Added status CLI command and tweaked json/text output choices.

Author: mikeckennedy

.claude/settings.local.json

@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 {
   "permissions": {
     "allow": [
-      "Bash(UV_PROJECT_ENVIRONMENT=venv uv run pytest:*)"
+      "Bash(UV_PROJECT_ENVIRONMENT=venv uv run pytest:*)",
+      "Bash(./venv/bin/python -m talk_python_cli.app status:*)",
+      "Bash(./venv/bin/talkpython status:*)",
+      "Bash(./venv/bin/pip install:*)",
+      "Bash(./venv/bin/talkpython:*)"
     ]
   }
 }

change-log.md

@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+# Change Log
+
+All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
+
+The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/),
+and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
+
+## [0.1.1] - 2026-02-07
+
+### Added
+- `talkpython status` command to check MCP server health and display version info
+
+### Changed
+- Version is now read dynamically from package metadata via `importlib.metadata`
+- Default output format is now always `text` (removed auto-detect that defaulted to `json` when piped)
+- Development status upgraded from Alpha to Beta
+- Added `readme` field to `pyproject.toml` so PyPI renders the README
+
+---
+
+## [0.1.0] - 2026-02-06
+
+Initial release of the Talk Python CLI.
+
+- Query podcast episodes by number or keyword
+- Look up guest appearances
+- Browse and search the Talk Python course catalog
+- Rich terminal output with Markdown rendering
+- JSON output mode via `--format json`
+- Configurable MCP server URL via `--url`
+
+---
+
+## Template for Future Entries
+
+<!--
+## [X.Y.Z] - YYYY-MM-DD
+
+### Added
+- New features or capabilities
+- Files: `path/to/new/file.ext`, `another/file.ext`
+
+### Changed
+- Modifications to existing functionality
+- Files: `path/to/modified/file.ext` (summary if many files)
+
+### Deprecated
+- Features that will be removed in future versions
+- Files affected: `path/to/deprecated/file.ext`
+
+### Removed
+- Features or files that were deleted
+- Files: `path/to/removed/file.ext`
+
+### Fixed
+- Bug fixes and corrections
+- Files: `path/to/fixed/file.ext`
+
+### Security
+- Security patches or vulnerability fixes
+- Files: `path/to/security/file.ext`
+
+### Notes
+- Additional context or important information
+- Major dependencies updated
+- Breaking changes explanation
+-->

pyproject.toml

@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 [project]
 name = "talk-python-cli"
-version = "0.1.0"
+version = "0.1.1"
 description = "CLI for the Talk Python to Me podcast and courses"
 requires-python = ">=3.12"
 license = "MIT"
 authors = [
     { name = "Michael Kennedy", email = "michael@talkpython.fm" },
 ]
 classifiers = [
-    "Development Status :: 3 - Alpha",
+    "Development Status :: 4 - Beta",
     "Environment :: Console",
     "Intended Audience :: Developers",
     "License :: OSI Approved :: MIT License",
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ classifiers = [
     "Topic :: Multimedia :: Sound/Audio",
     "Topic :: Education",
 ]
+readme = "README.md"
 dependencies = [
     "cyclopts>=3.0",
     "httpx>=0.27",

src/talk_python_cli/__init__.py

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 """Talk Python to Me CLI — query podcast episodes, guests, and courses."""
 
-__version__ = '0.1.0'
+from importlib.metadata import version
+
+__version__ = version("talk-python-cli")

src/talk_python_cli/app.py

@@ -2,14 +2,17 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import json
 import sys
+import time
 from typing import Annotated, Literal
 
 import cyclopts
+import httpx
 
 from talk_python_cli import __version__
 from talk_python_cli.client import DEFAULT_URL, MCPClient
-from talk_python_cli.formatting import is_tty, print_error
+from talk_python_cli.formatting import console, display_json, print_error
 
 # ── Shared state ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 # The meta-app handler stores the client here so command modules can access it.
@@ -42,6 +45,38 @@ def get_client() -> MCPClient:
 app.command(courses_app)
 
 
+@app.command
+def status() -> None:
+    """Check whether the Talk Python MCP server is up and display its version info."""
+    base = _client.base_url if _client else DEFAULT_URL
+    t0 = time.monotonic()
+    try:
+        resp = httpx.get(base, timeout=15.0)
+        elapsed_ms = (time.monotonic() - t0) * 1000
+        resp.raise_for_status()
+        data = resp.json()
+    except httpx.HTTPError as exc:
+        elapsed_ms = (time.monotonic() - t0) * 1000
+        console.print(f'[tp.error]STATUS: FAILED ({elapsed_ms:.2f} ms)[/tp.error]')
+        console.print(f'[red]{exc}[/red]')
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    # If piped / --format json, emit raw JSON
+    if _client and _client.output_format == 'json':
+        data['status'] = 'SUCCESS'
+        data['response_ms'] = round(elapsed_ms, 2)
+        display_json(json.dumps(data))
+        return
+
+    console.print()
+    console.print(f'[tp.success]STATUS: SUCCESS[/tp.success] [tp.dim]({elapsed_ms:.2f} ms)[/tp.dim]')
+    console.print()
+    for key in ('name', 'version', 'description', 'documentation'):
+        if key in data:
+            console.print(f'[tp.label]{key}:[/tp.label] {data[key]}')
+    console.print()
+
+
 # ── Meta-app: handles global options before dispatching to sub-commands ──────
 @app.meta.default
 def launcher(
@@ -50,9 +85,9 @@ def launcher(
         Literal['text', 'json'],
         cyclopts.Parameter(
             name='--format',
-            help="Output format: 'text' (rich Markdown) or 'json'. Defaults to 'json' when stdout is piped.",
+            help="Output format: 'text' (rich Markdown) or 'json'.",
         ),
-    ] = None,  # type: ignore
+    ] = 'text',
     url: Annotated[
         str,
         cyclopts.Parameter(
@@ -64,10 +99,6 @@ def launcher(
 ) -> None:
     global _client
 
-    # Auto-detect: default to json when piped, text when interactive
-    if format is None:
-        format = 'text' if is_tty() else 'json'
-
     _client = MCPClient(base_url=url, output_format=format)
     try:
         app(tokens)