yargs vs minimist vs caporal vs commander
Command-Line Argument Parsing Libraries
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Command-Line Argument Parsing Libraries

Command-line argument parsing libraries are essential tools in Node.js development, enabling developers to easily handle user inputs from the command line. These libraries provide functionalities to define commands, options, and arguments, making it simpler to build command-line interfaces (CLIs) for applications. They help streamline the process of capturing user input, validating it, and providing helpful feedback, ultimately enhancing the user experience and making applications more interactive and user-friendly.

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yargs125,675,98111,394231 kB3006 months agoMIT
minimist82,355,34764154.5 kB153 years agoMIT
caporal34,1973,450-286 years agoMIT
commander027,748208 kB1423 days agoMIT
Feature Comparison: yargs vs minimist vs caporal vs commander

Complexity and Features

  • yargs:

    Yargs provides a robust feature set, including support for command chaining, interactive prompts, and argument validation. It strikes a balance between complexity and usability, making it suitable for applications that need more than just basic parsing.

  • minimist:

    Minimist is extremely lightweight and focuses solely on parsing command-line arguments. It does not include features like help generation or command definitions, making it ideal for quick and straightforward applications.

  • caporal:

    Caporal offers a rich set of features, including support for subcommands, automatic help generation, and validation of argument types. It allows for complex command structures, making it suitable for larger applications that require detailed command management.

  • commander:

    Commander is designed to be simple and intuitive, focusing on the essentials of command-line parsing. It provides basic features like command definitions and option parsing without overwhelming the developer with complexity.

Ease of Use

  • yargs:

    Yargs offers a user-friendly API that simplifies the process of defining commands and options. Its extensive documentation and examples make it easy for developers to implement and understand.

  • minimist:

    Minimist is incredibly easy to use, requiring minimal setup to start parsing arguments. Its simplicity makes it a go-to choice for developers who need quick and effective argument parsing without additional features.

  • caporal:

    Caporal's API is designed to be user-friendly, allowing developers to define commands and options in a clear and concise manner. Its built-in help generation simplifies the user experience, making it easy to understand available commands.

  • commander:

    Commander is known for its straightforward syntax, making it easy to get started with. Developers can quickly define commands and options without extensive boilerplate code, which is beneficial for rapid development.

Documentation and Community Support

  • yargs:

    Yargs boasts comprehensive documentation and a vibrant community. Its extensive resources, including tutorials and examples, make it easier for developers to learn and troubleshoot.

  • minimist:

    Minimist has basic documentation that covers its core functionality. While it is widely used, the community support is not as extensive as some of the larger libraries, which may affect finding solutions for complex use cases.

  • caporal:

    Caporal has good documentation that covers its features and usage. However, its community is smaller compared to some other libraries, which may limit the availability of third-party resources and support.

  • commander:

    Commander has extensive documentation and a large community of users, making it easy to find examples and solutions to common issues. This strong community support can be invaluable for developers seeking help.

Performance

  • yargs:

    Yargs is designed to be performant, but its extensive feature set may introduce some overhead. It is suitable for applications that require a balance between performance and functionality.

  • minimist:

    Minimist is extremely fast and efficient, making it ideal for applications where performance is critical. Its minimalistic approach ensures that there is little to no overhead in parsing arguments.

  • caporal:

    Caporal is optimized for performance, but its rich feature set may introduce some overhead compared to simpler libraries. It is suitable for applications where performance is important, but complexity is also a factor.

  • commander:

    Commander is lightweight and performs well, making it suitable for applications that require quick command parsing without significant overhead. Its simplicity contributes to its efficiency.

Extensibility

  • yargs:

    Yargs excels in extensibility, allowing developers to create complex command structures and integrate additional functionalities seamlessly. This makes it a great choice for applications that need to grow and adapt.

  • minimist:

    Minimist is not designed for extensibility; it focuses solely on parsing arguments. It is best suited for applications that do not require additional features or customization.

  • caporal:

    Caporal is highly extensible, allowing developers to create custom commands and options easily. This flexibility makes it suitable for applications that may need to evolve over time with new features.

  • commander:

    Commander provides a straightforward way to extend functionality through custom commands and options, but it may not offer as much flexibility as more complex libraries.

How to Choose: yargs vs minimist vs caporal vs commander
  • yargs:

    Choose Yargs if you want a comprehensive solution that combines ease of use with powerful features like command chaining, argument validation, and interactive prompts. It is suitable for applications that require a balance between simplicity and functionality.

  • minimist:

    Select Minimist if you need a lightweight solution for parsing command-line arguments without the need for additional features like command definitions or help generation. It is perfect for quick scripts or applications that require basic argument parsing.

  • caporal:

    Choose Caporal if you need a powerful and feature-rich CLI framework that supports command definitions, subcommands, and built-in help generation. It is ideal for applications that require complex command structures and extensive options.

