Is there a standard pattern for writing a linux command-line utility in C++?

Question

This template should include command-line argument handling, version, and help. Otherwise, can you suggest a link to a developer's guide?

"Is there a standard pattern for writing a linux command-line utility in C++?" - yeah, write it in C. — , Dec 23 '13 at 19:00

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 23 '13 at 18:53

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You could use a library which manages command line argumments. I recommend you the boost::program_options library.

answered Dec 23 '13 at 18:53

Manu343726

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The Boost options lib is a convenient tool but I don't think it (or the associated docs) has much to say about designing the options for linux conventions. – ValenceElectron Dec 23 '13 at 20:06

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:19

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The POSIX guidelines for utilities are here and conventions succinctly described here. GNU extensions are common and I think pretty much expected on Linux.

Jonathan Leffler wrote a nice answer here which delves into some of this as well.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:19

Community

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answered Dec 23 '13 at 19:40

Duck

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score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 23 '13 at 19:59

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In addition of other answers, I would suggest considering GNU libc argp functions.

answered Dec 23 '13 at 19:59

Basile Starynkevitch

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score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Dec 23 '13 at 18:56

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There isn't any sort of standard pattern per se. Once glance at the source for many of your favorite command line apps will reveal it's even more ad-hoc than you think.

Command line parsing is typically done with the getopt function. As for help and version. Either printf or cout.

You could also take a read of The Art Of Unix Programming about expected behaviors of command line programs in UNIX.

answered Dec 23 '13 at 18:56

selbie

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GNU libc also gives the `getopt_long` function which might be more useful.... – Basile Starynkevitch Dec 24 '13 at 11:46

Is there a standard pattern for writing a linux command-line utility in C++?

4 Answers4