip for the conditional SHOULD.
PASSOperations are subcommands, not verb-shaped flags

P7: Bounded, High-Signal Responses

WARNQuiet mode availableno --quiet/-q flag detected in --help output
PASS`--verbose` flag for diagnostic escalation
SKIP`--limit` / `--max-results` flag for list operationsno list-style subcommand detected (list/ls/search/query/find/show/get); vacuous skip for the list-only SHOULD.
SKIPCursor-based pagination flags for list traversalno list-style subcommand detected; vacuous skip for the list-only MAY.
SKIP`--timeout` flag for long-running operationsno long-running subcommand detected (serve/daemon/watch/tail/monitor/follow/run/start/stream); vacuous skip for the conditional SHOULD.
WARNHelp text advertises TTY-aware verbosity behaviorno TTY-aware language found in `--help`. MAY-tier — automatic verbosity reduction when stdout is piped or redirected lets agents skip the explicit `--quiet` flag. Behavioral probes cannot simulate a real TTY without a pty crate, so this audit relies on documented intent.

P8: Discoverable Through Agent Skill Bundles

PASSSkill bundle has install path (`tool skill install [<host>]`)
PASS`skill install --all` for multi-runtime install
PASS`skill update` / `skill upgrade` for bundle refresh

Details

Version scored
3.0.0
Audit date
2026-10-05 18:42:29 UTC
Duration
195ms
Platform
linux/x86_64
Mode
command
Anc build
0.6.0
Install
brew install glow

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Reproduce this scorecard for glow locally and inspect the failing audits:

anc audit --command glow --output json

Install anc first if you don't have it. Add --output json to get the same JSON shape committed under scorecards/.