The Command Line GUIde: Graphical Interfaces from Man Pages via AI (arxiv.org)

Researchers introduced GUIde, a system that uses AI to automatically generate graphical interfaces for command-line tools by translating man pages into interface specifications. The pipeline parses textual documentation (man pages), uses AI to map flags, arguments and descriptions into structured UI elements (widgets, menus, form fields), and then renders a user-facing GUI so users can discover and invoke command options without memorizing syntax. The team evaluated GUIde across a corpus of real-world commands to measure how thoroughly the generated interfaces cover actual command functionality. This work is significant because it applies large-language-model–style specification synthesis to bridge the discoverability/usability gap between CLI power and GUI ergonomics. For AI/ML practitioners, it demonstrates a practical use of AI for automated spec generation and UI synthesis, enabling faster onboarding, fewer syntax errors, and easier composition of command-line workflows. It also surfaces technical challenges—man pages vary in structure and completeness, so model accuracy, validation, and human-in-the-loop checks are crucial to avoid incorrect mappings. Overall, GUIde points to scalable ways LLMs can convert informal technical docs into executable interfaces, with implications for tooling, reproducibility, and accessibility across software ecosystems.