Generates a Universally-Unique Identifier (UUID) and writes it to the standard output. my-uuidgen replicates the equivalent tool in the Windows SDK. Meant to be a portable EXE.
Over the years, generating UUIDs has been a staple of Microsoft-based programming. The identifiers come in handy, and they have a variety of applications. A UUID looks like this: {e31de197-4573-4364-85b5-a688da887a66}, at least, in the Windows system Registry, this is how they appear. UUIDs sometimes are also known (almost interchangably, but not quite) as Globally Unique Identifiers, or GUIDs.
With the Windows SDK ships a handy-dandy command-line tool called uuidgen.exe. However, if you want to use this functionality in your own programs or installers, and do not want to necessarily bother with downloading and installing the bulky Windows SDK just to get one tool, then my-uuidgen might just be the solution you need.
Prints a Universally-Unique Identifier, or UUID, to the standard output on a line by itself. Supports the following command-line arguments:
my-uuidgen --version
The --version switch specifies that my-uuidgen should print its version number to the standard output on a line by itself, and then terminate.
NOTE: If the --version switch is passed, it must be the first switch on the command line, and if it is used, then any other switches will be ignored. The version number is not copied onto the Clipboard.
my-uuidgen --uppercase
The --uppercase switch specifies that any of the hexadecimal digits A-F in the outputted UUID should be printed in uppercase. Lowercase is the default.
my-uuidgen --no-copy
By default, my-uuidgen places the UUID it generates onto the Clipboard upon execution. The --no-copy switch suppresses this behavior.
(a) The restriction about putting only one command-line argument at a time has been removed.
(b) However, the --version switch will only work if it is specified first.
(c) If the --version switch is passed, all other switches are ignored.
(d) By default, all generated UUIDs are placed on the Clipboard.
(e) Use the --no-copy switch to prevent the placement of a generated UUID onto the Clipboard.
Initial release.