Ten recommendations for creating usable bioinformatics command line software

Abstract

Bioinformatics software varies greatly in quality. In terms of usability, the command line interface is the first experience a user will have of a tool. Unfortunately, this is often also the last time a tool will be used. Here I present ten recommendations for command line software author's tools to follow, which I believe would greatly improve the uptake and usability of their products, waste less user's time, and improve the quality of scientific analyses.