Re: better cli processing

[flarg]

On a related note, the Getopt::Long node says I can specify an option like 'foo --size=24' like this:

>>> GetOptions("size i" => \$offset); <<<

How can I use this feature to specify an option that may look like either of these:

foo --size 24 --verbose --debug

or a more compact version

-vds 24

I can't quite figure it out. The documentation contains alot of examples using references, and I references are a little beyond me right now (but I'm learning!).

[bbfu]

A couple of things you will want to read up on.

First, you should look into storing the options in a hash, instead of passing a reference to a variable for each one. It's much easier. See Storing options in a hash for info on that.

Second is aliases, or Options_with_multiple_names. Pretty straight-forward.

Last, you want to look into Bundling for info on allowing the -vds 24 form.

And here's some example code!

#!/usr/bin/perl
use warnings;
use strict;

use Getopt::Long;
Getopt::Long::Configure('bundling');

our %Options;
GetOptions(\%Options,
  'size|s=i',           # The | separates aliases, ie: s == size
  'verbose|v',          # What comes before the | is the name, which
  'debug|d',            # determines what hash entry (or variable) is 
+set.
);

print "Debug mode\n" if $Options{debug};
print "Verbose mode\n" if $Options{verbose};
print "Size is: `$Options{size}'\n" if exists $Options{size};
print "Done.\n";

This will take --verbose --size=24, or --size 24 -vd, or -vds24, or just about any other combination thereof. :)

bbfu
Black flowers blossum
Fearless on my breath

[flarg]

Beautiful. That's exactly what I was looking for. Thanks all!

[Aristotle]

It's not possible with Getopt::Long. You can only use long options with that, and you can only use short options with Getopt::Std. What you want to do requires Getopt::Mixed.

Makeshifts last the longest.

[bbfu]

Actually, I believe it is possible with Getopt::Long. Take a look at the bundling option.

Update: Oh, and of course it helps to use the 'name|n' for defining the short form, since it's not done automatically. :)

bbfu
Black flowers blossum
Fearless on my breath

[Aristotle]

I stand corrected. Thanks!

Makeshifts last the longest.