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ScripTree

Portable GUI generator for command-line tools.

Python MIT
Commits
230
Stars
2
Created
April 16, 2026
View repo

ScripTree turns CLI tools into graphical applications without writing UI code. Point it at any executable—Python script, PowerShell, Linux binary—and it parses the help text, builds a form from the arguments, and wraps the execution in a desktop window.

It is fully portable (one zip, no installer, no admin rights), encrypted-credential aware, and permissions-based (32 capability flags, file-based, NTFS ACL compatible). You can distribute a .scriptree file to an end user, they double-click it, and they get a labeled-field form tailored to that tool—no technical knowledge required.

Three launcher shells ship in one installation: the forest workspace (persistent desktop state + multi-catalog discovery), the bare ring shell (floating hexagonal launchers), and the classic V1 editor. Plus a headless screenshot tool that renders any ScripTree widget to PNG without ever displaying a window—used for the demo gallery and documentation.

What it does

ScripTree is a parser + form generator + execution wrapper in one. Auto-parse any CLI tool’s help output (argparse, click, PowerShell, GNU-style). Build a form from the arguments automatically. Run it in a desktop window with labeled fields, dropdowns, file pickers, checkboxes, and live command-line preview. No UI code written.

Portability

Install once, run anywhere. The portable ZIP contains vendored Python, PySide6, and all dependencies. Copy the folder to a USB drive, drop it on another machine, run run_scriptreeforest.bat. No registry, no installer, no admin rights, no network required. The launcher self-heals missing dependencies by offering to download a portable Python runtime.

Permissions and corporate deployment

32 capability files, file-based, NTFS ACL compatible. IT admins deploy the permissions/ folder read-only, grant write on specific files per AD group, and lock .scriptree files read-only — users can run tools but not edit them. No per-user config, no cloud, no agents.

The test suite

171 test files, 2,943 test functions. Argument parsing, field types, configurations, security sanitization, file I/O, permissions enforcement—all covered. Largest test suite of any project here.

The usual path is: extract the portable zip, double-click run_scriptreeforest.bat, start building tool catalogs. 230 commits, and the largest test suite of anything on this site.

Screenshots

The `bat` command-line tool rendered as a labeled form with multiple input fields, tabs, and a live command-line preview panel.
CLI parsing in action: `bat --help` becomes a multi-tab form with field labels and live preview.
The `fd` file-search CLI rendered as a form with input fields for search term, path, and boolean flags.
File search tool wrapped in a form: no CLI syntax required.
A comprehensive demonstration form showing all available ScripTree widget types: text inputs, dropdowns, file pickers, checkboxes, radio buttons, and sliders.
Every widget type ScripTree supports, in one teaching form.

Where this stands

Better at

  • Fully portable: one ZIP file, no installer, no admin rights, runs on any Windows machine after extraction.
  • The largest test suite of anything here: 171 test files and 2,943 test functions.
  • Permissions system: 32 capability files, file-based, compatible with NTFS ACLs and corporate deployment.
  • Three launcher shells in one installation: forest workspace (persistent multi-catalog discovery), ring shell (floating hexagonal launchers), and V1 editor, plus a headless screenshot tool for batch rendering.
  • Parses help output from multiple CLI frameworks: argparse, click, PowerShell, and GNU-style tools, without manual definition.

Worse at

  • Windows is the primary target. A shell launcher and `.desktop` / `.command` shortcut generation exist for Linux and macOS, but the documentation, launchers and day-to-day use are Windows-first.
  • Some features are Windows-only by construction — running a tool under alternate credentials uses `CreateProcessWithLogonW`, which has no cross-platform equivalent.
  • Learning curve to the `.scriptree` definition format; end users can run tools but authoring tools requires reading documentation.

Pick something else when…

  • Click, Typer, or FastAPI (if you need cross-platform CLI or web UI)Your tool targets macOS or Linux natively, or you prefer a web-based interface over a desktop application.
  • General-purpose GUI builders like Qt Designer or WPFYou need deep customization of layout and appearance, or non-CLI-based applications.