| # Commander.js | 
 |  | 
 |  | 
 | [](http://travis-ci.org/tj/commander.js) | 
 | [](https://www.npmjs.org/package/commander) | 
 | [](https://npmcharts.com/compare/commander?minimal=true) | 
 | [](https://packagephobia.now.sh/result?p=commander) | 
 | [](https://gitter.im/tj/commander.js?utm_source=badge&utm_medium=badge&utm_campaign=pr-badge&utm_content=badge) | 
 |  | 
 |   The complete solution for [node.js](http://nodejs.org) command-line interfaces, inspired by Ruby's [commander](https://github.com/commander-rb/commander).   | 
 |   [API documentation](http://tj.github.com/commander.js/) | 
 |  | 
 |  | 
 | ## Installation | 
 |  | 
 |     $ npm install commander | 
 |  | 
 | ## Option parsing | 
 |  | 
 | Options with commander are defined with the `.option()` method, also serving as documentation for the options. The example below parses args and options from `process.argv`, leaving remaining args as the `program.args` array which were not consumed by options. | 
 |  | 
 | ```js | 
 | #!/usr/bin/env node | 
 |  | 
 | /** | 
 |  * Module dependencies. | 
 |  */ | 
 |  | 
 | var program = require('commander'); | 
 |  | 
 | program | 
 |   .version('0.1.0') | 
 |   .option('-p, --peppers', 'Add peppers') | 
 |   .option('-P, --pineapple', 'Add pineapple') | 
 |   .option('-b, --bbq-sauce', 'Add bbq sauce') | 
 |   .option('-c, --cheese [type]', 'Add the specified type of cheese [marble]', 'marble') | 
 |   .parse(process.argv); | 
 |  | 
 | console.log('you ordered a pizza with:'); | 
 | if (program.peppers) console.log('  - peppers'); | 
 | if (program.pineapple) console.log('  - pineapple'); | 
 | if (program.bbqSauce) console.log('  - bbq'); | 
 | console.log('  - %s cheese', program.cheese); | 
 | ``` | 
 |  | 
 | Short flags may be passed as a single arg, for example `-abc` is equivalent to `-a -b -c`. Multi-word options such as "--template-engine" are camel-cased, becoming `program.templateEngine` etc. | 
 |  | 
 | Note that multi-word options starting with `--no` prefix negate the boolean value of the following word. For example, `--no-sauce` sets the value of `program.sauce` to false. | 
 |  | 
 | ```js | 
 | #!/usr/bin/env node | 
 |  | 
 | /** | 
 |  * Module dependencies. | 
 |  */ | 
 |  | 
 | var program = require('commander'); | 
 |  | 
 | program | 
 |   .option('--no-sauce', 'Remove sauce') | 
 |   .parse(process.argv); | 
 |  | 
 | console.log('you ordered a pizza'); | 
 | if (program.sauce) console.log('  with sauce'); | 
 | else console.log(' without sauce'); | 
 | ``` | 
 |  | 
 | To get string arguments from options you will need to use angle brackets <> for required inputs or square brackets [] for optional inputs.  | 
 |  | 
 | e.g. ```.option('-m --myarg [myVar]', 'my super cool description')``` | 
 |  | 
 | Then to access the input if it was passed in. | 
 |  | 
 | e.g. ```var myInput = program.myarg``` | 
 |  | 
 | **NOTE**: If you pass a argument without using brackets the example above will return true and not the value passed in. | 
 |  | 
 |  | 
 | ## Version option | 
 |  | 
 | Calling the `version` implicitly adds the `-V` and `--version` options to the command. | 
 | When either of these options is present, the command prints the version number and exits. | 
 |  | 
 |     $ ./examples/pizza -V | 
 |     0.0.1 | 
 |  | 
 | If you want your program to respond to the `-v` option instead of the `-V` option, simply pass custom flags to the `version` method using the same syntax as the `option` method. | 
 |  | 
 | ```js | 
 | program | 
 |   .version('0.0.1', '-v, --version') | 
 | ``` | 
 |  | 
 | The version flags can be named anything, but the long option is required. | 
 |  | 
 | ## Command-specific options | 
 |  | 
