ForgeTrust.AppSurface.Console

Modular bootstrapping for .NET Console applications using CliFx.

Overview

ForgeTrust.AppSurface.Console provides a structured way to build command-line tools. It automatically discovers and registers CliFx commands from modules, runs them inside the .NET Generic Host, and now exposes a startup options seam for console-specific behavior such as command-first output.

Usage

Create a startup class that inherits from ConsoleStartup<TModule>:

C#public class MyConsoleStartup : ConsoleStartup<MyRootModule> { }

In your Program.cs:

C#await ConsoleApp<MyRootModule>.RunAsync(args);

You can also customize console startup behavior at the entry point:

C#using ForgeTrust.AppSurface.Core;

await ConsoleApp<MyRootModule>.RunAsync(
    args,
    options =>
    {
        options.OutputMode = ConsoleOutputMode.CommandFirst;
    });

If you are using a custom startup type directly, the same configuration can be applied fluently:

C#await new MyConsoleStartup()
    .WithOptions(options => options.OutputMode = ConsoleOutputMode.CommandFirst)
    .RunAsync(args);

Features

• Command Discovery: Automatically registers classes implementing ICommand from the entry point assembly and dependent modules.
• Hosted Runner: Integrates with the .NET Generic Host to manage service lifecycles during command execution.
• Console Options: ConsoleOptions lets entry points configure shared console behavior before the host is built.

ConsoleOptions

ConsoleOptions is the public startup configuration surface for AppSurface console apps.

• OutputMode defaults to ConsoleOutputMode.Default.
• ConsoleOutputMode.Default preserves the standard Generic Host experience, including lifecycle output that may appear alongside command output.
• ConsoleOutputMode.CommandFirst suppresses ambient host and command-runner lifecycle information so help, validation, and command-owned progress remain the primary console experience.
• CustomRegistrations runs after AppSurface's built-in console registrations so advanced hosts and tests can override services such as CliFx.Infrastructure.IConsole or add extra logging providers.

Use CommandFirst for public CLIs where first-touch output is part of the product surface. Leave the default in place for internal tools or apps where host lifecycle logs are useful operational context.

Pitfalls

• CommandFirst suppresses ambient lifecycle information, not command-owned progress. Your command still needs to log or write the progress messages users should see.
• Console options are applied before host creation. Configure them at the entry point or through WithOptions(...), not inside command handlers.
• CustomRegistrations overrides services late in the startup pipeline. Use it intentionally for host-level customization, not as a replacement for normal module service registration.
• If you override console startup behavior in a derived startup class, keep the shared options path intact so entry-point configuration still reaches the host.

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