minimist vs nopt
Command Line Argument Parsers Comparison
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What's Command Line Argument Parsers?

Command line argument parsers are essential tools in Node.js applications that allow developers to easily handle and process command line inputs. These libraries simplify the process of retrieving and managing user inputs, enabling developers to create more interactive and user-friendly command line interfaces. By providing a structured way to define and parse options, these packages help streamline the development of command line tools, making it easier to build applications that require user input or configuration through the command line.

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minimist72,262,01661054.5 kB132 years agoMIT
nopt39,027,40153728.1 kB104 months agoISC
Feature Comparison: minimist vs nopt

Complexity

  • minimist:

    Minimist is designed to be minimalistic, focusing on simplicity and ease of use. It provides a straightforward API for parsing command line arguments, making it ideal for small scripts or tools where complexity is not needed.

  • nopt:

    Nopt offers a more complex feature set, allowing for detailed argument definitions, type checking, and the ability to handle various argument formats. This makes it suitable for larger applications that require robust command line interfaces.

Customization

  • minimist:

    Minimist has limited customization options, focusing on parsing arguments as they are provided. It does not support advanced features like default values or type validation, which can be a limitation for more complex applications.

  • nopt:

    Nopt allows for extensive customization, enabling developers to define expected argument types, set default values, and create aliases for options. This flexibility is beneficial for applications that require a more tailored command line experience.

Learning Curve

  • minimist:

    Minimist has a very low learning curve, making it easy for beginners to pick up and use quickly. Its straightforward approach means that developers can start parsing arguments with minimal setup and understanding.

  • nopt:

    Nopt has a steeper learning curve due to its more complex feature set. Developers may need to spend additional time understanding how to define and manage options effectively, especially for larger applications.

Performance

  • minimist:

    Minimist is lightweight and performs well for basic argument parsing tasks. Its simplicity contributes to faster execution times, making it suitable for scripts that require quick command line interactions.

  • nopt:

    Nopt may have slightly more overhead due to its advanced features, but it is still performant for most use cases. The trade-off comes with the added functionality that can be beneficial for complex applications.

Community and Support

  • minimist:

    Minimist has a large user base and is widely used in the Node.js community, which means there are plenty of resources, examples, and community support available for troubleshooting and best practices.

  • nopt:

    Nopt also has a solid community, but it may not be as widely adopted as Minimist. However, it still offers sufficient documentation and examples to assist developers in implementing its features.

How to Choose: minimist vs nopt
  • minimist:

    Choose Minimist if you need a lightweight and straightforward solution for parsing command line arguments without the overhead of complex features. It is ideal for simple use cases where you want to quickly retrieve options and their values without additional configuration.

  • nopt:

    Choose Nopt if you require more advanced features such as type validation, default values, and the ability to handle both short and long options. Nopt is better suited for more complex command line applications where you need fine-grained control over argument parsing.

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 nopt

nopt is a command-line option parser for Node.js applications. It provides a flexible way to define and parse command-line arguments, allowing developers to easily handle options and flags in their scripts. While nopt is a solid choice for argument parsing, there are several alternatives in the Node.js ecosystem that offer similar functionality. Here are a few notable options:

  • commander is a popular library for building command-line interfaces (CLIs) in Node.js. It provides a rich set of features, including support for subcommands, option parsing, and automatic help generation. With its intuitive API, commander makes it easy to create complex command-line applications with minimal effort. If you're looking for a comprehensive solution for building CLIs, commander is an excellent choice due to its extensive capabilities and active community support.
  • minimist is a lightweight option parser that focuses on simplicity and performance. It allows developers to easily parse command-line arguments into an object, making it straightforward to access options and flags. While minimist lacks some of the advanced features of other libraries, its minimalistic approach makes it ideal for smaller projects or scripts where simplicity is key. If you need a no-frills solution for parsing command-line arguments, minimist is a great option.
  • yargs is another powerful library for parsing command-line arguments. It offers a rich set of features, including support for commands, middleware, and automatic help generation. yargs is designed to be user-friendly and provides a clear API for defining options and commands. If your application requires a more structured approach to command-line argument parsing, yargs is a strong contender that balances ease of use with advanced features.

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

README for minimist

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parse argument options

This module is the guts of optimist's argument parser without all the fanciful decoration.

example

var argv = require('minimist')(process.argv.slice(2));
console.log(argv);

$ node example/parse.js -a beep -b boop
{ _: [], a: 'beep', b: 'boop' }

$ node example/parse.js -x 3 -y 4 -n5 -abc --beep=boop foo bar baz
{
	_: ['foo', 'bar', 'baz'],
	x: 3,
	y: 4,
	n: 5,
	a: true,
	b: true,
	c: true,
	beep: 'boop'
}

security

Previous versions had a prototype pollution bug that could cause privilege escalation in some circumstances when handling untrusted user input.

Please use version 1.2.6 or later:

  • https://security.snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-MINIMIST-2429795 (version <=1.2.5)
  • https://snyk.io/vuln/SNYK-JS-MINIMIST-559764 (version <=1.2.3)

methods

var parseArgs = require('minimist')

var argv = parseArgs(args, opts={})

Return an argument object argv populated with the array arguments from args.

argv._ contains all the arguments that didn't have an option associated with them.

Numeric-looking arguments will be returned as numbers unless opts.string or opts.boolean is set for that argument name.

Any arguments after '--' will not be parsed and will end up in argv._.

options can be:

  • opts.string - a string or array of strings argument names to always treat as strings

  • opts.boolean - a boolean, string or array of strings to always treat as booleans. if true will treat all double hyphenated arguments without equal signs as boolean (e.g. affects --foo, not -f or --foo=bar)

  • opts.alias - an object mapping string names to strings or arrays of string argument names to use as aliases

  • opts.default - an object mapping string argument names to default values

  • opts.stopEarly - when true, populate argv._ with everything after the first non-option

  • opts['--'] - when true, populate argv._ with everything before the -- and argv['--'] with everything after the --. Here's an example:

    > require('./')('one two three -- four five --six'.split(' '), { '--': true })
{
  _: ['one', 'two', 'three'],
  '--': ['four', 'five', '--six']
}

    Note that with opts['--'] set, parsing for arguments still stops after the --.

  • opts.unknown - a function which is invoked with a command line parameter not defined in the opts configuration object. If the function returns false, the unknown option is not added to argv.

install

With npm do:

npm install minimist

license

MIT

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