BSD-3-Clause licensed and maintained by Neil Mitchell
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CmdArgs: Easy Command Line Processing Hackage version Stackage version Build status

CmdArgs is a Haskell library for defining command line parsers. The two features that make it a better choice than the standard getopt library are:

  • It’s very concise to use. The HLint command line handling is three times shorter with CmdArgs.
  • It supports programs with multiple modes, such as darcs or Cabal.

A very simple example of a command line processor is:

data Sample = Sample {hello :: String} deriving (Show, Data, Typeable)

sample = Sample{hello = def &= help "World argument" &= opt "world"}
         &= summary "Sample v1"

main = print =<< cmdArgs sample

Despite being very concise, this processor is already fairly well featured:

$ runghc Sample.hs --hello=world
Sample {hello = "world"}

$ runghc Sample.hs --help
Sample v1, (C) Neil Mitchell 2009

sample [FLAG]

  -? --help[=FORMAT]  Show usage information (optional format)
  -V --version        Show version information
  -v --verbose        Higher verbosity
  -q --quiet          Lower verbosity
  -h --hello=VALUE    World argument (default=world)

User Manual

The rest of this document explains how to write the “hello world” of command line processors, then how to extend it with features into a complex command line processor. Finally this document gives three samples, which the cmdargs program can run. The three samples are:

  • hlint - the HLint program.
  • diffy - a program to compare the differences between directories.
  • maker - a make style program.

For each example you are encouraged to look at it’s source (in the repo) and run it (try cmdargs hlint --help). The HLint program is fairly standard in terms of it’s argument processing, and previously used the System.Console.GetOpt library. Using GetOpt required 90 lines and a reasonable amount of duplication. Using CmdArgs the code requires 30 lines, and the logic is much simpler.

Acknowledgements Thanks to Kevin Quick for substantial patches, and additional code contributions from Sebastian Fischer and Daniel Schoepe.

Hello World Example

The following code defines a complete command line argument processor:

{-# LANGUAGE DeriveDataTypeable #-}
{-# OPTIONS_GHC -fno-cse #-}
module Sample where
import System.Console.CmdArgs

data Sample = Sample {hello :: String}
              deriving (Show, Data, Typeable)

sample = Sample{hello = def}

main = print =<< cmdArgs sample

To use the CmdArgs library there are three steps:

  • Define a record data type (Sample) that contains a field for each argument. This type needs to have instances for Show, Data and Typeable.
  • Give a value of that type (sample) with default values (def is a default value of any type, but I could also have written ""). This value is turned into a command line by calling the cmdArgs function.
  • To ensure GHC evalutes attributes the right number of times we disable the CSE optimisation on this module.

Now we have a reasonably functional command line argument processor. Some sample interactions are:

$ runghc Sample.hs --hello=world
Sample {hello = "world"}

$ runghc Sample.hs --version
The sample program

$ runghc Sample.hs --help
The sample program

sample [OPTIONS]

  -? --help        Display help message
  -V --version     Print version information
  -h --hello=ITEM

CmdArgs uses defaults to automatically infer a command line parser for a value, and provides annotations to override any of the the defaults. CmdArgs automatically supports --help and --version flags, and optionally supports verbosity flags.

Specifying Attributes

In order to control the behaviour we can add attributes. For example to add an attribute specifying the help text for the --hello argument we can write:

sample = Sample{hello = def &= help "Who to say hello to"}

We can add additional attributes, for example to specify the type of the value expected by hello:

sample = Sample {hello = def &= help "Who to say hello to" &= typ "WORLD"}

Now when running --help the final line is:

  -h --hello=WORLD  Who to say hello to

There are many more attributes, detailed in the Haddock documentation.

Multiple Modes

To specify a program with multiple modes, similar to darcs, we can supply a data type with multiple constructors, for example:

data Sample = Hello {whom :: String}
            | Goodbye
              deriving (Show, Data, Typeable)

hello = Hello{whom = def}
goodbye = Goodbye

main = print =<< cmdArgs (modes [hello,goodbye])

Compared to the first example, we now have multiple constructors, and a sample value for each constructor is passed to cmdArgs. Some sample interactions with this command line are:

$ runghc Sample.hs hello --whom=world
Hello {whom = "world"}

$ runghc Sample.hs goodbye
Goodbye

$ runghc Sample.hs --help
The sample program

sample [OPTIONS]

 Common flags
  -? --help       Display help message
  -V --version    Print version information

sample hello [OPTIONS]

  -w --whom=ITEM

sample goodbye [OPTIONS]

As before, the behaviour can be customised using attributes.

