yargs vs optionator
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 development that simplify the process of handling user input from the command line. They allow developers to define options, flags, and commands, making it easier to create user-friendly command line interfaces (CLIs). Both Optionator and Yargs serve this purpose but cater to different needs and preferences in terms of features, complexity, and usability.

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yargs149,697,56611,301231 kB293a month agoMIT
optionator84,497,20716450.2 kB12a year agoMIT
Feature Comparison: yargs vs optionator

Ease of Use

  • yargs:

    Yargs, while still user-friendly, offers a more extensive API that may require a bit more time to learn. However, its flexibility allows for more complex configurations, making it suitable for developers who need advanced features.

  • optionator:

    Optionator is designed for simplicity and ease of use. It allows developers to define options in a straightforward manner, making it quick to set up and understand. The API is minimalistic, which helps in reducing the learning curve for new users.

Feature Set

  • yargs:

    Yargs boasts a rich feature set, including support for commands, middleware, and automatic help generation. It also allows for advanced features like command validation, which can enhance the robustness of command line applications.

  • optionator:

    Optionator provides basic features for defining options and parsing command line arguments. It supports short and long options, default values, and help messages, but lacks some of the more advanced features found in other libraries.

Customization

  • yargs:

    Yargs excels in customization, allowing developers to create complex command structures and integrate middleware. This flexibility enables the creation of highly tailored command line interfaces that can handle various scenarios.

  • optionator:

    Optionator offers limited customization options. While it allows for defining options and help messages, it does not provide extensive hooks or middleware capabilities for more complex command line applications.

Community and Support

  • yargs:

    Yargs has a larger community and more extensive documentation, which can be beneficial for developers seeking support or examples. The active community contributes to a wealth of resources, making it easier to find solutions to common problems.

  • optionator:

    Optionator has a smaller community compared to Yargs, which may result in fewer resources, tutorials, and community support. However, it is still a reliable choice for simpler projects.

Performance

  • yargs:

    Yargs is also performant but may introduce slight overhead due to its extensive feature set. However, for most applications, this overhead is negligible compared to the benefits of its advanced capabilities.

  • optionator:

    Optionator is lightweight and performs well for simple command line parsing tasks. Its minimalistic design ensures that it does not introduce significant overhead, making it suitable for quick scripts and utilities.

How to Choose: yargs vs optionator
  • yargs:

    Choose Yargs if you require a more comprehensive and feature-rich solution that supports complex command structures, middleware, and advanced features like command validation and automatic help generation. Yargs is better suited for larger applications or when building more sophisticated command line tools.

  • optionator:

    Choose Optionator if you need a straightforward, lightweight solution for parsing command line arguments with a focus on simplicity and ease of use. It is ideal for smaller projects or scripts where you want to quickly define options without extensive configuration.

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 optionator

optionator is a command-line argument parser for Node.js applications. It provides a simple and flexible way to define and parse command-line options, making it easier for developers to handle user input in their CLI applications. With its intuitive API, optionator allows for the definition of options with various types, default values, and help descriptions, making it a popular choice for building robust command-line interfaces. However, there are several alternatives available that also offer command-line argument parsing capabilities. Here are a few notable ones:

  • commander is a widely-used library for building command-line interfaces in Node.js. It provides a comprehensive set of features for defining commands, options, and arguments, along with built-in help generation. commander is particularly well-suited for applications that require a more structured command hierarchy, allowing developers to create complex CLI applications with ease. Its extensive documentation and community support make it a go-to choice for many developers.
  • minimist is a minimalist library for parsing command-line arguments in Node.js. It focuses on simplicity and speed, making it ideal for small scripts or applications that require basic argument parsing without the overhead of more complex libraries. minimist is straightforward to use and can quickly convert command-line arguments into an object, making it a great choice for developers looking for a lightweight solution.
  • yargs is another powerful command-line argument parser that provides a rich set of features for building interactive command-line applications. It supports advanced features like command chaining, argument validation, and middleware, making it suitable for more complex CLI applications. yargs also offers a user-friendly API and built-in help generation, making it easy for developers to create polished command-line interfaces.

To explore how optionator compares with commander, minimist, and yargs, check out the comparison: Comparing commander vs minimist vs optionator 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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