Why This Name Works
Cardinal.sh borrows a word that already means "primary" or "chief" — a cardinal rule is the one rule that governs all others. The name fits a tool whose job is defining the core configuration or policy a system must obey.
"Cardinal" is a single, memorable word with no technical jargon, making it easy to say, type, and remember, while the .sh extension marks it clearly as a developer-run command-line tool.
The name can support a narrow linting or policy-check utility or a broader configuration and governance platform that other tools read from.
Naming Advantages
Category-Clear
A direct word for a primary rule, fitting configuration, linting, and policy tooling.
Developer-Centric
Short, easy to type, and immediately usable as a CLI command name.
.sh Signals a CLI Tool
The extension tells developers this is something installed and run from a terminal.
Room to Grow
Fits a single rule-checking command or a broader governance and configuration platform.
Ideal Use Cases
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Configuration Policy CLIA tool that defines the core rules a project's configuration files must satisfy.
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Linter / Rule Enforcement ToolA command-line utility that checks code or infrastructure against a set of primary rules before merge.
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Pipeline Governance LayerInfrastructure that other build and deploy tools read their authoritative settings from.
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Style & Standards EnforcementA CLI that enforces a team's core coding or formatting standards automatically.
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Central Settings RegistryA lightweight command-line registry for the primary configuration values a system depends on.