| # Commander.js |
| |
| |
| [](http://travis-ci.org/tj/commander.js) |
| [](https://www.npmjs.org/package/commander) |
| [](https://npmcharts.com/compare/commander?minimal=true) |
| [](https://packagephobia.now.sh/result?p=commander) |
| [](https://gitter.im/tj/commander.js?utm_source=badge&utm_medium=badge&utm_campaign=pr-badge&utm_content=badge) |
| |
| The complete solution for [node.js](http://nodejs.org) command-line interfaces, inspired by Ruby's [commander](https://github.com/commander-rb/commander). |
| [API documentation](http://tj.github.com/commander.js/) |
| |
| |
| ## Installation |
| |
| $ npm install commander |
| |
| ## Option parsing |
| |
| Options with commander are defined with the `.option()` method, also serving as documentation for the options. The example below parses args and options from `process.argv`, leaving remaining args as the `program.args` array which were not consumed by options. |
| |
| ```js |
| #!/usr/bin/env node |
| |
| /** |
| * Module dependencies. |
| */ |
| |
| var program = require('commander'); |
| |
| program |
| .version('0.1.0') |
| .option('-p, --peppers', 'Add peppers') |
| .option('-P, --pineapple', 'Add pineapple') |
| .option('-b, --bbq-sauce', 'Add bbq sauce') |
| .option('-c, --cheese [type]', 'Add the specified type of cheese [marble]', 'marble') |
| .parse(process.argv); |
| |
| console.log('you ordered a pizza with:'); |
| if (program.peppers) console.log(' - peppers'); |
| if (program.pineapple) console.log(' - pineapple'); |
| if (program.bbqSauce) console.log(' - bbq'); |
| console.log(' - %s cheese', program.cheese); |
| ``` |
| |
| Short flags may be passed as a single arg, for example `-abc` is equivalent to `-a -b -c`. Multi-word options such as "--template-engine" are camel-cased, becoming `program.templateEngine` etc. |
| |
| Note that multi-word options starting with `--no` prefix negate the boolean value of the following word. For example, `--no-sauce` sets the value of `program.sauce` to false. |
| |
| ```js |
| #!/usr/bin/env node |
| |
| /** |
| * Module dependencies. |
| */ |
| |
| var program = require('commander'); |
| |
| program |
| .option('--no-sauce', 'Remove sauce') |
| .parse(process.argv); |
| |
| console.log('you ordered a pizza'); |
| if (program.sauce) console.log(' with sauce'); |
| else console.log(' without sauce'); |
| ``` |
| |
| To get string arguments from options you will need to use angle brackets <> for required inputs or square brackets [] for optional inputs. |
| |
| e.g. ```.option('-m --myarg [myVar]', 'my super cool description')``` |
| |
| Then to access the input if it was passed in. |
| |
| e.g. ```var myInput = program.myarg``` |
| |
| **NOTE**: If you pass a argument without using brackets the example above will return true and not the value passed in. |
| |
| |
| ## Version option |
| |
| Calling the `version` implicitly adds the `-V` and `--version` options to the command. |
| When either of these options is present, the command prints the version number and exits. |
| |
| $ ./examples/pizza -V |
| 0.0.1 |
| |
| If you want your program to respond to the `-v` option instead of the `-V` option, simply pass custom flags to the `version` method using the same syntax as the `option` method. |
| |
| ```js |
| program |
| .version('0.0.1', '-v, --version') |
| ``` |
| |
| The version flags can be named anything, but the long option is required. |
| |
| ## Command-specific options |
| |
| You can attach options to a command. |
| |
| ```js |
| #!/usr/bin/env node |
| |
| var program = require('commander'); |
| |
| program |
| .command('rm <dir>') |
| .option('-r, --recursive', 'Remove recursively') |
| .action(function (dir, cmd) { |
| console.log('remove ' + dir + (cmd.recursive ? ' recursively' : '')) |
| }) |
| |
| program.parse(process.argv) |
| ``` |
| |
| A command's options are validated when the command is used. Any unknown options will be reported as an error. However, if an action-based command does not define an action, then the options are not validated. |
| |
| ## Coercion |
| |
| ```js |
| function range(val) { |
| return val.split('..').map(Number); |
| } |
| |
| function list(val) { |
| return val.split(','); |
| } |
| |
| function collect(val, memo) { |
| memo.push(val); |
| return memo; |
| } |
| |
| function increaseVerbosity(v, total) { |
| return total + 1; |
| } |
| |
| program |
| .version('0.1.0') |
| .usage('[options] <file ...>') |
| .option('-i, --integer <n>', 'An integer argument', parseInt) |
