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diff --git a/docs/source/introduction.rst b/docs/source/introduction.rst index d9312b9..def96eb 100644 --- a/docs/source/introduction.rst +++ b/docs/source/introduction.rst @@ -4,61 +4,5 @@ The cliff framework is meant to be used to create multi-level commands such as subversion and git, where the main program handles some basic -argument parsing and then invokes a sub-command to do the work. - -Command Plugins -=============== - -Cliff takes advantage of Python's ability to load code dynamically to -allow the sub-commands of a main program to be implemented, packaged, -and distributed separately from the main program. This organization -provides a unified view of the command for *users*, while giving -developers the opportunity organize source code in any way they see -fit. - -Cliff Objects -============= - -Cliff is organized around four objects that are combined to create a -useful command line program. - -The Application ---------------- - -An :class:`cliff.app.App` is the main program that you run from the shell -command prompt. It is responsible for global operations that apply to -all of the commands, such as configuring logging and setting up I/O -streams. - -The CommandManager ------------------- - -The :class:`cliff.commandmanager.CommandManager` knows how to load -individual command plugins. The default implementation uses -`setuptools entry points`_ but any mechanism for loading commands can -be used by replacing the default :class:`CommandManager` when -instantiating an :class:`App`. - -The Command ------------ - -The :class:`cliff.command.Command` class is where the real work -happens. The rest of the framework is present to help the user -discover the command plugins and invoke them, and to provide runtime -support for those plugins. Each :class:`Command` subclass is -responsible for taking action based on instructions from the user. It -defines its own local argument parser (usually using argparse_) and a -:func:`take_action` method that does the appropriate work. - -The Interactive Application ---------------------------- - -The main program uses an :class:`cliff.interactive.InteractiveApp` -instance to provide a command-shell mode in which the user can type -multiple commands before the program exits. Many cliff-based -applications will be able to use the default implementation of -:class:`InteractiveApp` without subclassing it. - -.. _setuptools entry points: http://packages.python.org/distribute/setuptools.html - -.. _argparse: http://docs.python.org/library/argparse.html +argument parsing and then invokes a sub-command to do the work. This +package adds JSON, YAML, and HTML output formatters to those commands. |