Getoptlong

Getoptlong is a command-line option parsing library for the Ruby programming language. It is designed to provide a more flexible and powerful alternative to the standard getopt library, which is limited in its ability to handle long options and complex option parsing requirements. Getoptlong allows developers to define and parse command-line options with both short and long names, making it easier to create user-friendly command-line interfaces.

The library supports various types of options, including boolean flags, options with required arguments, and options with optional arguments. It also provides mechanisms for handling default values, required options, and custom error handling. Getoptlong can be used to parse options from the ARGV array, which contains the command-line arguments passed to a Ruby script.

One of the key features of Getoptlong is its ability to handle complex option parsing scenarios, such as options that require multiple arguments or options that can be specified multiple times. This makes it suitable for a wide range of applications, from simple scripts to complex command-line tools. Getoptlong is part of the Ruby standard library, making it readily available for use in any Ruby environment without the need for additional installation.

To use Getoptlong, developers typically create an instance of the GetoptLong class and define the options they wish to parse. They can then call the get method on the instance to parse the options from the ARGV array. The parsed options are returned as an array of key-value pairs, which can be used to configure the behavior of the script. Getoptlong provides a robust and flexible solution for command-line option parsing in Ruby, enabling developers to create more powerful and user-friendly command-line interfaces.