feat: add --json flag as shorthand for --output json#656
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Adds a persistent --json boolean flag to all commands, matching the convention used by gh, kubectl, and other agent-friendly CLIs. Implements GetOutputKind(cmd) helper in cliflags that checks --json before falling back to --output, avoiding PersistentPreRun override issues with child commands. Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
zmdavis
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Mar 11, 2026
apucacao
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Mar 11, 2026
Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
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Requirements
Related issues
N/A
Describe the solution you've provided
AI agents commonly try
--jsonto get machine-readable output (it's the convention ingh,kubectl,aws, etc.). We already had--output jsonbut that's not discoverable if you don't know to look for it — you just getunknown flag: --json.This adds
--jsonas a persistent flag on all commands that sets the output format to JSON.Describe alternatives you've considered
Documenting
--output jsonbetter. But since--jsonis a widely established convention, adding the alias is lower friction than expecting agents and users to discover--output.Additional context
N/A
Note
Low Risk
Low risk: adds a new persistent flag and routes existing output/validation logic through a small helper to prefer JSON when requested.
Overview
Adds a new persistent
--jsonflag (documented in help output) that acts as a shorthand for--output json.Introduces
cliflags.GetOutputKind(cmd)and updates command implementations and validators to use it so--jsontakes precedence over the--outputsetting, plus adds a root-level test asserting raw JSON output for--json.Written by Cursor Bugbot for commit cbfa50b. This will update automatically on new commits. Configure here.