Add unnamed subcommand

README.md

@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ An acceptable CLI parser library should be all of the following:
 -   Usable subcommand syntax, with support for multiple subcommands, nested subcommands, and optional fallthrough (explained later).
 -   Ability to add a configuration file (`ini` format), and produce it as well.
 -   Produce real values that can be used directly in code, not something you have pay compute time to look up, for HPC applications.
--   Work with standard types, simple custom types, and extendible to exotic types.
+-   Work with standard types, simple custom types, and extensible to exotic types.
 -   Permissively licensed.
 
 ### Other parsers
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ After I wrote this, I also found the following libraries:
 | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
 | [GFlags][]              | The Google Commandline Flags library. Uses macros heavily, and is limited in scope, missing things like subcommands. It provides a simple syntax and supports config files/env vars. |
 | [GetOpt][]              | Very limited C solution with long, convoluted syntax. Does not support much of anything, like help generation. Always available on UNIX, though (but in different flavors).          |
-| [ProgramOptions.hxx][]  | Intresting library, less powerful and no subcommands. Nice callback system.                                                                                                          |
+| [ProgramOptions.hxx][]  | Interesting library, less powerful and no subcommands. Nice callback system.                                                                                                          |
 | [Args][]                | Also interesting, and supports subcommands. I like the optional-like design, but CLI11 is cleaner and provides direct value access, and is less verbose.                             |
 | [Argument Aggregator][] | I'm a big fan of the [fmt][] library, and the try-catch statement looks familiar.  :thumbsup: Doesn't seem to support subcommands.                                                   |
 | [Clara][]               | Simple library built for the excellent [Catch][] testing framework. Unique syntax, limited scope.                                                                                    |
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ Before parsing, you can set the following options:
 -   `->envname(name)`: Gets the value from the environment if present and not passed on the command line.
 -   `->group(name)`: The help group to put the option in. No effect for positional options. Defaults to `"Options"`. `""` will not show up in the help print (hidden).
 -   `->ignore_case()`: Ignore the case on the command line (also works on subcommands, does not affect arguments).
--   `->ignore_underscore()`: Ignore any underscores in the options names (also works on subcommands, does not affect arguments). For example "option_one" will match with optionone.  This does not apply to short form options since they only have one character
+-   `->ignore_underscore()`: Ignore any underscores in the options names (also works on subcommands, does not affect arguments). For example "option_one" will match with "optionone".  This does not apply to short form options since they only have one character
 -   `->description(str)`: Set/change the description.
 -   `->multi_option_policy(CLI::MultiOptionPolicy::Throw)`: Set the multi-option policy. Shortcuts available: `->take_last()`, `->take_first()`, and `->join()`. This will only affect options expecting 1 argument or bool flags (which always default to take last).
 -   `->check(CLI::ExistingFile)`: Requires that the file exists if given.
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ Subcommands are supported, and can be nested infinitely. To add a subcommand, ca
 case).
 
 If you want to require that at least one subcommand is given, use `.require_subcommand()` on the parent app. You can optionally give an exact number of subcommands to require, as well. If you give two arguments, that sets the min and max number allowed.
-0 for the max number allowed will allow an unlimited number of subcommands. As a handy shortcut, a single negative value N will set "up to N" values. Limiting the maximimum number allows you to keep arguments that match a previous
+0 for the max number allowed will allow an unlimited number of subcommands. As a handy shortcut, a single negative value N will set "up to N" values. Limiting the maximum number allows you to keep arguments that match a previous
 subcommand name from matching.
 
 If an `App` (main or subcommand) has been parsed on the command line, `->parsed` will be true (or convert directly to bool).
@@ -296,6 +296,9 @@ even exit the program through the callback. The main `App` has a callback slot,
 You are allowed to throw `CLI::Success` in the callbacks.
 Multiple subcommands are allowed, to allow [`Click`][click] like series of commands (order is preserved).
 
