Commands

Name: Commands Description: Artisan console command classes that serve as the CLI entry point for operations. Commands validate input and delegate all business logic to Actions or Services. Compatible Agents: general-purpose, backend Tags: app/Console/Commands/**/*.php, laravel, php, backend, artisan, cli, console

Rules

• Command classes live in app/Console/Commands/
• Each command should have a single, clearly defined responsibility
• Complex logic belongs in Actions or Services, not in the command itself — commands are the entry point only
• Use descriptive verb-noun names: SendInvoiceReminders, ImportProductCsv, PruneExpiredSessions
• Command signatures follow the namespace:action pattern: invoices:send-reminders, products:import
• Every argument and option must have a clear description
• Validate all input using the Validator class — never trust raw input
• Use --option flags for optional behaviour; avoid positional ambiguity
• Implement PromptsForMissingInput so users receive clear prompts instead of silent failures
• Commands must always return either self::SUCCESS or self::FAILURE — never void or null

Examples

class SendInvoiceReminders extends Command implements PromptsForMissingInput
{
    protected $signature = 'invoices:send-reminders
                            {email : The email address to send the reminder to}
                            {--dry-run : Simulate the command without persisting changes}';

    protected $description = 'Send invoice payment reminders to a specific user.';

    public function __construct(private readonly SendInvoiceReminderAction $action)
    {
        parent::__construct();
    }

    public function handle(): int
    {
        $validated = validator(
            [
                'email'   => $this->argument('email'),
                'dry_run' => $this->option('dry-run'),
            ],
            [
                'email'   => ['required', 'email'],
                'dry_run' => ['boolean'],
            ]
        )->validate();

        try {
            $this->action->execute($validated['email']);
            $this->info("Reminder sent to {$validated['email']}.");

            return self::SUCCESS;
        } catch (Throwable $e) {
            $this->error("Failed: {$e->getMessage()}");

            return self::FAILURE;
        }
    }
}

Anti-Patterns

• Putting business logic directly inside handle() instead of delegating to an Action or Service
• Not returning self::SUCCESS or self::FAILURE (e.g., returning void or null)
• Trusting raw $this->argument() / $this->option() values without validation
• Omitting descriptions from arguments and options in the signature
• Not implementing PromptsForMissingInput, causing silent failures for missing arguments

References

• Laravel Artisan Console
• Related: Actions/SKILL.md — for the business logic commands delegate to