  • commander:

    Opt for Commander if you prefer a straightforward and minimalist approach to building command-line applications. It is well-suited for simpler applications where you want to quickly define commands and options without the overhead of additional features.

Similar Npm Packages to yargs

yargs is a powerful and popular command-line argument parser for Node.js applications. It simplifies the process of handling command-line arguments and options, allowing developers to create user-friendly command-line interfaces (CLIs) with ease. With features like automatic help generation, command chaining, and middleware support, yargs makes it easy to build robust and intuitive CLI applications. However, there are several alternatives available that also provide command-line argument parsing capabilities. Here are a few notable ones:

  • argparse is a widely-used library for parsing command-line arguments in Node.js. It is inspired by Python's argparse module and offers a straightforward API for defining arguments, options, and subcommands. argparse is particularly useful for developers who prefer a more structured approach to argument parsing and need features like type validation and automatic help generation. If you are looking for a reliable and feature-rich library for building command-line interfaces, argparse is a solid choice.
  • commander is another popular library for building command-line interfaces in Node.js. It provides a simple and intuitive API for defining commands, options, and arguments, making it easy to create complex CLI applications. commander is known for its flexibility and ease of use, allowing developers to quickly set up command-line tools with minimal boilerplate code. If you want a library that balances simplicity and functionality, commander is an excellent option.
  • minimist is a lightweight and minimalistic library for parsing command-line arguments. It is designed for simplicity and speed, making it a great choice for small projects or scripts where you need to quickly parse a few command-line options. While minimist does not offer as many features as yargs or other alternatives, its straightforward approach can be advantageous when you need a quick and easy solution for argument parsing.

To see how yargs compares with argparse, commander, and minimist, check out the comparison: Comparing yargs vs argparse vs commander vs minimist.

Similar Npm Packages to minimist

minimist is a popular npm package used for parsing command-line arguments in Node.js applications. It provides a simple and lightweight way to handle arguments passed to scripts, allowing developers to easily access and manipulate command-line inputs. While minimist is a great choice for basic argument parsing, there are several alternatives that offer additional features and capabilities. Here are a few noteworthy alternatives:

  • argparse is a powerful library for building command-line interfaces in Node.js. It provides a rich set of features, including support for subcommands, argument types, and automatic help generation. argparse is particularly useful for more complex command-line applications that require detailed argument validation and user guidance. If your project involves a sophisticated CLI with various options and commands, argparse is an excellent choice.
  • commander is another widely-used library for creating command-line applications in Node.js. It offers a simple and intuitive API for defining commands, options, and arguments. commander is known for its ease of use and flexibility, making it suitable for both small scripts and larger applications. If you are looking for a library that balances simplicity with powerful features, commander is a great option.
  • yargs is a robust library for parsing command-line arguments and building interactive command-line tools. It offers a rich set of features, including support for middleware, command chaining, and automatic help generation. yargs is particularly useful for applications that require a more interactive user experience or complex argument parsing. If your CLI needs to handle a variety of commands and options, yargs provides a comprehensive solution.

To see how minimist compares with argparse, commander, and yargs, check out the comparison: Comparing argparse vs commander vs minimist vs yargs.

Similar Npm Packages to caporal

caporal is a command-line interface (CLI) framework for Node.js that simplifies the process of building command-line applications. It provides a clean and intuitive API for defining commands, options, and arguments, making it easier for developers to create powerful CLI tools. With built-in support for help generation, validation, and error handling, caporal streamlines the development of command-line applications.

While caporal is a great choice for building CLI applications, there are several alternatives that also offer robust features for command-line argument parsing and handling. Here are a few notable alternatives:

  • commander is a widely-used library for building command-line interfaces in Node.js. It provides a rich set of features for defining commands, options, and subcommands, along with built-in help generation. commander is known for its simplicity and flexibility, making it a popular choice among developers for creating complex CLI applications with minimal effort.

  • minimist is a lightweight library for parsing command-line arguments in Node.js. Unlike other libraries that offer extensive features for building CLI applications, minimist focuses solely on argument parsing. It is ideal for developers who need a simple and efficient way to handle command-line arguments without the overhead of additional features. If your CLI tool requires basic argument parsing, minimist is a great choice.

  • yargs is another powerful library for building command-line interfaces. It provides a comprehensive set of features for parsing command-line arguments, including support for commands, options, and environment variables. yargs also offers advanced features such as command chaining, middleware support, and automatic help generation. If you need a feature-rich solution for building complex CLI applications, yargs is an excellent option.

To see how caporal compares with commander, minimist, and yargs, check out the comparison: Comparing caporal vs commander vs minimist vs yargs.

