CLI UX: 'axon run --watch --dry-run' silently ignores --watch flag
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- Dominant language
- Go
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Description
Problem
When using both `--watch` and `--dry-run` together with `axon run`, the `--watch` flag is silently ignored without any warning or error message.
Code location: `internal/cli/run.go:180-192`
Current Behavior
axon run -p "test" --secret dummy --watch --dry-run
# Prints YAML and exits immediately
# No warning that --watch is being ignored
The command succeeds but the `--watch` flag has no effect because dry-run exits early without creating any resources.
Why This is Confusing
- No feedback: Users don't know their flag was ignored
- Conflicting intent: `--watch` implies "create and watch", `--dry-run` means "don't create". These are mutually exclusive but the CLI doesn't communicate this.
- Silent failure: The user might think they'll see watch output after the YAML, but the command just exits
Expected Behavior
The CLI should detect this conflict and provide clear feedback. Two options:
Option 1: Error (Recommended)
axon run -p "test" --watch --dry-run
Error: cannot use --watch with --dry-run (dry-run does not create resources to watch)
Option 2: Warning
axon run -p "test" --watch --dry-run
Warning: --watch flag ignored when using --dry-run
apiVersion: axon.io/v1alpha1
...
Option 1 is clearer and prevents user confusion by failing fast.
Impact
- User confusion: Users might wonder why watch isn't working
- Wasted time: Users might wait expecting watch output that never comes
- Poor error visibility: No indication that something unexpected happened
Suggested Fix
Add validation in the `RunE` function before processing:
if watch && dryRun {
return fmt.Errorf("cannot use --watch with --dry-run (dry-run does not create resources to watch)")
}
Additional Context
- This pattern should also be checked for other potentially conflicting flag combinations
- Found during developer experience testing
- Similar patterns exist in other CLI tools (e.g., kubectl warns about ignored flags)
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start in internal/cli/run.go:180-192 and inspect the axon run RunE flow around dry-run handling. Reproduce the command with --watch and --dry-run, then add the requested conflict feedback before processing and verify that the command no longer silently exits without explaining the ignored flag.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- go
- Domain
- cli
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 2/5
- Estimated time
- 1-3 hours
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Clearly specified
- Newbie friendliness
- 45/100