Creating Command Line Tools With Python

Standard library support for parsing command lines

• optparse and argparse (optparse is marked as deprecated since the introduction of argparse with Python 2.7 and Python 3.2, use argparse unless you have to support older Python versions)

• getopt C-style command line parser

The Argparse Tutorial is an excellent read for getting you started with creating command line tools. See also OptionParsing.

Other articles on Python command line tools

For sysadmins familiar with Bash scripting: Beginner Level, circa 02/2008

• Python for Bash scripters: A well-kept secret

Using Python To Create Unix Commandline Tools: Beginning/Intermediate Level

• Summary: An introductory article on how to create command line tools with Python. A beginner should learn how to create command line tool after finishing.

• Introduction To Creating CLI Tools with Python

Command line tool with optparse, subprocess, and logging: Beginning/Intermediate level

• Summary: This script provides shortcuts for using a Git repository but the script could be used as a template for other shell tools.

• A Clean Python Shell Script.

PyCon2008 Presentation on Command Line Tools: Intermediate Level

• Summary: Presentation goes into detail on using threads, subprocess, optparse, configparser, and ORM's to create sophisticated tools.

• Slides: Creating Command Line Tools with Python

• Source: Code