Similar Npm Packages to commander

commander is a popular library for building command-line interfaces (CLIs) in Node.js applications. It provides a simple and intuitive API for defining commands, options, and arguments, making it easy to create robust and user-friendly CLI tools. With its powerful features, such as command chaining, option parsing, and automatic help generation, commander is a go-to choice for many developers looking to build command-line applications.

While commander is a strong option for CLI development, there are several alternatives that also offer unique features and capabilities. Here are a few notable ones:

  • caporal is a command-line framework that aims to simplify the process of building CLI applications. It provides a rich set of features, including automatic help generation, command validation, and support for subcommands. caporal is particularly useful for developers who want a more opinionated structure for their CLI applications, allowing them to focus on building functionality rather than boilerplate code.

  • minimist is a lightweight library for parsing command-line arguments. Unlike commander, which provides a more comprehensive framework for building CLIs, minimist focuses solely on argument parsing. It is ideal for simple use cases where you need to quickly handle command-line arguments without the overhead of a full CLI framework. If your application requires minimal argument parsing and you prefer a straightforward approach, minimist is a great choice.

  • yargs is another powerful library for building command-line applications. It offers a rich set of features, including support for commands, options, and middleware, as well as automatic help generation. yargs is known for its flexibility and ease of use, making it a popular choice for developers who want to create complex CLI applications with minimal effort. Its extensive documentation and active community also make it a reliable option for building command-line tools.

To see how commander compares with caporal, minimist, and yargs, check out the comparison: Comparing caporal vs commander vs minimist vs yargs.

README for yargs

Yargs

Yargs be a node.js library fer hearties tryin' ter parse optstrings


ci NPM version js-standard-style Coverage Conventional Commits

Description

Yargs helps you build interactive command line tools, by parsing arguments and generating an elegant user interface.

It gives you:

  • commands and (grouped) options (my-program.js serve --port=5000).
  • a dynamically generated help menu based on your arguments:
mocha [spec..]

Run tests with Mocha

Commands
  mocha inspect [spec..]  Run tests with Mocha                         [default]
  mocha init <path>       create a client-side Mocha setup at <path>

Rules & Behavior
  --allow-uncaught           Allow uncaught errors to propagate        [boolean]
  --async-only, -A           Require all tests to use a callback (async) or
                             return a Promise                          [boolean]
  • generate completion scripts for Bash and Zsh for your command
  • and tons more.

Installation

Stable version:

npm i yargs

Bleeding edge version with the most recent features:

npm i yargs@next

Usage

Simple Example

#!/usr/bin/env node
import yargs from 'yargs';
import { hideBin } from 'yargs/helpers';
const argv = yargs(hideBin(process.argv)).parse()

if (argv.ships > 3 && argv.distance < 53.5) {
  console.log('Plunder more riffiwobbles!')
} else {
  console.log('Retreat from the xupptumblers!')
}

$ ./plunder.js --ships=4 --distance=22
Plunder more riffiwobbles!

$ ./plunder.js --ships 12 --distance 98.7
Retreat from the xupptumblers!

Note: hideBin is a shorthand for process.argv.slice(2). It has the benefit that it takes into account variations in some environments, e.g., Electron.

Complex Example

#!/usr/bin/env node
import yargs from 'yargs';
import { hideBin } from 'yargs/helpers';

yargs(hideBin(process.argv))
  .command('serve [port]', 'start the server', (yargs) => {
    return yargs
      .positional('port', {
        describe: 'port to bind on',
        default: 5000
      })
  }, (argv) => {
    if (argv.verbose) console.info(`start server on :${argv.port}`)
    serve(argv.port)
  })
  .option('verbose', {
    alias: 'v',
    type: 'boolean',
    description: 'Run with verbose logging'
  })
  .parse()

Run the example above with --help to see the help for the application.

Supported Platforms

TypeScript

yargs has type definitions at @types/yargs.

npm i @types/yargs --save-dev

See usage examples in docs.

Deno

As of v16, yargs supports Deno:

import yargs from 'https://deno.land/x/yargs@v17.7.2-deno/deno.ts'
import { Arguments } from 'https://deno.land/x/yargs@v17.7.2-deno/deno-types.ts'

yargs(Deno.args)
  .command('download <files...>', 'download a list of files', (yargs: any) => {
    return yargs.positional('files', {
      describe: 'a list of files to do something with'
    })
  }, (argv: Arguments) => {
    console.info(argv)
  })
  .strictCommands()
  .demandCommand(1)
  .parse()

Note: If you use version tags in url then you also have to add -deno flag on the end, like @17.7.2-deno

Usage in Browser

See examples of using yargs in the browser in docs.

Documentation

Table of Contents

Supported Node.js Versions

Libraries in this ecosystem make a best effort to track Node.js' release schedule. Here's a post on why we think this is important.

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