Larger Examples

For each of the following examples we first explain the purpose of the program, then give the source code, and finally the output of --help. The programs are intended to show sample uses of CmdArgs, and are available to experiment with through cmdargs progname.

HLint

The HLint program analyses a list of files, using various options to control the analysis. The command line processing is simple, but a few interesting points are:

  • The --report flag can be used to output a report in a standard location, but giving the flag a value changes where the file is output.
  • The color field is assigned two flag aliases, --colour and -c. Assigning the -c short flag explicitly stops either of the CPP fields using it.
  • The show_ field would clash with show if given the expected name, but CmdArgs automatically strips the trailing underscore.
  • The cpp_define field has an underscore in it’s name, which is transformed into a hyphen for the flag name.

The code is:

{-# LANGUAGE DeriveDataTypeable #-}
module HLint where
import System.Console.CmdArgs

data HLint = HLint
    {report :: [FilePath]
    ,hint :: [FilePath]
    ,color :: Bool
    ,ignore_ :: [String]
    ,show_ :: Bool
    ,extension :: [String]
    ,language :: [String]
    ,utf8 :: Bool
    ,encoding :: String
    ,find :: [FilePath]
    ,test_ :: Bool
    ,datadir :: [FilePath]
    ,cpp_define :: [String]
    ,cpp_include :: [FilePath]
    ,files :: [FilePath]
    }
    deriving (Data,Typeable,Show,Eq)

hlint = HLint
    {report = def &= opt "report.html" &= typFile &= help "Generate a report in HTML"
    ,hint = def &= typFile &= help "Hint/ignore file to use"
    ,color = def &= name "c" &= name "colour" &= help "Color the output (requires ANSI terminal)"
    ,ignore_ = def &= typ "MESSAGE" &= help "Ignore a particular hint"
    ,show_ = def &= help "Show all ignored ideas"
    ,extension = def &= typ "EXT" &= help "File extensions to search (defaults to hs and lhs)"
    ,language = def &= name "X" &= typ "LANG" &= help "Language extension (Arrows, NoCPP)"
    ,utf8 = def &= help "Use UTF-8 text encoding"
    ,encoding = def &= typ "ENC" &= help "Choose the text encoding"
    ,find = def &= typFile &= help "Find hints in a Haskell file"
    ,test_ = def &= help "Run in test mode"
    ,datadir = def &= typDir &= help "Override the data directory"
    ,cpp_define = def &= typ "NAME[=VALUE]" &= help "CPP #define"
    ,cpp_include = def &= typDir &= help "CPP include path"
    ,files = def &= args &= typ "FILES/DIRS"
    } &=
    verbosity &=
    help "Suggest improvements to Haskell source code" &=
    summary "HLint v0.0.0, (C) Neil Mitchell" &=
    details ["Hlint gives hints on how to improve Haskell code",""
            ,"To check all Haskell files in 'src' and generate a report type:","  hlint src --report"]

mode = cmdArgsMode hlint

Produces the --help output:

HLint v0.0.0, (C) Neil Mitchell

hlint [OPTIONS] [FILES/DIRS]
Suggest improvements to Haskell source code

Common flags:
  -r --report[=FILE]            Generate a report in HTML
  -h --hint=FILE                Hint/ignore file to use
  -c --colour --color            Color the output (requires ANSI terminal)
  -i --ignore=MESSAGE            Ignore a particular hint
  -s --show                     Show all ignored ideas
     --extension=EXT            File extensions to search (defaults to hs and lhs)
  -X --language=LANG            Language extension (Arrows, NoCPP)
  -u --utf8                        Use UTF-8 text encoding
     --encoding=ENC                Choose the text encoding
  -f --find=FILE                Find hints in a Haskell file
  -t --test                        Run in test mode
  -d --datadir=DIR                Override the data directory
     --cpp-define=NAME[=VALUE]  CPP #define
     --cpp-include=DIR            CPP include path
  -? --help                        Display help message
  -V --version                    Print version information
  -v --verbose                    Loud verbosity
  -q --quiet                    Quiet verbosity

Hlint gives hints on how to improve Haskell code

To check all Haskell files in 'src' and generate a report type:
  hlint src --report

Diffy

The Diffy sample is a based on the idea of creating directory listings and comparing them. The tool can operate in two separate modes, create or diff. This sample is fictional, but the ideas are drawn from a real program. A few notable features:

  • There are multiple modes of execution, creating and diffing.
  • The diff mode takes exactly two arguments, the old file and the new file.
  • Default values are given for the out field, which are different in both modes.

