This free and open source C library supports parsing of GNU style command line options. It helps simplify the process of handling command line arguments in software development.
With argtable, developers can use both tagged (-v, --verbose, --foo=bar) and untagged arguments, and multiple instances of each argument are supported. The library comes with automatic syntax error handling, and it enables users to generate a textual description of the command line syntax.
The library also provides users with the flexibility to replace the default parsing, validation, and error reporting routines with custom callbacks if desired. Additionally, new argtable data types can be created to parse user-defined argument types.
The parsing mechanism utilizes GNU getopt, meaning that the parser is 100% GNU compatible. The internal command line buffer handling is also secure, protecting against buffer overrun attacks that may be initiated by maliciously long command lines.
Argtable runs seamlessly on various operating systems, including Mac OS X, Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Cygwin, Sun Solaris, and Microsoft Windows platforms. The library is compatible with popular compilers such as GCC, DJGPP, Visual C++, Open Watcom, MinGW, and Texas Instruments DSP Compiler. Given that argtable is coded in standard ANSI C, it should compile effortlessly on any standard ANSI C compiler.
In conclusion, argtable is an invaluable library that facilitates the effortless and secure parsing of GNU-style command line arguments. It provides users with unparalleled flexibility, making it an excellent tool for developers who want to streamline their command line parsing process.
Version 2.11: N/A