How to use the command 'lb' (with examples)
The lb command is a tool for managing a blog contained in the current directory. It provides a set of interactive commands to create drafts, edit drafts, delete drafts, publish drafts, delete published posts, and unpublish published posts to edit them as drafts again. This article provides examples of each of these use cases.
Use case 1: Make a new draft
Code:
lb new
Motivation: Use this command when you want to start writing a new blog post and save it as a draft.
Explanation: This command creates a new draft file in the current directory. A prompt will appear to enter the desired title for the draft. Once you provide the title, a new file will be created with the given title and the .md extension.
Example output:
Enter the title for the new draft:
New Blog Post
Draft created: New Blog Post.md
Use case 2: Edit a draft
Code:
lb edit
Motivation: Use this command when you want to make changes to an existing draft.
Explanation: This command lists all the draft files in the current directory and prompts you to select one to edit. You can use the arrow keys to navigate through the list and press Enter to select a draft. Once selected, the draft file will open in the default text editor for editing.
Example output:
Select a draft to edit:
1. First Draft.md
2. Second Draft.md
3. Third Draft.md
> 1
Use case 3: Delete a draft
Code:
lb trash
Motivation: Use this command when you want to delete a draft that you no longer need.
Explanation: This command lists all the draft files in the current directory and prompts you to select one to delete. Similar to the lb edit command, you can navigate through the list and select a draft to delete. Once deleted, the draft file will be moved to the trash directory.
Example output:
Select a draft to delete:
1. First Draft.md
2. Second Draft.md
3. Third Draft.md
> 2
Draft deleted: Second Draft.md
Use case 4: Publish a draft
Code:
lb publish
Motivation: Use this command when you want to publish a draft as a blog post.
Explanation: This command lists all the draft files in the current directory and prompts you to select one to publish. Once selected, the draft file will be moved to the _posts directory and renamed with the current date and title. The blog post is now published and can be accessed via the blog’s website.
Example output:
Select a draft to publish:
1. First Draft.md
2. Second Draft.md
3. Third Draft.md
> 3
Draft published: Third Draft.md -> 2022-01-25-Third-Draft.md
Use case 5: Delete a published post
Code:
lb delete
Motivation: Use this command when you want to delete a published blog post.
Explanation: This command lists all the published posts in the _posts directory and prompts you to select one to delete. Similar to the previous commands, you can navigate through the list and select a post to delete. Once deleted, the post file will be moved to the trash directory.
Example output:
Select a post to delete:
1. 2022-01-10-First-Post.md
2. 2022-01-15-Second-Post.md
3. 2022-01-25-Third-Post.md
> 2
Post deleted: 2022-01-15-Second-Post.md
Use case 6: Unpublish a published post to edit it as a draft again
Code:
lb revise
Motivation: Use this command when you want to make changes to a published post and revert it to a draft.
Explanation: This command lists all the published posts in the _posts directory and prompts you to select one to revise. After selecting a post, it will be moved back to the drafts directory, allowing you to edit it again as a draft.
Example output:
Select a post to revise:
1. 2022-01-10-First-Post.md
2. 2022-01-15-Second-Post.md
3. 2022-01-25-Third-Post.md
> 3
Post revised: 2022-01-25-Third-Post.md
Conclusion:
The lb command provides an interactive way to manage a blog located in the current directory. With various commands to create drafts, edit drafts, delete drafts, publish drafts, delete published posts, and unpublish published posts, managing a blog becomes easier and more organized. Whether you are a blogger or a developer, the lb command can simplify your blog management workflow.