The code is:

{-# LANGUAGE DeriveDataTypeable #-}
module Diffy where
import System.Console.CmdArgs

data Diffy = Create {src :: Maybe FilePath, out :: FilePath}
           | Diff {old :: FilePath, new :: FilePath, out :: FilePath}
             deriving (Data,Typeable,Show,Eq)

outFlags x = x &= help "Output file" &= typFile

create = Create
    {src = def &= help "Source directory" &= typDir
    ,out = outFlags "ls.txt"
    } &= help "Create a fingerprint"

diff = Diff
    {old = def &= typ "OLDFILE" &= argPos 0
    ,new = def &= typ "NEWFILE" &= argPos 1
    ,out = outFlags "diff.txt"
    } &= help "Perform a diff"

mode = cmdArgsMode $ modes [create,diff] &= help "Create and compare differences" &= program "diffy" &= summary "Diffy v1.0"

And --help produces:

Diffy v1.0

diffy [COMMAND] ... [OPTIONS]
  Create and compare differences

Common flags:
  -o --out=FILE     Output file
  -? --help         Display help message
  -V --version     Print version information

diffy create [OPTIONS]
  Create a fingerprint

  -s  --src=DIR  Source directory

diffy diff [OPTIONS] OLDFILE NEWFILE
  Perform a diff

Maker

The Maker sample is based around a build system, where we can either build a project, clean the temporary files, or run a test. Some interesting features are:

  • The build mode is the default, so maker on it’s own will be interpreted as a build command.
  • The build method is an enumeration.
  • The threads field is in two of the constructors, but not all three. It is given the short flag -j, rather than the default -t.

The code is:

{-# LANGUAGE DeriveDataTypeable #-}
module Maker where
import System.Console.CmdArgs

data Method = Debug | Release | Profile
              deriving (Data,Typeable,Show,Eq)

data Maker
    = Wipe
    | Test {threads :: Int, extra :: [String]}
    | Build {threads :: Int, method :: Method, files :: [FilePath]}
      deriving (Data,Typeable,Show,Eq)

threadsMsg x = x &= help "Number of threads to use" &= name "j" &= typ "NUM"

wipe = Wipe &= help "Clean all build objects"

test_ = Test
    {threads = threadsMsg def
    ,extra = def &= typ "ANY" &= args
    } &= help "Run the test suite"

build = Build
    {threads = threadsMsg def
    ,method = enum
        [Release &= help "Release build"
        ,Debug &= help "Debug build"
        ,Profile &= help "Profile build"]
    ,files = def &= args
    } &= help "Build the project" &= auto

mode = cmdArgsMode $ modes [build,wipe,test_]
     &= help "Build helper program"
     &= program "maker"
     &= summary "Maker v1.0\nMake it"

And --help produces:

Maker v1.0
  Make it

maker [COMMAND] ... [OPTIONS]
  Build helper program

Common flags:
  -? --help     Display help message
  -V --version  Print version information

maker [build] [OPTIONS] [ITEM]
  Build the project

  -j --threads=NUM  Number of threads to use
  -r --release      Release build
  -d --debug        Debug build
  -p --profile      Profile build

