fix: Handle unknown flags or sub commands before starting worker

[yofabr]

Summary

This PR adds proper detection and handling for unknown flags and subcommands in the CLI, improving user experience by providing clear error messages instead of silently ignoring invalid arguments.

#671 To properly handle unknown commands instead of starting gateway

Changes

1. Unknown Flag Detection

Added default case to flag parsing switches in the following commands:

• cmd_agent.go: Added default case to detect unknown flags like --unknown-flag
• cmd_gateway.go: Converted if/else flag parsing to switch statement with default case
• cmd_cron.go: Added default case in cronAddCmd() for unknown flags
• cmd_auth.go: Added default cases in authLoginCmd() and authLogoutCmd() for unknown flags

Before: picoclaw agent --unknown-flag would silently ignore the flag
After: picoclaw agent --unknown-flag outputs "Unknown flag: --unknown-flag" and exits with code 1

2. Flag vs Subcommand Detection

Added checks to distinguish between flags (e.g., --debug) and subcommands (e.g., list, add):

• main.go (skills command): Detects when a flag is passed instead of a subcommand
• cmd_cron.go: Detects when a flag is passed instead of a cron subcommand
• cmd_auth.go: Detects when a flag is passed instead of an auth subcommand

Before: picoclaw cron --debug outputs "Unknown cron command: --debug"
After: picoclaw cron --debug outputs "Error: --debug is a flag, not a subcommand"

3. Added Import

• Added "strings" import to main.go, cmd_cron.go, and cmd_auth.go for prefix checking

Behavior Summary

Command	Input	Before	After
picoclaw agent --foo	Unknown flag	Silently ignored	"Unknown flag: --foo"
picoclaw gateway --foo	Unknown flag	Silently ignored	"Unknown flag: --foo"
picoclaw cron add --foo	Unknown flag	Silently ignored	"Unknown flag: --foo"
picoclaw auth login --foo	Unknown flag	Silently ignored	"Unknown flag: --foo"
picoclaw cron --debug	Flag instead of subcommand	"Unknown cron command: --debug"	"Error: --debug is a flag, not a subcommand"
picoclaw auth -v	Flag instead of subcommand	"Unknown auth command: -v"	"Error: -v is a flag, not a subcommand"
picoclaw skills --debug	Flag instead of subcommand	"Unknown skills command: --debug"	"Error: --debug is a flag, not a subcommand"

Testing

All changes have been tested manually:

# Unknown flags
picoclaw agent --unknown-flag  # "Unknown flag: --unknown-flag"
picoclaw gateway --fake-flag  # "Unknown flag: --fake-flag"
picoclaw cron add --name test --message hi --fake-flag  # "Unknown flag: --fake-flag"

# Flags passed as subcommands
picoclaw cron -sf    # "Error: -sf is a flag, not a subcommand"
picoclaw auth -v     # "Error: -v is a flag, not a subcommand"
picoclaw skills -x   # "Error: -x is a flag, not a subcommand"

# Valid usage still works
picoclaw agent --debug --message "hello"  # Works correctly

Files Modified

• cmd/picoclaw/main.go - Added strings import, flag detection for skills
• cmd/picoclaw/cmd_agent.go - Added default case for unknown flags
• cmd/picoclaw/cmd_gateway.go - Converted to switch with default case
• cmd/picoclaw/cmd_cron.go - Added strings import, flag detection, default case
• cmd/picoclaw/cmd_auth.go - Added flag detection, default cases

[yofabr]

@xiaket
@yinwm
@ixowalle

[xiaket]

With #429 merged, do you think we still suffer from this issue?

[yofabr]

With #429 merged, do you think we still suffer from this issue?

If there is cobra cli merged then this PR can be closed.