CLI Convention for The Bliss Platform

For bliss-4i
7 December 2025

1. Introduction

The Bliss Platform is an ecosystem composed of multiple cooperating binaries that together compile, package, and execute Bliss programs.
To maintain consistency across all components, Bliss defines a unified rule set for command-line interface (CLI) structure.
This specification is known as the Pure Function CLI Convention.

Its purpose is to create predictable, minimal, and deterministic interfaces suitable for both local and cloud execution environments.

2. Pure Function CLI Convention

Under this convention, every CLI invocation behaves analogously to a pure function call:

Command name → function name
Fixed positional arguments → function parameters
No flags, no optional switches, no reordering

This eliminates the complexity traditionally associated with CLI parsing.

2.1 Example

Traditional flag-based CLI:

$ add_binary --lhs 10 --rhs 20

Pure Function CLI equivalent:

$ add_binary add 10 20

Conceptual function mapping:

add(10, 20)

The CLI is simply a serialized representation of a pure function call.

3. Benefits

Adopting the Pure Function Convention provides several advantages:

• Reduced Parser Complexity

No flags, long options, or ambiguous argument ordering.
Parsing is trivial and deterministic.

• Zero Ambiguity

The meaning of each argument is positionally fixed and cannot conflict with other parameters.

• Consistent Interfaces Across All Binaries

The compiler, runtime, and packager all follow the same design principles, making the ecosystem coherent.

• Easier Documentation

Each command has a clear signature that maps directly to internal functions.

• Cloud-Friendly Behavior

The convention avoids reliance on environment variables, shell expansion, or platform-dependent behavior—ideal for sandboxed or containerized execution.

4. Downsides

The Pure Function approach introduces several tradeoffs:

• Less Ergonomic for Traditional CLI Users

Users accustomed to flag-based commands (--config, --output) may find positional arguments harder to recall.

• Lower Readability

Flags often convey intent explicitly; positional arguments rely on documentation or experience.

• Limited Optionality

Positional arguments restrict how optional or advanced parameters can be expressed.

5. Rationale and Tradeoff

Bliss adopts this convention because the underlying binaries are not intended for direct daily use.
The platform ships the following core executables:

bliss_runtime_4i
bliss_compiler_4i
bliss_packager_4i

These names are intentionally verbose and explicit.

Instead, Bliss provides a higher-level wrapper:

bliss.sh on POSIX systems
bliss.bat on Windows

The wrapper scripts:

• Provide a Developer-Friendly Interface

Flags, aliases, subcommands, and nicer help output exist only in this layer.

• Centralize Argument Parsing

The wrapper handles validation, formatting, and environment resolution before delegating to the binaries.

• Improve Cloud Integration

Because the binaries themselves avoid system lookups, the wrapper can enforce strict, deterministic behavior ideal for isolated environments.

• Enable Efficient, Minimal Internal Binaries

The internal tools remain small, predictable, and optimized for speed.

6. Summary

The Pure Function CLI Convention:

Ensures strict, deterministic execution
Simplifies parsing and reduces internal complexity
Unifies the CLI across all Bliss binaries
Delegates user ergonomics to top-level scripts (bliss.sh / bliss.bat)

This design makes the platform more maintainable, more predictable, and well-suited for both local and cloud-native workflows.