optimus-prime

An option parsing yak shave. I blame python.

Usage

Options

Create a parser class:

class OptionClass
  include OptimusPrime

  attr_reader :name, :age

  option :name, :age
end

options = OptionClass.new

puts "Name: " + options.name
puts "Age:  " + options.age

Then run your program:

$ ruby option_class.rb --name Pat --age 22
Name: Pat
Age:  22

Prompting for options

If you specify a :prompt option, the user will be prompted for a value if one isn't provided already:

class OptionPromptClass
  include OptimusPrime

  attr_reader :name

  option :name, :prompt => 'Enter a name:'
end

options = OptionPromptClass.new

puts "Name: " + options.name

Then run your program:

$ ruby option_prompt_class.rb
Enter a name: # enter "Pat"
Name: Pat

You can also have options that don't need a value (flags):

class FlagsClass
  include OptimusPrime

  attr_reader :verbose

  flag :verbose
end

options = FlagsClass.new

puts "Verbose: " + options.verbose ? 'Yes' : 'No'

Then run your program:

$ ruby flags_class.rb --verbose
Verbose: Yes

Commands

You can specify commands using command, then passing a block which will get evaluated in the context of an instance of the class, so it will have all option values available.

class Commands
  include OptimusPrime

  option :name, :age

  command :show do
    puts "Name: " + (@name || '(n/a)')
    puts "Age:  " + (@age  || '(n/a)')
  end
end

Commands.new

Then run your program:

$ ruby commands.rb show --name Pat
Name: Pat
Age:  (n/a)

Commands with arguments

class CommandsWithArgs
  include OptimusPrime

  command :show do |name|
    puts "Name: " + name
  end
end

CommandsWithArgs.new

Then run your program:

$ ruby commands_with_args.rb show Pat
Name: Pat

Commands as methods

class CommandsAsMethods
  include OptimusPrime

  command :show

  def show(name)
    puts "Showing: " + name
  end
end

CommandsAsMethods.new

Then run your program:

$ ruby commands_as_methods.rb show Pat
Showing: Pat

Help

Add comments below command declarations to generate help:

command :show do |name|
  # Shows the name.
  #
  # USAGE
  #
  #   $ ruby commands.rb show Pat
  puts "Name: " + name
end

Running your program:

$ ruby commands.rb help show
Shows the name.

TODO

• Actually use optparse. It's good for what it does.