adpa-enterprise-framework-automation/docs/INTERACTIVE-CLI-VALIDATION-SUMMARY.md

Modular, standards-compliant Node.js/TypeScript automation framework for enterprise requirements, project, and data management. Provides CLI and API for BABOK v3, PMBOK 7th Edition, and DMBOK 2.0 (in progress). Production-ready Express.js API with TypeSpe

# Interactive CLI Input Validation and Error Handling Implementation

## Summary

Successfully implemented comprehensive input validation and error handling for the interactive CLI to ensure a robust user experience. The implementation prevents system crashes due to invalid inputs and provides user-friendly error messages with recovery options.

## Implementation Overview

### 1. InputValidationService (`src/modules/cli/InputValidationService.ts`)

A comprehensive validation service that provides:

#### Core Validation Methods
- **`validateMenuChoice()`** - Validates menu selections and navigation commands
- **`validateProjectName()`** - Validates project names with length and character restrictions
- **`validateFilePath()`** - Validates file paths with security checks (prevents `..` and `~`)
- **`validateUrl()`** - Validates URLs with protocol checking (HTTP/HTTPS only)
- **`validateEmail()`** - Validates email addresses with proper format checking
- **`validateApiKey()`** - Provider-specific API key validation (Google AI, OpenAI)
- **`validateNumber()`** - Numeric input validation with min/max range support
- **`validateYesNo()`** - Yes/No input validation with multiple format support
- **`validateText()`** - Generic text validation with customizable options

#### Security Features
- **Input sanitization** - Removes potentially dangerous characters
- **Length limiting** - Prevents DoS attacks through oversized inputs
- **Pattern validation** - Ensures inputs match expected formats
- **Path traversal protection** - Blocks dangerous path patterns

#### User Experience Features
- **Helpful error messages** - Clear, actionable error descriptions
- **Suggestions** - Provides specific guidance for fixing invalid inputs
- **Multiple input formats** - Accepts various valid formats (e.g., y/yes/true/1)
- **Case-insensitive navigation** - Commands work regardless of case

### 2. InteractiveErrorHandler (`src/modules/cli/InteractiveErrorHandler.ts`)

Specialized error handling for interactive CLI with:

#### Error Categorization
- **Validation errors** - Input format/content issues
- **System errors** - File system, permissions, disk space issues
- **Network errors** - API calls, timeouts, connectivity issues
- **Configuration errors** - Missing/invalid configuration
- **User cancellation** - User-initiated interruptions
- **Unknown errors** - Unexpected errors with fallback handling

#### Recovery Options
- **Retry** - Allow users to try the operation again
- **Go back** - Return to previous menu/state
- **Skip** - Continue without completing the operation
- **Help** - Show detailed assistance
- **Exit** - Graceful application termination

#### Advanced Features
- **Error context tracking** - Records operation, input, menu, timestamp
- **Error history** - Maintains log of recent errors for debugging
- **Detailed help** - Context-specific troubleshooting guidance
- **Recovery workflows** - Guided error resolution processes

### 3. Enhanced InteractiveMenuSystem (`src/modules/cli/InteractiveMenuSystem.ts`)

Integrated validation and error handling into the main menu system:

#### Menu Input Validation
- **Choice validation** - Validates numeric choices and navigation commands
- **Error recovery loops** - Continues menu operation after validation errors
- **User-friendly feedback** - Shows validation errors with suggestions
- **Graceful degradation** - Handles errors without crashing

#### Enhanced Action Execution
- **`executeMenuActionWithErrorHandling()`** - Wraps all menu actions with error handling
- **`executeFunctionWithErrorHandling()`** - Enhanced function execution
- **`executeCommandWithErrorHandling()`** - Enhanced command execution
- **Recovery workflows** - Allows retry, navigation, or help after errors

#### Specific Validations
- **Project name validation** - In custom risk assessment workflow
- **Choice validation** - For project type and assessment type selection
- **Input sanitization** - Applied to all user inputs

### 4. Enhanced InteractiveProviderMenu (`src/modules/ai/interactive-menu.ts`)

Added validation to AI provider selection menu:

#### Menu Choice Validation
- **Dynamic choice validation** - Validates against available providers and options
- **Error display** - Shows validation errors with recovery options
- **Graceful handling** - Continues menu operation after invalid inputs

#### Provider Setup Validation
- **Yes/No confirmation validation** - For provider selection and setup confirmation
- **API key validation** - Provider-specific validation during setup
- **URL validation** - For endpoint configuration
- **Required field validation** - Ensures all required fields are provided

## Key Features Implemented

### ✅ Comprehensive Input Validation
- All user inputs are validated before processing
- Provider-specific validation rules (API keys, URLs, etc.)
- Security-focused validation (path traversal protection, input sanitization)
- Multiple input format support for user convenience

### ✅ Robust Error Handling
- Categorized error types with appropriate handling
- User-friendly error messages with actionable suggestions
- Recovery options that don't require application restart
- Error context tracking for debugging and user assistance

### ✅ System Stability
- No crashes due to invalid inputs
- Graceful error recovery with menu continuation
- Proper exception handling throughout the interactive flow
- Fallback mechanisms for unexpected errors

### ✅ Enhanced User Experience
- Clear, helpful error messages
- Specific suggestions for fixing invalid inputs
- Multiple recovery options (retry, back, help, exit)
- Case-insensitive navigation commands
- Consistent validation across all interactive components

## Usage Examples

### Menu Choice Validation
```
Select an option: invalid
❌ Invalid choice "invalid"
💡 Suggestions:
   • Valid choices: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
   • Navigation commands: back, home, help, exit, status, refresh
```

### Project Name Validation
```
Enter project name: A
❌ Project name must be at least 2 characters
💡 Suggestions:
   • Current length: 1
```

### API Key Validation
```
Enter GOOGLE_AI_API_KEY: short
❌ Google AI API key should start with "AI" and be at least 30 characters
💡 Suggestions:
   • Get your API key from https://aistudio.google.com/app/apikey
```

### Error Recovery
```
❌ Error: Network timeout occurred
💡 Suggestions:
   • Check your internet connection
   • Try again in a few moments
   • Check if the service is available

🔄 Recovery Options:
   • Press Enter to try again
   • Type "back" to return to previous menu
   • Type "help" for more assistance
```

## Testing

The implementation has been tested with:
- Valid and invalid menu choices
- Various project name formats
- Different API key formats for multiple providers
- URL validation with different protocols
- Yes/No inputs in various formats
- Error scenarios and recovery workflows

## Benefits

1. **Improved User Experience** - Clear feedback and guidance for all inputs
2. **System Reliability** - No crashes due to invalid inputs
3. **Security** - Input sanitization and path traversal protection
4. **Maintainability** - Centralized validation logic and error handling
5. **Extensibility** - Easy to add new validation rules and error types
6. **Debugging** - Error context tracking and history for troubleshooting

## Acceptance Criteria Met

✅ **Input validation must be implemented for all user inputs**
- Comprehensive validation service covering all input types
- Integrated into all interactive components

✅ **Error handling must be in place to manage exceptions and provide user feedback**
- Specialized error handler with categorization and recovery options
- User-friendly error messages with actionable suggestions

✅ **The system should not crash due to invalid inputs**
- Robust error handling prevents crashes
- Graceful recovery mechanisms maintain application stability

The interactive CLI now provides a professional, robust user experience with comprehensive input validation and error handling that prevents crashes and guides users through error recovery.