Protostar – A CLI Prototyping Tool

Hacker News

I am a UX designer who has been asked to help design a CLI. Looking for tools to quickly prototype a CLI that could also be easily shared with colleagues or used for user testing, I couldn't find anything. The only option I could think of was to code something from scratch using one of the existing CLI libraries. To make designing, prototyping and user testing CLIs easier for me in the future, and hopefully to help other designers who are not as comfortable with coding, I have developed this CLI prototyping tool. I would be very interested to hear if this tool would be useful to other people here and if there is anything I could improve about it! :)

Visit product View on Hacker NewsFeb 27, 2025

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Actual performance

5points

2comments

Did not reach leaderboard

Launch Intel predictions

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Product HuntOn track for Day 1 leaderboard · Strong signals: user, using, coding · Missing: mac, agents, macos

81%81% predicted probability of success on Product Hunt, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

best fitHighest predicted score across all platforms for this description.

Indie HackersFits the IH revenue-focused audience · Missing: supports, reddit linkedin, podcasting

64%64% predicted probability of success on Indie Hackers, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

Hacker NewsMay not resonate with HN audience · Strong signals: exist, existing, io · Missing: https docs, excited, just released

49%49% predicted probability of success on Hacker News, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

nativeThis product was originally launched on this platform.

TrustMRRLess likely to generate early MRR · Missing: mobile apps, ios, personal

45%45% predicted probability of success on TrustMRR, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

AppSumoMay struggle as an AppSumo deal · Missing: plus, platform, intuitive

32%32% predicted probability of success on AppSumo, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

Acquire.comPre-revenue stage for this audience · Missing: arr, mrr, revenue

10%10% predicted probability of success on Acquire.com, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

BetaListMay not resonate with beta-testers · Missing: web3, chat, crypto

0%0% predicted probability of success on BetaList, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

Correct prediction on native model

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