# Tutorial *Jump to [builder tutorial](../tutorial_builder/README.md)* 1. [Quick Start](#quick-start) 2. [Configuring the Parser](#configuring-the-parser) 3. [Adding Arguments](#adding-arguments) 1. [Positionals](#positionals) 2. [Options](#options) 3. [Flags](#flags) 4. [Subcommands](#subcommands) 5. [Defaults](#defaults) 4. Validation 1. [Enumerated values](#enumerated-values) 2. [Validated values](#validated-values) 3. [Argument Relations](#argument-relations) 4. [Custom Validation](#custom-validation) 5. [Tips](#tips) 6. [Contributing](#contributing) ## Quick Start You can create an application declaratively with a `struct` and some attributes. **This requires enabling the `derive` feature flag.** [Example:](01_quick.rs) ```console $ 01_quick_derive --help clap [..] A simple to use, efficient, and full-featured Command Line Argument Parser USAGE: 01_quick_derive[EXE] [OPTIONS] [NAME] [SUBCOMMAND] ARGS: Optional name to operate on OPTIONS: -c, --config Sets a custom config file -d, --debug Turn debugging information on -h, --help Print help information -V, --version Print version information SUBCOMMANDS: help Print this message or the help of the given subcommand(s) test does testing things ``` By default, the program does nothing: ```console $ 01_quick_derive Debug mode is off ``` But you can mix and match the various features ```console $ 01_quick_derive -dd test Debug mode is on Not printing testing lists... ``` In addition to this tutorial, see the [derive reference](../derive_ref/README.md). ## Configuring the Parser You use derive `Parser` the start building a parser. [Example:](02_apps.rs) ```console $ 02_apps_derive --help MyApp 1.0 Kevin K. Does awesome things USAGE: 02_apps_derive[EXE] --two --one OPTIONS: -h, --help Print help information --one --two -V, --version Print version information $ 02_apps_derive --version MyApp 1.0 ``` You can use `#[clap(author, version, about)]` attribute defaults to fill these fields in from your `Cargo.toml` file. [Example:](02_crate.rs) ```console $ 02_crate_derive --help clap [..] A simple to use, efficient, and full-featured Command Line Argument Parser USAGE: 02_crate_derive[EXE] --two --one OPTIONS: -h, --help Print help information --one --two -V, --version Print version information $ 02_crate_derive --version clap [..] ``` You can use attributes to change the application level behavior of clap. Any `Command` builder function can be used as an attribute. [Example:](02_app_settings.rs) ```console $ 02_app_settings_derive --help clap [..] A simple to use, efficient, and full-featured Command Line Argument Parser USAGE: 02_app_settings_derive[EXE] --two --one OPTIONS: --two --one -h, --help Print help information -V, --version Print version information $ 02_app_settings_derive --one -1 --one -3 --two 10 two: "10" one: "-3" ``` ## Adding Arguments ### Positionals You can have users specify values by their position on the command-line: [Example:](03_03_positional.rs) ```console $ 03_03_positional_derive --help clap [..] A simple to use, efficient, and full-featured Command Line Argument Parser USAGE: 03_03_positional_derive[EXE] [NAME] ARGS: OPTIONS: -h, --help Print help information -V, --version Print version information $ 03_03_positional_derive name: None $ 03_03_positional_derive bob name: Some("bob") ``` ### Options You can name your arguments with a flag: - Order doesn't matter - They can be optional - Intent is clearer The `#[clap(short = 'c')]` and `#[clap(long = "name")]` attributes that define the flags are `Arg` methods that are derived from the field name when no value is specified (`#[clap(short)]` and `#[clap(long)]`). [Example:](03_02_option.rs) ```console $ 03_02_option_derive --help clap [..] A simple to use, efficient, and full-featured Command Line Argument Parser USAGE: 03_02_option_derive[EXE] [OPTIONS] OPTIONS: -h, --help Print help information -n, --name -V, --version Print version information $ 03_02_option_derive name: None $ 03_02_option_derive --name bob name: Some("bob") $ 03_02_option_derive --name=bob name: Some("bob") $ 03_02_option_derive -n bob name: Some("bob") $ 03_02_option_derive -n=bob name: Some("bob") $ 03_02_option_derive -nbob name: Some("bob") ``` ### Flags Flags can also be switches that can be on/off. This is enabled via the `#[clap(parse(from_flag)]` attribute though this is implied when the field is a `bool`. [Example:](03_01_flag_bool.rs) ```console $ 03_01_flag_bool_derive --help clap [..] A simple to use, efficient, and full-featured Command Line Argument Parser USAGE: 03_01_flag_bool_derive[EXE] [OPTIONS] OPTIONS: -h, --help Print help information -v, --verbose -V, --version Print version information $ 03_01_flag_bool_derive verbose: false $ 03_01_flag_bool_derive --verbose verbose: true $ 03_01_flag_bool_derive --verbose --verbose verbose: true ``` Or counted with `#[clap(action = clap::ArgAction::Count)]`: [Example:](03_01_flag_count.rs) ```console $ 03_01_flag_count_derive --help clap [..] A simple to use, efficient, and full-featured Command Line Argument Parser USAGE: 03_01_flag_count_derive[EXE] [OPTIONS] OPTIONS: -h, --help Print help information -v, --verbose -V, --version Print version information $ 03_01_flag_count_derive verbose: 0 $ 03_01_flag_count_derive --verbose verbose: 1 $ 03_01_flag_count_derive --verbose --verbose verbose: 2 ``` ### Subcommands Subcommands are derived with `#[derive(Subcommand)]` and be added via `#[clap(subcommand)]` attribute. Each instance of a Subcommand can have its own version, author(s), Args, and even its own subcommands. [Example:](03_04_subcommands.rs) ```console $ 03_04_subcommands_derive help clap [..] A simple to use, efficient, and full-featured Command Line Argument Parser USAGE: 03_04_subcommands_derive[EXE] OPTIONS: -h, --help Print help information -V, --version Print version information SUBCOMMANDS: add Adds files to myapp help Print this message or the help of the given subcommand(s) $ 03_04_subcommands_derive help add 03_04_subcommands_derive[EXE]-add [..] Adds files to myapp USAGE: 03_04_subcommands_derive[EXE] add [NAME] ARGS: OPTIONS: -h, --help Print help information -V, --version Print version information $ 03_04_subcommands_derive add bob 'myapp add' was used, name is: Some("bob") ``` Above, we used a struct-variant to define the `add` subcommand. Alternatively, you can [use a struct for your subcommand's arguments](03_04_subcommands_alt.rs). Because we used `command: Commands` instead of `command: Option`: ```console $ 03_04_subcommands_derive ? failed clap [..] A simple to use, efficient, and full-featured Command Line Argument Parser USAGE: 03_04_subcommands_derive[EXE] OPTIONS: -h, --help Print help information -V, --version Print version information SUBCOMMANDS: add Adds files to myapp help Print this message or the help of the given subcommand(s) ``` Because we added `#[clap(propagate_version = true)]`: ```console $ 03_04_subcommands_derive --version clap [..] $ 03_04_subcommands_derive add --version 03_04_subcommands_derive[EXE]-add [..] ``` ### Defaults We've previously showed that arguments can be `required` or optional. When optional, you work with an `Option` and can `unwrap_or`. Alternatively, you can set `#[clap(default_value_t)]`. [Example:](03_05_default_values.rs) ```console $ 03_05_default_values_derive --help clap [..] A simple to use, efficient, and full-featured Command Line Argument Parser USAGE: 03_05_default_values_derive[EXE] [NAME] ARGS: [default: alice] OPTIONS: -h, --help Print help information -V, --version Print version information $ 03_05_default_values_derive name: "alice" $ 03_05_default_values_derive bob name: "bob" ``` ## Validation ### Enumerated values If you have arguments of specific values you want to test for, you can derive `ValueEnum`. This allows you specify the valid values for that argument. If the user does not use one of those specific values, they will receive a graceful exit with error message informing them of the mistake, and what the possible valid values are [Example:](04_01_enum.rs) ```console $ 04_01_enum_derive --help clap [..] A simple to use, efficient, and full-featured Command Line Argument Parser USAGE: 04_01_enum_derive[EXE] ARGS: What mode to run the program in [possible values: fast, slow] OPTIONS: -h, --help Print help information -V, --version Print version information $ 04_01_enum_derive fast Hare $ 04_01_enum_derive slow Tortoise $ 04_01_enum_derive medium ? failed error: "medium" isn't a valid value for '' [possible values: fast, slow] For more information try --help ``` ### Validated values More generally, you can validate and parse into any data type. [Example:](04_02_parse.rs) ```console $ 04_02_parse_derive --help clap [..] A simple to use, efficient, and full-featured Command Line Argument Parser USAGE: 04_02_parse_derive[EXE] ARGS: Network port to use OPTIONS: -h, --help Print help information -V, --version Print version information $ 04_02_parse_derive 22 PORT = 22 $ 04_02_parse_derive foobar ? failed error: Invalid value "foobar" for '': invalid digit found in string For more information try --help $ 04_02_parse_derive 0 ? failed error: Invalid value "0" for '': 0 is not in 1..