+Subcommands may also have an empty name either by calling `add_subcommand` with an empty string for the name or with no arguments.
+Nameless subcommands function a little like groups in the main `App`.  If an option is not defined in the main App, all nameless subcommands are checked as well.  This allows for the options to be defined in a composable group.  The `add_subcommand` function has an overload for adding a `shared_ptr<App>` so the subcommand(s) could be defined in different components and merged into a main `App`, or possibly multiple `Apps`.  Multiple nameless subcommands are allowed.
+
 #### Subcommand options
 
 There are several options that are supported on the main app and subcommands. These are:
@@ -307,7 +310,8 @@ There are several options that are supported on the main app and subcommands. Th
 -   `.require_subcommand()`: Require 1 or more subcommands.
 -   `.require_subcommand(N)`: Require `N` subcommands if `N>0`, or up to `N` if `N<0`. `N=0` resets to the default 0 or more.
 -   `.require_subcommand(min, max)`: Explicitly set min and max allowed subcommands. Setting `max` to 0 is unlimited.
--   `.add_subcommand(name, description="")` Add a subcommand, returns a pointer to the internally stored subcommand.
+-   `.add_subcommand(name="", description="")` Add a subcommand, returns a pointer to the internally stored subcommand.
+-   `.add_subcommand(shared_ptr<App>)` Add a subcommand by shared_ptr, returns a pointer to the internally stored subcommand.
 -   `.got_subcommand(App_or_name)`: Check to see if a subcommand was received on the command line.
 -   `.get_subcommands(filter)`: The list of subcommands given on the command line.
 -   `.get_parent()`: Get the parent App or nullptr if called on master App.

examples/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -63,6 +63,24 @@ set_property(TEST subcommands_all PROPERTY PASS_REGULAR_EXPRESSION
     "Subcommand: start"
     "Subcommand: stop")
 
+add_cli_exe(subcom_partitioned subcom_partitioned.cpp)
+add_test(NAME subcom_partitioned_none COMMAND subcom_partitioned)
+set_property(TEST subcom_partitioned_none PROPERTY PASS_REGULAR_EXPRESSION
+    "This is a timer:"
+    "--file is required"
+    "Run with --help for more information.")
+add_test(NAME subcom_partitioned_all COMMAND subcom_partitioned --file this --count --count -d 1.2)
+set_property(TEST subcom_partitioned_all PROPERTY PASS_REGULAR_EXPRESSION
+    "This is a timer:"
+    "Working on file: this, direct count: 1, opt count: 1"
+    "Working on count: 2, direct count: 2, opt count: 2"
+    "Some value: 1.2")
+    # test shows that the help prints out for unnamed subcommands
+add_test(NAME subcom_partitioned_help COMMAND subcom_partitioned --help)
+set_property(TEST subcom_partitioned_help PROPERTY PASS_REGULAR_EXPRESSION
+    "-f,--file TEXT REQUIRED"
+    "-d,--double FLOAT")
+
 add_cli_exe(validators validators.cpp)
 add_test(NAME validators_help COMMAND validators --help)
 set_property(TEST validators_help PROPERTY PASS_REGULAR_EXPRESSION

examples/subcom_partitioned.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+#include "CLI/CLI.hpp"
+#include "CLI/Timer.hpp"
+
+int main(int argc, char **argv) {
+    CLI::AutoTimer("This is a timer");
+
+    CLI::App app("K3Pi goofit fitter");
+
+    CLI::App_p impOpt = std::make_shared<CLI::App>("Important");
+    std::string file;
+    CLI::Option *opt = impOpt->add_option("-f,--file,file", file, "File name")->required();
+
+    int count;
+    CLI::Option *copt = impOpt->add_flag("-c,--count", count, "Counter")->required();
+
+    CLI::App_p otherOpt = std::make_shared<CLI::App>("Other");
+    double value; // = 3.14;
+    otherOpt->add_option("-d,--double", value, "Some Value");
+
+    // add the subapps to the main one
+    app.add_subcommand(impOpt);
+    app.add_subcommand(otherOpt);
+
+    try {
+        app.parse(argc, argv);
+    } catch(const CLI::ParseError &e) {
+        return app.exit(e);
+    }
+
+    std::cout << "Working on file: " << file << ", direct count: " << impOpt->count("--file")
+              << ", opt count: " << opt->count() << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "Working on count: " << count << ", direct count: " << impOpt->count("--count")
+              << ", opt count: " << copt->count() << std::endl;
+    std::cout << "Some value: " << value << std::endl;
+
+    return 0;
+}

include/CLI/App.hpp

@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ std::string help(const App *app, const Error &e);
 
 class App;
 