 | You can attach options to a command. | 
 |  | 
 | ```js | 
 | #!/usr/bin/env node | 
 |  | 
 | var program = require('commander'); | 
 |  | 
 | program | 
 |   .command('rm <dir>') | 
 |   .option('-r, --recursive', 'Remove recursively') | 
 |   .action(function (dir, cmd) { | 
 |     console.log('remove ' + dir + (cmd.recursive ? ' recursively' : '')) | 
 |   }) | 
 |  | 
 | program.parse(process.argv) | 
 | ``` | 
 |  | 
 | A command's options are validated when the command is used. Any unknown options will be reported as an error. However, if an action-based command does not define an action, then the options are not validated. | 
 |  | 
 | ## Coercion | 
 |  | 
 | ```js | 
 | function range(val) { | 
 |   return val.split('..').map(Number); | 
 | } | 
 |  | 
 | function list(val) { | 
 |   return val.split(','); | 
 | } | 
 |  | 
 | function collect(val, memo) { | 
 |   memo.push(val); | 
 |   return memo; | 
 | } | 
 |  | 
 | function increaseVerbosity(v, total) { | 
 |   return total + 1; | 
 | } | 
 |  | 
 | program | 
 |   .version('0.1.0') | 
 |   .usage('[options] <file ...>') | 
 |   .option('-i, --integer <n>', 'An integer argument', parseInt) | 
 |   .option('-f, --float <n>', 'A float argument', parseFloat) | 
 |   .option('-r, --range <a>..<b>', 'A range', range) | 
 |   .option('-l, --list <items>', 'A list', list) | 
 |   .option('-o, --optional [value]', 'An optional value') | 
 |   .option('-c, --collect [value]', 'A repeatable value', collect, []) | 
 |   .option('-v, --verbose', 'A value that can be increased', increaseVerbosity, 0) | 
 |   .parse(process.argv); | 
 |  | 
 | console.log(' int: %j', program.integer); | 
 | console.log(' float: %j', program.float); | 
 | console.log(' optional: %j', program.optional); | 
 | program.range = program.range || []; | 
 | console.log(' range: %j..%j', program.range[0], program.range[1]); | 
 | console.log(' list: %j', program.list); | 
 | console.log(' collect: %j', program.collect); | 
 | console.log(' verbosity: %j', program.verbose); | 
 | console.log(' args: %j', program.args); | 
 | ``` | 
 |  | 
 | ## Regular Expression | 
 | ```js | 
 | program | 
 |   .version('0.1.0') | 
 |   .option('-s --size <size>', 'Pizza size', /^(large|medium|small)$/i, 'medium') | 
 |   .option('-d --drink [drink]', 'Drink', /^(coke|pepsi|izze)$/i) | 
 |   .parse(process.argv); | 
 |  | 
 | console.log(' size: %j', program.size); | 
 | console.log(' drink: %j', program.drink); | 
 | ``` | 
 |  | 
 | ## Variadic arguments | 
 |  | 
 |  The last argument of a command can be variadic, and only the last argument.  To make an argument variadic you have to | 
 |  append `...` to the argument name.  Here is an example: | 
 |  | 
 | ```js | 
 | #!/usr/bin/env node | 
 |  | 
 | /** | 
 |  * Module dependencies. | 
 |  */ | 
 |  | 
 | var program = require('commander'); | 
 |  | 
 | program | 
 |   .version('0.1.0') | 
 |   .command('rmdir <dir> [otherDirs...]') | 
 |   .action(function (dir, otherDirs) { | 
 |     console.log('rmdir %s', dir); | 
 |     if (otherDirs) { | 
 |       otherDirs.forEach(function (oDir) { | 
 |         console.log('rmdir %s', oDir); | 
 |       }); | 
 |     } | 
 |   }); | 
 |  | 
 | program.parse(process.argv); | 
 | ``` | 
 |  | 
 |  An `Array` is used for the value of a variadic argument.  This applies to `program.args` as well as the argument passed | 
 |  to your action as demonstrated above. | 
 |  | 
 | ## Specify the argument syntax | 
 |  | 
 | ```js | 
 | #!/usr/bin/env node | 
 |  | 
 | var program = require('commander'); | 
 |  | 
 | program | 
 |   .version('0.1.0') | 
 |   .arguments('<cmd> [env]') | 
 |   .action(function (cmd, env) { | 
 |      cmdValue = cmd; | 
 |      envValue = env; | 
 |   }); | 
 |  | 