=65535 For more information try --help ``` A custom parser can be used to improve the error messages or provide additional validation: [Example:](04_02_validate.rs) ```console $ 04_02_validate_derive --help clap [..] A simple to use, efficient, and full-featured Command Line Argument Parser USAGE: 04_02_validate_derive[EXE] ARGS: Network port to use OPTIONS: -h, --help Print help information -V, --version Print version information $ 04_02_validate_derive 22 PORT = 22 $ 04_02_validate_derive foobar ? failed error: Invalid value "foobar" for '': `foobar` isn't a port number For more information try --help $ 04_02_validate_derive 0 ? failed error: Invalid value "0" for '': Port not in range 1-65535 For more information try --help ``` ### Argument Relations You can declare dependencies or conflicts between `Arg`s or even `ArgGroup`s. `ArgGroup`s make it easier to declare relations instead of having to list each individually, or when you want a rule to apply "any but not all" arguments. Perhaps the most common use of `ArgGroup`s is to require one and *only* one argument to be present out of a given set. Imagine that you had multiple arguments, and you want one of them to be required, but making all of them required isn't feasible because perhaps they conflict with each other. [Example:](04_03_relations.rs) ```console $ 04_03_relations_derive --help clap [..] A simple to use, efficient, and full-featured Command Line Argument Parser USAGE: 04_03_relations_derive[EXE] [OPTIONS] <--set-ver |--major|--minor|--patch> [INPUT_FILE] ARGS: some regular input OPTIONS: -c -h, --help Print help information --major auto inc major --minor auto inc minor --patch auto inc patch --set-ver set version manually --spec-in some special input argument -V, --version Print version information $ 04_03_relations_derive ? failed error: The following required arguments were not provided: <--set-ver |--major|--minor|--patch> USAGE: 04_03_relations_derive[EXE] [OPTIONS] <--set-ver |--major|--minor|--patch> [INPUT_FILE] For more information try --help $ 04_03_relations_derive --major Version: 2.2.3 $ 04_03_relations_derive --major --minor ? failed error: The argument '--major' cannot be used with '--minor' USAGE: 04_03_relations_derive[EXE] <--set-ver |--major|--minor|--patch> For more information try --help $ 04_03_relations_derive --major -c config.toml ? failed error: The following required arguments were not provided: > USAGE: 04_03_relations_derive[EXE] -c <--set-ver |--major|--minor|--patch> > For more information try --help $ 04_03_relations_derive --major -c config.toml --spec-in input.txt Version: 2.2.3 Doing work using input input.txt and config config.toml ``` ### Custom Validation As a last resort, you can create custom errors with the basics of clap's formatting. [Example:](04_04_custom.rs) ```console $ 04_04_custom_derive --help clap [..] A simple to use, efficient, and full-featured Command Line Argument Parser USAGE: 04_04_custom_derive[EXE] [OPTIONS] [INPUT_FILE] ARGS: some regular input OPTIONS: -c -h, --help Print help information --major auto inc major --minor auto inc minor --patch auto inc patch --set-ver set version manually --spec-in some special input argument -V, --version Print version information $ 04_04_custom_derive ? failed error: Can only modify one version field USAGE: clap [OPTIONS] [INPUT_FILE] For more information try --help $ 04_04_custom_derive --major Version: 2.2.3 $ 04_04_custom_derive --major --minor ? failed error: Can only modify one version field USAGE: clap [OPTIONS] [INPUT_FILE] For more information try --help $ 04_04_custom_derive --major -c config.toml ? failed Version: 2.2.3 error: INPUT_FILE or --spec-in is required when using --config USAGE: clap [OPTIONS] [INPUT_FILE] For more information try --help $ 04_04_custom_derive --major -c config.toml --spec-in input.txt Version: 2.2.3 Doing work using input input.txt and config config.toml ``` ## Tips - For more complex demonstration of features, see our [examples](../README.md). - See the [derive reference](../derive_ref/README.md) to understand how to use anything in the [builder API](https://docs.rs/clap/) in the derive API. - Proactively check for bad `Command` configurations by calling `Command::debug_assert` in a test ([example](05_01_assert.rs)) ## Contributing New example code: - Please update the corresponding section in the [builder tutorial](../tutorial_builder/README.md) - Building: They must be added to [Cargo.toml](../../Cargo.toml) with the appropriate `required-features`. - Testing: Ensure there is a markdown file with [trycmd](https://docs.rs/trycmd) syntax (generally they'll go in here). See also the general [CONTRIBUTING](../../CONTRIBUTING.md).