Steven Bethard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > In most cases, argparse (http://argparse.python-hosting.com/) > supports negative numbers right out of the box, with no need to use > '--': > > >>> import argparse > >>> parser = argparse.ArgumentParser() > >>> parser.add_argument('-a', type=int) > >>> parser.add_argument('b', type=int) > >>> args = parser.parse_args('-a -42 -123'.split()) > >>> args.a > -42 > >>> args.b > -123
That would be irritating. I've used many programs which have numbers for their options because it makes the most sense, e.g. 'mpage' to indicate number of virtual pages on one page, or any number of networking commands that use '-4' and '-6' to specify IPv4 or IPv6. If argparse treats those as numeric arguments instead of options, that's violating the Principle of Least Astonishment for established command-line usage (hyphen introduces an option). -- \ "I went to a general store. They wouldn't let me buy anything | `\ specifically." -- Steven Wright | _o__) | Ben Finney -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
