Agent skill
mutually-exclusive-group-handler
Generate logic for handling mutually exclusive argument groups with clear error messages and validation in CLI applications.
Install this agent skill to your Project
npx add-skill https://github.com/a5c-ai/babysitter/tree/main/library/specializations/cli-mcp-development/skills/mutually-exclusive-group-handler
SKILL.md
Mutually Exclusive Group Handler
Generate logic for handling mutually exclusive CLI argument groups.
Capabilities
- Generate mutually exclusive group validation
- Create dependent argument relationships
- Set up required group validation
- Implement custom conflict messages
- Configure OR/XOR group logic
- Generate documentation for groups
Usage
Invoke this skill when you need to:
- Implement mutually exclusive options
- Create dependent argument chains
- Validate argument relationships
- Generate clear conflict messages
Inputs
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| language | string | Yes | Target language |
| groups | array | Yes | Mutually exclusive group definitions |
Group Structure
{
"groups": [
{
"name": "output-format",
"type": "mutually_exclusive",
"required": true,
"options": ["--json", "--yaml", "--table"],
"errorMessage": "Choose one output format: --json, --yaml, or --table"
},
{
"name": "auth-method",
"type": "mutually_exclusive",
"options": ["--token", "--username"],
"dependencies": {
"--username": ["--password"]
}
}
]
}
Generated Patterns
TypeScript Group Handler
interface GroupValidation {
name: string;
options: string[];
required?: boolean;
errorMessage?: string;
dependencies?: Record<string, string[]>;
}
export function validateMutuallyExclusiveGroups(
args: Record<string, unknown>,
groups: GroupValidation[]
): void {
for (const group of groups) {
const presentOptions = group.options.filter(opt => {
const key = opt.replace(/^--/, '').replace(/-/g, '_');
return args[key] !== undefined;
});
// Check mutual exclusivity
if (presentOptions.length > 1) {
throw new Error(
group.errorMessage ||
`Options ${presentOptions.join(', ')} are mutually exclusive`
);
}
// Check required group
if (group.required && presentOptions.length === 0) {
throw new Error(
`One of ${group.options.join(', ')} is required`
);
}
// Check dependencies
if (group.dependencies && presentOptions.length === 1) {
const selected = presentOptions[0];
const deps = group.dependencies[selected];
if (deps) {
for (const dep of deps) {
const depKey = dep.replace(/^--/, '').replace(/-/g, '_');
if (args[depKey] === undefined) {
throw new Error(
`${selected} requires ${dep} to be specified`
);
}
}
}
}
}
}
Python Group Handler
from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Any
class MutuallyExclusiveGroup:
def __init__(
self,
name: str,
options: List[str],
required: bool = False,
error_message: Optional[str] = None,
dependencies: Optional[Dict[str, List[str]]] = None
):
self.name = name
self.options = options
self.required = required
self.error_message = error_message
self.dependencies = dependencies or {}
def validate_groups(args: Dict[str, Any], groups: List[MutuallyExclusiveGroup]) -> None:
for group in groups:
present = [
opt for opt in group.options
if args.get(opt.lstrip('-').replace('-', '_')) is not None
]
# Check mutual exclusivity
if len(present) > 1:
raise ValueError(
group.error_message or
f"Options {', '.join(present)} are mutually exclusive"
)
# Check required
if group.required and not present:
raise ValueError(
f"One of {', '.join(group.options)} is required"
)
# Check dependencies
if present and group.dependencies:
selected = present[0]
deps = group.dependencies.get(selected, [])
for dep in deps:
dep_key = dep.lstrip('-').replace('-', '_')
if args.get(dep_key) is None:
raise ValueError(
f"{selected} requires {dep} to be specified"
)
Workflow
- Define groups - Specify mutually exclusive options
- Set requirements - Required vs optional groups
- Add dependencies - Dependent argument chains
- Create messages - Custom error messages
- Generate validator - Validation logic
- Generate docs - Group documentation
Target Processes
- argument-parser-setup
- error-handling-user-feedback
- cli-command-structure-design
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