002. Standalone Script Execution

Status: Accepted

Date: 2026-04-24

Context

Every script in libexec/ contains its own boilerplate for resolving TFENV_ROOT and sourcing shared helpers (lib/helpers.sh, lib/bashlog.sh, etc.). This appears to be duplication and a natural refactoring target.

However, the design is intentional. Each libexec/ script must be independently executable for:

• Direct invocation during testing (./libexec/tfenv-install)
• Debugging individual commands in isolation
• Compatibility with the rbenv-inspired architecture where commands are standalone executables discovered by the dispatcher

Decision

Every libexec/ script will continue to contain its own TFENV_ROOT resolution and helper sourcing boilerplate. This will NOT be refactored into a shared loader, even though it creates apparent duplication.

Consequences

Positive

• Each command can be tested and debugged independently
• No hidden coupling between the dispatcher and individual commands
• Matches the established rbenv pattern that tfenv is modelled after

Negative

• Boilerplate is duplicated across ~15 scripts
• Changes to the sourcing pattern must be applied to every script

Alternatives Considered

Alternative 1: Shared Init Script

Create a single lib/init.sh that all scripts source. Rejected because it creates a dependency that breaks standalone execution — if a script cannot find the init script, it cannot run at all.