Yargs
yargs the modern, pirate-themed successor to optimist.
Install / Use
/learn @yargs/YargsREADME
Description
Yargs helps you build interactive command line tools, by parsing arguments and generating an elegant user interface.
It gives you:
- commands and (grouped) options (
my-program.js serve --port=5000). - a dynamically generated help menu based on your arguments:
mocha [spec..]
Run tests with Mocha
Commands
mocha inspect [spec..] Run tests with Mocha [default]
mocha init <path> create a client-side Mocha setup at <path>
Rules & Behavior
--allow-uncaught Allow uncaught errors to propagate [boolean]
--async-only, -A Require all tests to use a callback (async) or
return a Promise [boolean]
- generate completion scripts for Bash and Zsh for your command
- and tons more.
Installation
Stable version:
npm i yargs
Bleeding edge version with the most recent features:
npm i yargs@next
Usage
Simple Example
#!/usr/bin/env node
import yargs from 'yargs';
import { hideBin } from 'yargs/helpers';
const argv = yargs(hideBin(process.argv)).parse()
if (argv.ships > 3 && argv.distance < 53.5) {
console.log('Plunder more riffiwobbles!')
} else {
console.log('Retreat from the xupptumblers!')
}
$ ./plunder.js --ships=4 --distance=22
Plunder more riffiwobbles!
$ ./plunder.js --ships 12 --distance 98.7
Retreat from the xupptumblers!
Note:
hideBinis a shorthand forprocess.argv.slice(2). It has the benefit that it takes into account variations in some environments, e.g., Electron.
Complex Example
#!/usr/bin/env node
import yargs from 'yargs';
import { hideBin } from 'yargs/helpers';
yargs(hideBin(process.argv))
.command('serve [port]', 'start the server', (yargs) => {
return yargs
.positional('port', {
describe: 'port to bind on',
default: 5000
})
}, (argv) => {
if (argv.verbose) console.info(`start server on :${argv.port}`)
serve(argv.port)
})
.option('verbose', {
alias: 'v',
type: 'boolean',
description: 'Run with verbose logging'
})
.parse()
Run the example above with --help to see the help for the application.
Supported Platforms
TypeScript
yargs has type definitions at @types/yargs.
npm i @types/yargs --save-dev
See usage examples in docs.
Deno
As of v16, yargs supports Deno:
import yargs from 'https://deno.land/x/yargs@v17.7.2-deno/deno.ts'
import { Arguments } from 'https://deno.land/x/yargs@v17.7.2-deno/deno-types.ts'
yargs(Deno.args)
.command('download <files...>', 'download a list of files', (yargs: any) => {
return yargs.positional('files', {
describe: 'a list of files to do something with'
})
}, (argv: Arguments) => {
console.info(argv)
})
.strictCommands()
.demandCommand(1)
.parse()
Note: If you use version tags in url then you also have to add
-denoflag on the end, like@17.7.2-deno
Usage in Browser
See examples of using yargs in the browser in docs.
Documentation
Table of Contents
Supported Node.js Versions
Libraries in this ecosystem make a best effort to track Node.js' release schedule. Here's a post on why we think this is important.
Related Skills
node-connect
335.4kDiagnose OpenClaw node connection and pairing failures for Android, iOS, and macOS companion apps
frontend-design
82.5kCreate distinctive, production-grade frontend interfaces with high design quality. Use this skill when the user asks to build web components, pages, or applications. Generates creative, polished code that avoids generic AI aesthetics.
openai-whisper-api
335.4kTranscribe audio via OpenAI Audio Transcriptions API (Whisper).
commit-push-pr
82.5kCommit, push, and open a PR
