getoptions
agent-ready non-interactive
An elegant option/argument parser for shell scripts (full support for bash and all POSIX shells)
How to install getoptions
brew install getoptions getoptions use case
Parse command-line options and arguments in shell scripts with full POSIX compatibility and advanced features like long options, subcommands, and automatic help generation.
When to use getoptions
- When writing shell scripts that need robust, cross-shell compatible option parsing
- When you need long options (--help) in POSIX sh or dash where getopts only supports short options
- When generating user-friendly CLI interfaces with auto-generated help and validation for shell scripts
When not to use getoptions
- When the script is extremely simple with only one or two flags and no need for cross-shell portability
- When using a higher-level language like Python or Ruby that has its own argument parsing libraries
getoptions features
- · Works in all POSIX shells including bash, dash, ksh, zsh, and BusyBox
- · Supports long options, subcommands, and automatic help generation
- · Lightweight and self-contained (single file, no dependencies)
- · Built-in validation, default values, and flag arrays
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