ktools is a family of related libraries designed to exist across multiple programming languages while preserving the same core ideas, closely aligned user-facing behavior, and similar APIs adapted to each language.

This directory is the language-independent overview layer. Real implementations live in language workspaces such as ktools-cpp/, ktools-java/, ktools-python/, and others. Shared build orchestration lives in kbuild/.

Libraries

kcli

kcli is the command-line parsing library in the stack.

Its central idea is that a program may need both:

• ordinary top-level options such as --verbose
• inline command families such as --trace-*, --config-*, or --build-*

kcli is designed so applications and reusable libraries can both expose CLI behavior without flattening everything into one global option namespace.

Across implementations, kcli generally supports:

• a top-level parser
• an inline parser concept
• flags, required values, and optional values
• aliases
• help output
• deferred execution after full CLI validation

ktrace

ktrace is the tracing and logging library in the stack.

It is intended to provide structured developer-facing diagnostics and runtime trace output that composes with the rest of the system rather than being bolted on as ad hoc logging.

Across implementations, ktrace is generally built around:

• named trace channels or selectors
• runtime control over enabled trace output
• explicit trace/log APIs
• formatting aimed at developers and operators
• integration with kcli for CLI-facing trace controls where applicable

kconfig

kconfig is the configuration storage and loading library in the stack.

It is intended to give applications and SDKs a structured way to manage configuration data, load it from files or other external sources, and optionally override it from the command line.

Across implementations, kconfig generally focuses on:

• structured configuration data
• loading from files or other external sources
• mutable and read-oriented access patterns
• CLI-driven overrides where kcli integration is present
• diagnostics through ktrace where applicable

ki18n

ki18n is the internationalization and localization library in the stack.

It is intended to help applications and SDKs select languages, load translated resources, and retrieve localized strings in a way that composes with the rest of the stack.

Across implementations, ki18n generally focuses on:

• selecting a language or locale at runtime
• loading translation/resource data
• looking up translated strings by key
• fallback behavior when translations are missing
• simple token replacement or substitution in localized strings

Relationship Between The Libraries

The libraries are intended to compose as a stack:

• kcli provides CLI structure and inline command families
• ktrace provides diagnostics and trace/log visibility
• kconfig provides structured configuration and CLI-driven override support
• ki18n builds on the lower layers for localization-related behavior

Not every implementation reaches the same maturity at the same time, but the conceptual relationships are intended to stay aligned across languages.

Current Language Workspaces

• ktools-cpp
• ktools-java
• ktools-python
• ktools-rust
• ktools-swift
• ktools-javascript
• ktools-csharp
• ktools-kotlin

Where To Go Next

If you want a real implementation, build instructions, or language-specific API details, start with the relevant language workspace.