Usage is a spec and CLI for defining CLI tools. Arguments, flags, environment variables, and config files can all be defined in a Usage spec. It can be thought of like OpenAPI (swagger) for CLIs. Here are some potential reasons for defining your CLI with a Usage spec:
- Generate autocompletion scripts
- Generate markdown documentation
- Generate man pages
- Generate type-safe SDK client libraries for TypeScript, Python, and Rust
- Use an advanced arg parser in any language
- Scaffold one spec into different CLI frameworks-even different languages
- [coming soon] Host your CLI documentation on usage.sh
Publisher’s description
What is usage?
usage is an open-source terminals & cli tool program for Windows from jdx. It is written in Rust.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit and ARM64 as Portable. It runs without installation (portable).
Updates and version history
The current version is 7.0.1, released on October 14, 2026. 11 versions are listed since August 4, 2026, each with links to its own installer files. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (jdx/usage) has 1,061 stars. Similar programs include PowerShell, QPDF and Oh My Posh.
Project description on GitHub: “A specification for CLIs”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Native ARM64 build for Windows on Arm
- Portable: runs without installation
- Updated in the last two months
In short: usage is an open-source terminals & cli tool tool for 64-bit and ARM64 PCs.
Is usage safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
9518804218A48901AC82228618CA58503D7D79166E61DF6C04FA8E6A07EF7666· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 11 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7.0.1Latest | October 14, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
| 7.0.0 | October 14, 2026 | — | ARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 6.12.1 | October 6, 2026 | — | ARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 6.12.0 | September 28, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
| 6.11.1 | September 23, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
| 6.11.0 | September 21, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
| 6.10.0 | September 19, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
| 6.9.1 | September 14, 2026 | — | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id jdx.usage -eProgram files (.exe): usage.exe
Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install usageInformation
- Publisher
- jdx
- Category
- Terminals & CLI tools
- Licence
- MIT
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/jdx/usage
- Written in
- Rust
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, ARM64
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- 7.0.1
- Released
- October 14, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- September 11, 2026
- Versions listed
- 11
- GitHub stars
- 1,061
- GitHub forks
- 61
- Website
- usage.jdx.dev
- winget ID
- jdx.usage
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is usage free?
Yes. usage is open-source software under the MIT licence.
Is usage safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install usage with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does usage run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
Yes, there is a native ARM64 installer.
Where can I download an older version of usage?
The versions page lists all 11 versions with links to their official installer files, back to August 4, 2026.
Can I use usage without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
What are alternatives to usage?
PowerShell, QPDF, Oh My Posh, fzf and cURL. The alternatives page compares them.
