argparse zero-length switch

[Ben Finney]

Carl Banks <pavlovevidence at gmail.com> writes:

> I have a use case where some users would have to enter a section name
> on the command line almost every time, whereas other users (the ones
> using only one section) will never have to enter the section name.

Sounds like a typical case where you want an option that takes an
argument, with a default for when the option is not specified. As you
probably know, ‘argparse’ already handles this fine.

> I don't want to burden users with only one "section" to always enter
> the section name as a required argument, but I also want to make it as
> convenient as possible to enter the section name for those who need
> to.

Yes. The latter need only specify the section explicitly, with ‘-s foo’
or whatever.

> My thought, on the thinking that practicality beats purity, was to
> create a zero-length switch using a different prefix character (say,
> @) to indicate the section name. So instead of typing this:
>
>    sp subcommand -s abc foo bar

What's wrong with that? That's a normal way to do it, consistent with
other command-line interfaces. Why deviate from that?

> they could type this:
>
>    sp subcommand @abc foo bar
>
> Admittedly a small benefit.

I don't see the benefit of that which would be worth teaching that
unconventional command-line syntax.

-- 
 \         “Two paradoxes are better than one; they may even suggest a |
  `\                                         solution.” —Edward Teller |
_o__)                                                                  |
Ben Finney