 | program.parse(process.argv); | 
 |  | 
 | if (typeof cmdValue === 'undefined') { | 
 |    console.error('no command given!'); | 
 |    process.exit(1); | 
 | } | 
 | console.log('command:', cmdValue); | 
 | console.log('environment:', envValue || "no environment given"); | 
 | ``` | 
 | Angled brackets (e.g. `<cmd>`) indicate required input. Square brackets (e.g. `[env]`) indicate optional input. | 
 |  | 
 | ## Git-style sub-commands | 
 |  | 
 | ```js | 
 | // file: ./examples/pm | 
 | var program = require('commander'); | 
 |  | 
 | program | 
 |   .version('0.1.0') | 
 |   .command('install [name]', 'install one or more packages') | 
 |   .command('search [query]', 'search with optional query') | 
 |   .command('list', 'list packages installed', {isDefault: true}) | 
 |   .parse(process.argv); | 
 | ``` | 
 |  | 
 | When `.command()` is invoked with a description argument, no `.action(callback)` should be called to handle sub-commands, otherwise there will be an error. This tells commander that you're going to use separate executables for sub-commands, much like `git(1)` and other popular tools.   | 
 | The commander will try to search the executables in the directory of the entry script (like `./examples/pm`) with the name `program-command`, like `pm-install`, `pm-search`. | 
 |  | 
 | Options can be passed with the call to `.command()`. Specifying `true` for `opts.noHelp` will remove the subcommand from the generated help output. Specifying `true` for `opts.isDefault` will run the subcommand if no other subcommand is specified. | 
 |  | 
 | If the program is designed to be installed globally, make sure the executables have proper modes, like `755`. | 
 |  | 
 | ### `--harmony` | 
 |  | 
 | You can enable `--harmony` option in two ways: | 
 | * Use `#! /usr/bin/env node --harmony` in the sub-commands scripts. Note some os version don’t support this pattern. | 
 | * Use the `--harmony` option when call the command, like `node --harmony examples/pm publish`. The `--harmony` option will be preserved when spawning sub-command process. | 
 |  | 
 | ## Automated --help | 
 |  | 
 |  The help information is auto-generated based on the information commander already knows about your program, so the following `--help` info is for free: | 
 |  | 
 | ```   | 
 | $ ./examples/pizza --help | 
 | Usage: pizza [options] | 
 |  | 
 | An application for pizzas ordering | 
 |  | 
 | Options: | 
 |   -h, --help           output usage information | 
 |   -V, --version        output the version number | 
 |   -p, --peppers        Add peppers | 
 |   -P, --pineapple      Add pineapple | 
 |   -b, --bbq            Add bbq sauce | 
 |   -c, --cheese <type>  Add the specified type of cheese [marble] | 
 |   -C, --no-cheese      You do not want any cheese | 
 | ``` | 
 |  | 
 | ## Custom help | 
 |  | 
 |  You can display arbitrary `-h, --help` information | 
 |  by listening for "--help". Commander will automatically | 
 |  exit once you are done so that the remainder of your program | 
 |  does not execute causing undesired behaviors, for example | 
 |  in the following executable "stuff" will not output when | 
 |  `--help` is used. | 
 |  | 
 | ```js | 
 | #!/usr/bin/env node | 
 |  | 
 | /** | 
 |  * Module dependencies. | 
 |  */ | 
 |  | 
 | var program = require('commander'); | 
 |  | 
 | program | 
 |   .version('0.1.0') | 
 |   .option('-f, --foo', 'enable some foo') | 
 |   .option('-b, --bar', 'enable some bar') | 
 |   .option('-B, --baz', 'enable some baz'); | 
 |  | 
 | // must be before .parse() since | 
 | // node's emit() is immediate | 
 |  | 
 | program.on('--help', function(){ | 
 |   console.log('') | 
 |   console.log('Examples:'); | 
 |   console.log('  $ custom-help --help'); | 
