How can I build the following with argparse:
Synopsis: python3 program.py [operation] [options] target
Operations: install, uninstall, update or remove (you choose one).
I want the operations to have their own set of options. I'm not looking for specific code, just some general guidance.
It sounds like you want subparsers. The dest='subparser_name' bit allows you to tell which subparser has been called.
import argparse
parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
subparsers = parser.add_subparsers(dest='subparser_name')
install_parser = subparsers.add_parser('install')
install_parser.add_argument('target')
subparsers.add_parser('uninstall')
print(parser.parse_args(['uninstall']))
print(parser.parse_args(['install', 'target=foo']))
print(parser.parse_args(['uninstall', 'install', 'target=foo']))
Output:
Namespace(subparser_name='uninstall')
Namespace(subparser_name='install', target='target=foo')
usage: test.py [-h] {install,uninstall} ...
test.py: error: unrecognized arguments: install target=foo
Here how I am doing for similar requirements, However this might be a very basic method and beginner level:
Example (getopt):
#!/usr/bin/python
import sys, getopt
def main(argv):
arg=''
try:
opts, args = getopt.getopt(argv,"i:u:r:",["install=","update=","remove="])
except getopt.GetoptError:
print('test.py -i <myinput>')
sys.exit(2)
for opt, arg in opts:
if opt in ("-i", "--install"):
#Your operation
print('installing something based on my input',arg)
sys.exit()
elif opt in ("-u", "--update"):
#Your operation
print('updating something based on my input',arg)
sys.exit()
elif opt in ("-r", "--remove"):
#Your operation
print('removing something based on my input',arg)
sys.exit()
if __name__ == "__main__":
main(sys.argv[1:])
Reference: Link
Usage:
python test.py -i myinput
Output:
installing something based on my input myinput
ArgumentParser.add_subparsers