Program Params

Header-only C++ library for parsing program parameters from command-line arguments.

Usage

Overview

#include <program_params/program_params.h>

int main (int argc, char *argv[])
{
    size_t count = 10;
    float interval = 1.0f;
    std::string destination;
    
    program_params::Params params;
    params.add(count, {"-c", "--count"});
    params.add(interval, {"-i", "--interval"});
    params.add(destination, {}, true);
    try
    {
        params.parse(argc - 1, argv + 1);
    }
    catch (const params::Exception &ex)
    {
        // Print usage and exit.
    }
    // Do something useful with your params.
}

Adding Parameter

Using external storage (type is inferred):

params.add(storage, names, required)

Using internal storage (type must be specified):

params.add<T>(names, required)

Positional parameters may have no name:

params.add(storage, {}, required)

Reading Parameter

params.get<T>(name)

Parameters with external storage are stored directly to the provided storage.

Features

Short and long options, allowing multiple names:

params.add(count, {"-c"});
params.add(interval, {"--interval"});
params.add(size, {"-s", "--size"});

Positional parameters (non-options) with optional name:

params.add(destination, {});
params.add(destination, {"destination"});
params.add<std::string>({"destination"});

Name needed to retrieve the value with internal storage.

Required options or positional parameters:

params.add(count, {"-c"}, true);
params.add(destination, {}, true);

Inferring type for external storage:

bool flag;
int count;
params.add(flag, {"-f"});
params.add(count, {"-c"});

Internal storage with explicit type:

params.add<size_t>({"-c", "--count"});
params.add<std::string>({"destination"});
// Parse params.
params.get<size_t>({"-c"});
params.get<size_t>({"--count"});
params.get<std::string>({"destination"});

Strict argument checking (doesn't allow unknown arguments):
```
program_params::Params(true);
```

Unknown arguments allowed by default:

program_params::Params(false);
program_params::Params();

Short options without values (flags) in single argument:

params.add<bool>({"-a"});
params.add<bool>({"-s"});
params.add<bool>({"-d"});
params.add<bool>({"-f"});

program -asdf

Short option with value in single argument:
```
program -i2.5
```
Long option with value in single argument:
```
program --interval=2.5
```
Long option with value as separate arguments:
```
program --interval 2.5
```