 |   console.log('  $ custom-help -h'); | 
 | }); | 
 |  | 
 | program.parse(process.argv); | 
 |  | 
 | console.log('stuff'); | 
 | ``` | 
 |  | 
 | Yields the following help output when `node script-name.js -h` or `node script-name.js --help` are run: | 
 |  | 
 | ``` | 
 | Usage: custom-help [options] | 
 |  | 
 | Options: | 
 |   -h, --help     output usage information | 
 |   -V, --version  output the version number | 
 |   -f, --foo      enable some foo | 
 |   -b, --bar      enable some bar | 
 |   -B, --baz      enable some baz | 
 |  | 
 | Examples: | 
 |   $ custom-help --help | 
 |   $ custom-help -h | 
 | ``` | 
 |  | 
 | ## .outputHelp(cb) | 
 |  | 
 | Output help information without exiting. | 
 | Optional callback cb allows post-processing of help text before it is displayed. | 
 |  | 
 | If you want to display help by default (e.g. if no command was provided), you can use something like: | 
 |  | 
 | ```js | 
 | var program = require('commander'); | 
 | var colors = require('colors'); | 
 |  | 
 | program | 
 |   .version('0.1.0') | 
 |   .command('getstream [url]', 'get stream URL') | 
 |   .parse(process.argv); | 
 |  | 
 | if (!process.argv.slice(2).length) { | 
 |   program.outputHelp(make_red); | 
 | } | 
 |  | 
 | function make_red(txt) { | 
 |   return colors.red(txt); //display the help text in red on the console | 
 | } | 
 | ``` | 
 |  | 
 | ## .help(cb) | 
 |  | 
 |   Output help information and exit immediately. | 
 |   Optional callback cb allows post-processing of help text before it is displayed. | 
 |  | 
 |  | 
 | ## Custom event listeners | 
 |  You can execute custom actions by listening to command and option events. | 
 |  | 
 | ```js | 
 | program.on('option:verbose', function () { | 
 |   process.env.VERBOSE = this.verbose; | 
 | }); | 
 |  | 
 | // error on unknown commands | 
 | program.on('command:*', function () { | 
 |   console.error('Invalid command: %s\nSee --help for a list of available commands.', program.args.join(' ')); | 
 |   process.exit(1); | 
 | }); | 
 | ``` | 
 |  | 
 | ## Examples | 
 |  | 
 | ```js | 
 | var program = require('commander'); | 
 |  | 
 | program | 
 |   .version('0.1.0') | 
 |   .option('-C, --chdir <path>', 'change the working directory') | 
 |   .option('-c, --config <path>', 'set config path. defaults to ./deploy.conf') | 
 |   .option('-T, --no-tests', 'ignore test hook'); | 
 |  | 
 | program | 
 |   .command('setup [env]') | 
 |   .description('run setup commands for all envs') | 
 |   .option("-s, --setup_mode [mode]", "Which setup mode to use") | 
 |   .action(function(env, options){ | 
 |     var mode = options.setup_mode || "normal"; | 
 |     env = env || 'all'; | 
 |     console.log('setup for %s env(s) with %s mode', env, mode); | 
 |   }); | 
 |  | 
 | program | 
 |   .command('exec <cmd>') | 
 |   .alias('ex') | 
 |   .description('execute the given remote cmd') | 
 |   .option("-e, --exec_mode <mode>", "Which exec mode to use") | 
 |   .action(function(cmd, options){ | 
 |     console.log('exec "%s" using %s mode', cmd, options.exec_mode); | 
 |   }).on('--help', function() { | 
 |     console.log(''); | 
 |     console.log('Examples:'); | 
 |     console.log(''); | 
 |     console.log('  $ deploy exec sequential'); | 
 |     console.log('  $ deploy exec async'); | 
 |   }); | 
 |  | 
 | program | 
 |   .command('*') | 
 |   .action(function(env){ | 
 |     console.log('deploying "%s"', env); | 
 |   }); | 
 |  | 
 | program.parse(process.argv); | 
 | ``` | 
 |  | 
 | More Demos can be found in the [examples](https://github.com/tj/commander.js/tree/master/examples) directory. | 
 |  | 
 | ## License | 
 |  | 
 | [MIT](https://github.com/tj/commander.js/blob/master/LICENSE) |