process-type v0.1.0

process-type analyzes the process.argv array and provides support for:

   • flags (eg: -g or --global)

   • arguments (eg: the arvgsus in npm install process-type)

   • actions (eg: the install in npm install process-type)

   • documentation (eg: the special --help flag displays examples and descriptions)

The exported types are Process, Process.Action, and Process.Flag.

var Process = require("process-type")

Glossary

     Example

     Installing

     Testing

     Types

         Process

         Process.Action

         Process.Flag

Example

This is the terminal input:

$ node path/to/npm/bin.js install --global --nodedir path/to/node --force process-type

This is what path/to/npm/bin.js looks like:

process.help = ["The package manager for Node."]

process.flags = {
	version: {
		short: "v",
		args: 0,
		help: "Echoes the current version of NPM."
	}
}

process.actions = {
	install: {
		short: "i",
		help: "Install the dependencies in the local node_modules folder.",
		flag: {
			global: {
				short: "g",
				args: 0,
				help: "Installs the given dependencies into the global node_modules folder."
			}
		}
	}
}

Process = require("process-type")

Process(process).parse()

These are the new properties available after parse() is called:

process.script = [
	"node",
	"path/to/npm/bin.js"
]

process.actions = [
	"npm", 
	"install"
]

process.flags = {
	global: true,
	nodedir: "path/to/node",
	force: true
}

process.args = [
	"process-type"
]

Installing

npm i --save process-type

Testing

To run the tests:

grunt test

Process

parse()

Arguments: (ArrayOf(String) or Undefined)

Once you wrap your process object with Process(), call process.parse() and you'll have full access to the properties listed here.

Normally, you won't pass an array of strings to this. Instead, the process.argv array will be used.

Before you call this, make sure you have process.flags, process.actions, process.action, and process.help all set to your liking.

help

Type: String or ArrayOf(String)

A description of your script.

This is shown when the --help flag is passed.

If an array of strings is passed, it is joined with "\n".

flags

Type: Object

Before process.parse():

   The valid flag names and their option objects.

After process.parse():

   The passed flag names and their arguments.

Learn more about Process.Flag.

actions

Type: Object

Before process.parse():

   The valid action names and their option objects.

After process.parse():

   No value.

Learn more about Process.Action.

options

Type: Object

Contains the values of process.flags and process.actions before process.parse() was called.

command

Type: ArrayOf(String)

script

Type: ArrayOf(String)

The command used to run this script. (eg: node path/to/my-module/index.js)

Process.Action

Note: You'll never have to construct one of these on your own. Instead, use process.options.addAction or define process.actions before process.parse().

name

Type: String

The ID that must be specified to use this Action.

help

Type: ArrayOf(String)

Describes what this Action is used for.

example

Type: String

Describes how to use this Action.

action

Type: Function

Called when the Action is specified in the command.

This option is essential when separating Actions into their own modules.

actions

Type: Object

The actions that can be specified after this Action.

flags

Type: Object

The flags that can be specified with this Action.

default

Note: This is implemented, but not yet documented.

validate

Note: This is not yet implemented.

transform

Note: This is not yet implemented.

Process.Flag

Note: You'll never have to construct one of these on your own. Instead, use process.options.addFlag or define process.flags before process.parse().

name

Type: String

The ID that must be specified to use this Flag.

short

Type: String

Maps a single-letter flag (eg: -f) to a many-letter flag (eg: --force).

help

Type: ArrayOf(String)

Describes what this Flag is used for.

example

Type: String

Describes how to use this Flag.

default

Type: Function

Returns the default arguments for this Flag.

Called when this Flag has no specified arguments.

Can be undefined.

validate

Type: Function

Verifies whether this Flag's arguments are valid by returning true or false.

Can be undefined.

Note: Called before the default value is applied to the Flag.

transform

Type: Function

Mutates this Flag's arguments and returns a new value.

Can be undefined.

Note: Called after the default value is applied to this Flag.

args

Type: Number

The maximum number of arguments possibly associated with this Flag.