Test CLI UX: Is your CLI user experience easy to understand & use?

Getting Started

If you are a developer or tester who works with command line interfaces, then learning about user experience testing is essential.

User experience testing is all about making sure that your CLI is easy to use, efficient, and effective.

By testing the user experience, you can identify any issues or problems that users might encounter and fix them before they become a major headache.

Who is it for?

User experience testing is for anyone who works with command line interfaces, including developers, testers, and system administrators.

It is particularly important for those who are responsible for creating and maintaining CLI tools that are used by other people.

How to

Start by identifying the key tasks that users will perform using your CLI. This could include things like installing software, configuring settings, or running scripts.
Once you have identified the key tasks, create a set of test scenarios that cover each one. For example, if one of the key tasks is installing software, you might create a test scenario that involves installing the software on a fresh machine.
Next, recruit a group of users to test your CLI. These users should be representative of your target audience and should have varying levels of experience with command line interfaces.
Ask the users to perform the test scenarios that you have created and observe their behavior. Take note of any issues or problems that they encounter, such as confusing error messages or difficult-to-use commands.
Use the feedback from your users to make improvements to your CLI. This might involve simplifying commands, improving error messages, or adding new features.
Repeat the testing process with your users to ensure that the changes you have made have improved the user experience.

Best Practices

Test early and often. Don’t wait until the end of the development process to start testing the user experience.
Recruit a diverse group of users. This will help you identify issues that might not be apparent to you as a developer.
Use real-world scenarios. Test your CLI in situations that are similar to how it will be used in the real world.
Take feedback seriously. If users are encountering issues or problems, take the time to address them and make improvements.

Examples

Let’s say that you are developing a CLI tool for managing a web server.

One of the key tasks that users will perform is configuring the server settings.

To test the user experience, you might create a test scenario that involves configuring the server to handle a high volume of traffic.

You would recruit a group of users to perform this test scenario and observe their behavior.

If users are having trouble understanding the commands or encountering confusing error messages, you would take note of these issues and make improvements to the CLI.

You might simplify the commands, improve the error messages, or add new features to make the process easier.

After making these improvements, you would repeat the testing process with your users to ensure that the changes have improved the user experience.

By testing the user experience in this way, you can create a CLI tool that is easy to use, efficient, and effective.