maker wipe [OPTIONS]
  Clean all build objects

maker test [OPTIONS] [ANY]
  Run the test suite

  -j --threads=NUM  Number of threads to use

Changes

Changelog for CmdArgs

0.10.22, released 2023-03-13
#68, support GHC 9.6
0.10.21, released 2021-02-14
Handle GHC 9.0 optimisations
Remove support for GHC 7.4 to 7.8
0.10.20, released 2018-01-22
#54, use the getopt data types from base
0.10.19, released 2018-01-01
#47, ensure Semigroup instance on all GHC versions
0.10.18, released 2017-09-24
#47, GHC 8.4 compatibility
0.10.17, released 2017-03-31
Add processValueIO for more controlled error messages
#529, don't include the stack trace in processValue
0.10.16, released 2017-03-22
Minor improvement to error messages
0.10.15, released 2017-03-06
#43, GHC 8.2 compatibility
0.10.14, released 2016-02-16
#39, ensure correct line breaks in HTML help output
#18, preserve manual \n in help messages
#25, reformat the README
0.10.13, released 2015-05-22
#24, support Ratio in some places
0.10.12, released 2014-10-27
GHC 7.2 compatibility
0.10.11, released 2014-10-12
#15, never put [brackets] around optional args in Explicit
0.10.10, released 2014-09-18
#14, fix @ file arguments
0.10.9, released 2014-07-22
#10, fix versionArgs (broken in 0.10.8)
0.10.8, released 2014-07-21
Avoid compilation warnings on GHC 7.8
#9, add --numeric-version flag
Update the copyright year
Change GetOpt.usageInfo to be more like GetOpt
0.10.7, released 2013-12-09
#1, fix timestamps in .tar.gz dist file
0.10.6, released 2013-12-05
#625, more documentation about args/argPos
#626, ensure initial lists don't get reversed (fix after #610)
0.10.5, released 2013-07-29
#615, support lists inside a newtype
0.10.4, released 2013-06-26
#610, make sure it is O(n) to append arguments, not O(n^2)
0.10.3, released 2013-04-05
Append list items under an enum
Support &= ignore on enum fields
0.10.2, released 2013-02-28
Relax upper bounds to be GHC 7.7 compatible
0.10.1, released 2012-11-17
#569, set the test program to off by default
Complete revamp of cmdargs-browser, far better Javascript
Add a missing case for Helper marshalling FlagNone
0.10, released 2012-08-09
Revert to 0.9.6, including modeExpandAt
0.9.7, released 2012-08-09
Revert to 0.9.5, to fix up PVP breakage
0.9.6, released 2012-07-29
#539, hopefully more fixes to compiling in profile mode
#522, add modeExpandAt and noAtExpand annotation
#522, don't @expand after --
0.9.5, released 2012-03-25
Don't specify TH extension unless quotation is true
0.9.4, released 2012-03-25
#539, specify the TH extension in the Cabal file
Allow transformers 0.3.*
Correct copyright in license and cabal file
0.9.3, released 2012-02-10
Add expandArgsAt and support for @ flag file directives
0.9.2, released 2012-01-07
Don't build the test program if quotation is turned off
0.9.1, released 2012-01-05
Improve the documentation for the Explicit module
#433, propagate groupname on modes in the Implicit code
0.9, released 2011-11-05
#467, add completions for people running bash
#334, add a Quote module, to write pure in the impure syntax
#482, fix the sample in Explicit, don't use def
#461, fix the translation for enum/enum_
Make showHelp take an argument for the prefix bits
Add Helper interface, and initial cmdargs-browser code
Add splitArgs/joinArgs
0.8, released 2011-08-13
#450, redo the manual generator so Maker example is not cut off
Support all the types in Data.Int/Data.Word
Make modeArgs take a list of arguments as well
0.7, released 2011-05-07
No changes, just a version bump to allow requiring the GHC fix
0.6.10, released 2011-05-07
Change the annotate module to cope better with GHC's CSE
0.6.9, released 2011-04-03
#422, support newtype value as the underlying type
0.6.8, released 2011-02-13
Allow versionArgs [summary] to override --version
Improve the documentation surrounding opt
Add modeReform to Mode
Add modeEmpty, to construct blank Mode values
Improve the documentation surrounding pure annotations.
0.6.7, released 2011-01-15
#395, don't put two newlines after --help or --version
0.6.6, released 2010-12-30
#392, support helpArgs [groupname "something"]
0.6.5, released 2010-12-15
Don't fail with ambiguous enum if you exactly match a value
Put errors on stderr
0.6.4, released 2010-11-20
Eliminate the filepath dependence
0.6.3, released 2010-11-10
Switch mtl for transformers
0.6.2, released 2010-11-10
Build on GHC 7.0 RC2, add an extra type signature
Add verbosityArgs to customise the verbose/quiet flags
Add helpArg/versionArg flags to customise those flags
Support multiline summary using \n escape codes
0.6.1, released 2010-10-04
Build on GHC 6.10, don't rely on record name disambiguation
0.6, released 2010-09-18
Add ignore annotation for modes and flags
#350, make top-level help appear properly
0.5, released 2010-09-15
#351, name/explicit attributes on mode were broken (regression)
0.4, released 2010-09-05
#342, display common fields only once
Raise errors if annotations are placed in invalid places
Rewrite the translation of annotation to explicit modes
Treat anything after -- as an argument
Add a pure annotation mechanism
Introduce System.Console.CmdArgs.Annotate
0.3, released 2010-08-23
Add a documentation example for the Explicit mode
Improve the purity and annotations a bit, try disabling CSE
Change the help format
Rename groupHiden to groupHidden, patch from Matthew Cox
Bug, missing fields and explicit enums didn't work together
0.2, released 2010-08-14
#252, add support for grouped flags/modes
#333, support missing fields
Add support for reading tuple values (including nested)
#292, add support for automatic enumerations
#221, make argpos work with non-string fields
#222, support opt and args together
#230, different modes can share short flags
#295, make verbosity flags explicit
#231, add support for Maybe
#256, add --option=false support
Complete rewrite to introduce Explicit module
0.1, released 2009-09-12
Start of changelog