| .option('-f, --float <n>', 'A float argument', parseFloat) |
| .option('-r, --range <a>..<b>', 'A range', range) |
| .option('-l, --list <items>', 'A list', list) |
| .option('-o, --optional [value]', 'An optional value') |
| .option('-c, --collect [value]', 'A repeatable value', collect, []) |
| .option('-v, --verbose', 'A value that can be increased', increaseVerbosity, 0) |
| .parse(process.argv); |
| |
| console.log(' int: %j', program.integer); |
| console.log(' float: %j', program.float); |
| console.log(' optional: %j', program.optional); |
| program.range = program.range || []; |
| console.log(' range: %j..%j', program.range[0], program.range[1]); |
| console.log(' list: %j', program.list); |
| console.log(' collect: %j', program.collect); |
| console.log(' verbosity: %j', program.verbose); |
| console.log(' args: %j', program.args); |
| ``` |
| |
| ## Regular Expression |
| ```js |
| program |
| .version('0.1.0') |
| .option('-s --size <size>', 'Pizza size', /^(large|medium|small)$/i, 'medium') |
| .option('-d --drink [drink]', 'Drink', /^(coke|pepsi|izze)$/i) |
| .parse(process.argv); |
| |
| console.log(' size: %j', program.size); |
| console.log(' drink: %j', program.drink); |
| ``` |
| |
| ## Variadic arguments |
| |
| The last argument of a command can be variadic, and only the last argument. To make an argument variadic you have to |
| append `...` to the argument name. Here is an example: |
| |
| ```js |
| #!/usr/bin/env node |
| |
| /** |
| * Module dependencies. |
| */ |
| |
| var program = require('commander'); |
| |
| program |
| .version('0.1.0') |
| .command('rmdir <dir> [otherDirs...]') |
| .action(function (dir, otherDirs) { |
| console.log('rmdir %s', dir); |
| if (otherDirs) { |
| otherDirs.forEach(function (oDir) { |
| console.log('rmdir %s', oDir); |
| }); |
| } |
| }); |
| |
| program.parse(process.argv); |
| ``` |
| |
| An `Array` is used for the value of a variadic argument. This applies to `program.args` as well as the argument passed |
| to your action as demonstrated above. |
| |
| ## Specify the argument syntax |
| |
| ```js |
| #!/usr/bin/env node |
| |
| var program = require('commander'); |
| |
| program |
| .version('0.1.0') |
| .arguments('<cmd> [env]') |
| .action(function (cmd, env) { |
| cmdValue = cmd; |
| envValue = env; |
| }); |
| |
| program.parse(process.argv); |
| |
| if (typeof cmdValue === 'undefined') { |
| console.error('no command given!'); |
| process.exit(1); |
| } |
| console.log('command:', cmdValue); |
| console.log('environment:', envValue || "no environment given"); |
| ``` |
| Angled brackets (e.g. `<cmd>`) indicate required input. Square brackets (e.g. `[env]`) indicate optional input. |
| |
| ## Git-style sub-commands |
| |
| ```js |
| // file: ./examples/pm |
| var program = require('commander'); |
| |
| program |
| .version('0.1.0') |
| .command('install [name]', 'install one or more packages') |
| .command('search [query]', 'search with optional query') |
| .command('list', 'list packages installed', {isDefault: true}) |
| .parse(process.argv); |
| ``` |
| |
| When `.command()` is invoked with a description argument, no `.action(callback)` should be called to handle sub-commands, otherwise there will be an error. This tells commander that you're going to use separate executables for sub-commands, much like `git(1)` and other popular tools. |
| The commander will try to search the executables in the directory of the entry script (like `./examples/pm`) with the name `program-command`, like `pm-install`, `pm-search`. |
| |
| Options can be passed with the call to `.command()`. Specifying `true` for `opts.noHelp` will remove the subcommand from the generated help output. Specifying `true` for `opts.isDefault` will run the subcommand if no other subcommand is specified. |
| |
| If the program is designed to be installed globally, make sure the executables have proper modes, like `755`. |
| |
| ### `--harmony` |
| |
| You can enable `--harmony` option in two ways: |
| * Use `#! /usr/bin/env node --harmony` in the sub-commands scripts. Note some os version don’t support this pattern. |
| * Use the `--harmony` option when call the command, like `node --harmony examples/pm publish`. The `--harmony` option will be preserved when spawning sub-command process. |
| |
| ## Automated --help |
| |
| The help information is auto-generated based on the information commander already knows about your program, so the following `--help` info is for free: |
| |
| ``` |
| $ ./examples/pizza --help |
| Usage: pizza [options] |
| |
