[CLI] discuss experimental CLI binder APIs

[Simone Tripodi <si...@apache.org>]

Hi all guys,
I have been experimenting a new set of CLI APIs outside the ASF,
taking the best from existing CLI and some other non-ASF libraries,
mainly Cédric's JCommander[1], the purposes are:

 * using fluent APIs;
 * simplify the Options building;
 * reducing the number of involved components;
 * triggering actions when options are parsed;

A simple (not working) APIs usage can be found on the GitHub's space[2].

So, I would much more than happy to move the effort to [commons] and
donate the prototype, if people think it would be a worth give a try
to innovate [cli].
Otherwise, I will have to finalize it outside the ASF.
Feedbacks are welcome, many thanks in advance!
-Simo

[1] http://jcommander.org/
[2] http://s.apache.org/xS

http://people.apache.org/~simonetripodi/
http://simonetripodi.livejournal.com/
http://twitter.com/simonetripodi
http://www.99soft.org/

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Re: [CLI] discuss experimental CLI binder APIs

[Simone Tripodi <si...@apache.org>]

Hola Izio!

> Conversely, JCommander has a very low learning curve.

sure I'm JCommander user myself, but that are the reason why that
approach cannot universally applied

 * it's not complete (yet) since it doesn't support Java-alike dynamic
options such as `-Dproperty=value` (they need to be collected in a
Properties/Map instance)
 * it forces all parameters to be collected in POJOs - that is not
universally good (hey could be used to be passed in a pom.xml);
 * it doesn't support Posix parser;
 * wrong converters binding can be detected at runtime only - since
they are expressed in annotations, nothing can be done from the
compiler side;
 * it would be useful performing blocking actions when detecting some
parameters, i.e. like --help that prints the usage message and exit;
 * ... shall I continue? :)

> The example you provided is good enough, but it is still far away in terms
> of learning curve.

UH... Seriously? Being fluent-APIs should be at least easier of
current [cli] APIs...

Thanks for the feedbacks!

-Simo

http://people.apache.org/~simonetripodi/
http://simonetripodi.livejournal.com/
http://twitter.com/simonetripodi
http://www.99soft.org/

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Re: [CLI] discuss experimental CLI binder APIs

[Maurizio Cucchiara <mc...@apache.org>]

Hi Simone,
I don't know how others make use of CLI, what I'm going to discuss is only
my personal point of view.
I have to do with the command line stuff one time per project (more or
less), and I have to admit that the CLI api (even though is a good one) is
every time hard to apply. This is probably due the sporadic use.
Conversely, JCommander has a very low learning curve.
The example you provided is good enough, but it is still far away in terms
of learning curve.

Twitter     :http://www.twitter.com/m_cucchiara
G+          :https://plus.google.com/107903711540963855921
Linkedin    :http://www.linkedin.com/in/mauriziocucchiara

Maurizio Cucchiara


On 26 December 2011 22:35, Simone Tripodi <si...@apache.org> wrote:

> Hi all guys,
> I have been experimenting a new set of CLI APIs outside the ASF,
> taking the best from existing CLI and some other non-ASF libraries,
> mainly Cédric's JCommander[1], the purposes are:
>
>  * using fluent APIs;
>  * simplify the Options building;
>  * reducing the number of involved components;
>  * triggering actions when options are parsed;
>
> A simple (not working) APIs usage can be found on the GitHub's space[2].
>
> So, I would much more than happy to move the effort to [commons] and
> donate the prototype, if people think it would be a worth give a try
> to innovate [cli].
> Otherwise, I will have to finalize it outside the ASF.
> Feedbacks are welcome, many thanks in advance!
> -Simo
>
> [1] http://jcommander.org/
> [2] http://s.apache.org/xS
>
> http://people.apache.org/~simonetripodi/
> http://simonetripodi.livejournal.com/
> http://twitter.com/simonetripodi
> http://www.99soft.org/
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> To unsubscribe, e-mail: dev-unsubscribe@commons.apache.org
> For additional commands, e-mail: dev-help@commons.apache.org
>
>