> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://runegraft.codesft.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Command Routes

> Define CLI routes with typed arguments, friendly errors, and clean parsing.

Runegraft uses **route-style strings** to define commands, similar to Flask or FastAPI but for CLIs. Routes stay readable, and they double as your help text.

## Defining routes

Use `@cli.command("<pattern>")` with typed parameters that match the placeholders in your pattern:

```python theme={null}
from runegraft import CLI, opt

cli = CLI("demo")

@cli.command("install <url:url>")
def install(url: str, force: bool = opt("--force", "-f", default=False, help="Overwrite existing install")):
    print(f"Installing from {url} (force={force})")

@cli.command("config set <key:str> <value:str>")
def set_config(key: str, value: str):
    print(f"Saved {key}={value}")

@cli.command("config get <key:str>")
def get_config(key: str):
    print(f"Fetching {key}...")
```

The `<type:name>` placeholders describe both the argument type and the name passed into your function. Missing or malformed args produce clear, typed errors automatically.

## Typing and validation

* Built-in converters include `str`, `int`, `bool`, `float`, `url`, `uuid`, and `json`.
* Convert user input before your function runs, so you only handle validated Python types.
* Custom converters are easy—see [Type Converters](/concepts/types).

## Root vs. subcommands

* `@cli.root` handles `runegraft` with no args (perfect for launching the shell).
* Routes can nest to mimic subcommands: `config set` and `config get` share the `config` prefix but map to different functions.

## Helpful output for free

* Help text is generated from your route strings and docstrings.
* Missing/extra argument errors are formatted automatically and show expected types and options.
* Combine with [Options & Flags](/concepts/options) to offer defaults, choices, and aliases without hand-writing parsers.