| An application for pizzas ordering |
| |
| Options: |
| -h, --help output usage information |
| -V, --version output the version number |
| -p, --peppers Add peppers |
| -P, --pineapple Add pineapple |
| -b, --bbq Add bbq sauce |
| -c, --cheese <type> Add the specified type of cheese [marble] |
| -C, --no-cheese You do not want any cheese |
| ``` |
| |
| ## Custom help |
| |
| You can display arbitrary `-h, --help` information |
| by listening for "--help". Commander will automatically |
| exit once you are done so that the remainder of your program |
| does not execute causing undesired behaviors, for example |
| in the following executable "stuff" will not output when |
| `--help` is used. |
| |
| ```js |
| #!/usr/bin/env node |
| |
| /** |
| * Module dependencies. |
| */ |
| |
| var program = require('commander'); |
| |
| program |
| .version('0.1.0') |
| .option('-f, --foo', 'enable some foo') |
| .option('-b, --bar', 'enable some bar') |
| .option('-B, --baz', 'enable some baz'); |
| |
| // must be before .parse() since |
| // node's emit() is immediate |
| |
| program.on('--help', function(){ |
| console.log('') |
| console.log('Examples:'); |
| console.log(' $ custom-help --help'); |
| console.log(' $ custom-help -h'); |
| }); |
| |
| program.parse(process.argv); |
| |
| console.log('stuff'); |
| ``` |
| |
| Yields the following help output when `node script-name.js -h` or `node script-name.js --help` are run: |
| |
| ``` |
| Usage: custom-help [options] |
| |
| Options: |
| -h, --help output usage information |
| -V, --version output the version number |
| -f, --foo enable some foo |
| -b, --bar enable some bar |
| -B, --baz enable some baz |
| |
| Examples: |
| $ custom-help --help |
| $ custom-help -h |
| ``` |
| |
| ## .outputHelp(cb) |
| |
| Output help information without exiting. |
| Optional callback cb allows post-processing of help text before it is displayed. |
| |
| If you want to display help by default (e.g. if no command was provided), you can use something like: |
| |
| ```js |
| var program = require('commander'); |
| var colors = require('colors'); |
| |
| program |
| .version('0.1.0') |
| .command('getstream [url]', 'get stream URL') |
| .parse(process.argv); |
| |
| if (!process.argv.slice(2).length) { |
| program.outputHelp(make_red); |
| } |
| |
| function make_red(txt) { |
| return colors.red(txt); //display the help text in red on the console |
| } |
| ``` |
| |
| ## .help(cb) |
| |
| Output help information and exit immediately. |
| Optional callback cb allows post-processing of help text before it is displayed. |
| |
| |
| ## Custom event listeners |
| You can execute custom actions by listening to command and option events. |
| |
| ```js |
| program.on('option:verbose', function () { |
| process.env.VERBOSE = this.verbose; |
| }); |
| |
| // error on unknown commands |
| program.on('command:*', function () { |
| console.error('Invalid command: %s\nSee --help for a list of available commands.', program.args.join(' ')); |
| process.exit(1); |
| }); |
| ``` |
| |
| ## Examples |
| |
| ```js |
| var program = require('commander'); |
| |
| program |
| .version('0.1.0') |
| .option('-C, --chdir <path>', 'change the working directory') |
| .option('-c, --config <path>', 'set config path. defaults to ./deploy.conf') |
| .option('-T, --no-tests', 'ignore test hook'); |
| |
| program |
| .command('setup [env]') |
| .description('run setup commands for all envs') |
| .option("-s, --setup_mode [mode]", "Which setup mode to use") |
| .action(function(env, options){ |
| var mode = options.setup_mode || "normal"; |
| env = env || 'all'; |
| console.log('setup for %s env(s) with %s mode', env, mode); |
| }); |
| |
| program |
| .command('exec <cmd>') |
| .alias('ex') |
| .description('execute the given remote cmd') |
| .option("-e, --exec_mode <mode>", "Which exec mode to use") |
| .action(function(cmd, options){ |
| console.log('exec "%s" using %s mode', cmd, options.exec_mode); |
| }).on('--help', function() { |
| console.log(''); |
| console.log('Examples:'); |
| console.log(''); |
| console.log(' $ deploy exec sequential'); |
| console.log(' $ deploy exec async'); |
| }); |
| |
| program |
| .command('*') |
| .action(function(env){ |
| console.log('deploying "%s"', env); |
| }); |
| |
| program.parse(process.argv); |
| ``` |
| |
| More Demos can be found in the [examples](https://github.com/tj/commander.js/tree/master/examples) directory. |
| |
| ## License |
| |
| [MIT](https://github.com/tj/commander.js/blob/master/LICENSE) |