tldr-generate

Remake the configuration file storing into a specific location

$ tlmgr generate --dest [output_file]

$ tlmgr generate --localcfg [local_configuration_file]

$ tlmgr generate --rebuild-sys

tldr-generate [OPTION]...

-o <DIR>, --output <DIR>
    Specifies the directory where the generated tldr pages cache will be saved.

-s <URL>, --source <URL>
    Defines the URL of the tldr-pages repository (e.g., GitHub) to fetch command examples from.

-f <TYPE>, --format <TYPE>
    Sets the output format for the generated pages, such as json or plain text, depending on the client's needs.

-c, --clean
    Removes any existing local tldr pages cache before generating a new one.

-v, --verbose
    Enables verbose output, providing more detailed information about the generation process.

-h, --help
    Displays a help message and exits.

The tldr-generate command, though often an internal function of tldr clients, serves the crucial purpose of creating or updating a local cache of tldr pages.

This local cache allows users to access concise command-line examples even without an internet connection and significantly speeds up page retrieval. The process typically involves fetching the latest community-contributed Markdown files from the tldr-pages GitHub repository, processing them into a client-readable format (such as plain text or JSON), and storing them in a designated directory on the user's system.

While a standalone tldr-generate might exist in specific client implementations or development setups, its functionality is most commonly invoked via an update or sync option within the main tldr command (e.g., tldr --update or tldr sync), ensuring users always have access to the most current and relevant command examples.

The tldr-generate command is often not a universally distributed standalone utility. Its functionality is typically integrated into popular tldr clients (like the Node.js or Python clients) as an update or sync feature (e.g., tldr --update or tldr sync).

The specific options and behavior of such a generation process can vary between different tldr client implementations or custom scripts. Users should consult the documentation of their specific tldr client for precise cache generation instructions.

Generating a local cache of tldr pages is essential for enabling offline access to command examples and significantly speeding up the retrieval time. Instead of fetching pages from the internet every time, the client can serve them instantly from the local store.

For most users, the functionality of tldr-generate is accessed directly through their preferred tldr client. Commands like tldr --update (for the Node.js client) or tldr update (for the Python client) handle the entire process of fetching, parsing, and caching the latest tldr pages without requiring a separate tldr-generate command.

The tldr-pages project was conceived around 2014-2015 as a more approachable alternative or complement to traditional man pages, focusing on practical command examples.

As the project gained popularity and the number of pages grew, the need for efficient local caching mechanisms became evident. This led to the development of integrated generation features within various tldr client implementations, allowing users to quickly synchronize and store the latest community-contributed content for offline access and improved performance. While early versions might have relied on simpler external scripts, the trend has been towards seamless, built-in update functionalities.

tldr(1), man(1)