alecthomas/kong

Kong is a command-line parser for Go that uses struct tags to define command-line interfaces.

Kong solves the problem of building command-line applications by allowing developers to declare flags, arguments, and commands through Go struct definitions and tags rather than through imperative API calls. The parser reads these struct definitions and automatically generates the command-line interface, handling parsing, validation, and help text generation. This declarative approach reduces boilerplate and keeps command definitions close to their corresponding code.

Kong suits projects where developers want to minimize the ceremony of setting up command-line argument parsing. It works well for applications of any complexity, from simple single-command tools to multi-level command hierarchies. The struct-tag approach makes it particularly valuable for teams that prefer configuration-as-code patterns and want their CLI definitions to be self-documenting through the struct layout itself.

The project shows consistent maintenance with regular updates addressing issues and improving functionality. Development activity demonstrates responsiveness to user feedback and a commitment to keeping the tool stable and compatible with current Go practices.