[TUHS] Systematic approach to command-line interfaces

[Michael Siegel]

Hello,

I've recently started to implement a set of helper functions and
procedures for parsing Unix-like command-line interfaces (i.e., POSIX +
GNU-style long options, in this case) in Ada.

While doing that, I learned that there is a better way to approach
this problem – beyond using getopt(s) (which never really made sense to
me) and having to write case statements in loops every time: Define a
grammar, let a pre-built parser do the work, and have the parser
provide the results to the program.

Now, defining such a grammar requires a thoroughly systematic approach
to the design of command-line interfaces. One problem with that is
whether that grammar should allow for sub-commands. And that leads to
the question of how task-specific tool sets should be designed. These
seem to be a relatively new phenomenon in Unix-like systems that POSIX
doesn't say anything about, as far as I can see.

So, I've prepared a bit of a write-up, pondering on the pros and cons
of two different ways of having task-specific tool sets
(non-hierarchical command sets vs. sub-commands) that is available at

  https://www.msiism.org/files/doc/unix-like_command-line_interfaces.html

I tend to think the sub-command approach is better. But I'm neither a UI
nor a Unix expert and have no formal training in computer things. So, I
thought this would be a good place to ask for comment (and get some
historical perspective).

This is all just my pro-hobbyist attempt to make some people's lives
easier, especially mine. I mean, currently, the "Unix" command line is
quite a zoo, and not in a positive sense. Also, the number of
well-thought-out command-line interfaces doesn't seem to be a growing
one. But I guess that could be changed by providing truly easy ways to
make good interfaces.


--
Michael