-using App_p = std::unique_ptr<App>;
+using App_p = std::shared_ptr<App>;
 
 /// Creates a command line program, with very few defaults.
 /** To use, create a new `Program()` instance with `argc`, `argv`, and a help description. The templated
@@ -77,9 +77,12 @@ class App {
     /// If true, allow extra arguments in the ini file (ie, don't throw an error). INHERITABLE
     bool allow_config_extras_{false};
 
-    ///  If true, return immediately on an unrecognised option (implies allow_extras) INHERITABLE
+    ///  If true, return immediately on an unrecognized option (implies allow_extras) INHERITABLE
     bool prefix_command_{false};
 
+    /// if set to true the name was automatically generated from the command line vs a user set name
+    bool has_automatic_name_{false};
+
     /// This is a function that runs when complete. Great for subcommands. Can throw.
     std::function<void()> callback_;
 
@@ -244,6 +247,7 @@ class App {
     /// Set a name for the app (empty will use parser to set the name)
     App *name(std::string app_name = "") {
         name_ = app_name;
+        has_automatic_name_ = false;
         return this;
     }
 
@@ -1124,17 +1128,29 @@ class App {
     ///@{
 
     /// Add a subcommand. Inherits INHERITABLE and OptionDefaults, and help flag
-    App *add_subcommand(std::string subcommand_name, std::string description = "") {
-        CLI::App_p subcom(new App(description, subcommand_name, this));
-        for(const auto &subc : subcommands_)
-            if(subc->check_name(subcommand_name) || subcom->check_name(subc->name_))
-                throw OptionAlreadyAdded(subc->name_);
+    App *add_subcommand(std::string subcommand_name = "", std::string description = "") {
+        CLI::App_p subcom = std::shared_ptr<App>(new App(description, subcommand_name, this));
+        return add_subcommand(std::move(subcom));
+    }
+
+    /// Add a previously created app as a subcommand
+    App *add_subcommand(CLI::App_p subcom) {
+        if(!subcom)
+            throw IncorrectConstruction("passed App is not valid");
+        if(!subcom->name_.empty()) {
+            for(const auto &subc : subcommands_)
+                if(subc->check_name(subcom->name_) || subcom->check_name(subc->name_))
+                    throw OptionAlreadyAdded(subc->name_);
+        }
+        subcom->parent_ = this;
         subcommands_.push_back(std::move(subcom));
         return subcommands_.back().get();
     }
-
     /// Check to see if a subcommand is part of this command (doesn't have to be in command line)
+    /// returns the first subcommand if passed a nullptr
     App *get_subcommand(App *subcom) const {
+        if(subcom == nullptr)
+            throw OptionNotFound("nullptr passed");
         for(const App_p &subcomptr : subcommands_)
             if(subcomptr.get() == subcom)
                 return subcom;
@@ -1148,9 +1164,41 @@ class App {
                 return subcomptr.get();
         throw OptionNotFound(subcom);
     }
+    /// Get a pointer to subcommand by index
+    App *get_subcommand(int index = 0) const {
+        if((index >= 0) && (index < subcommands_.size()))
+            return subcommands_[index].get();
+        throw OptionNotFound(std::to_string(index));
+    }
+
+    /// Check to see if a subcommand is part of this command and get a shared_ptr to it
+    CLI::App_p get_subcommand_ptr(App *subcom) const {
+        if(subcom == nullptr)
+            throw OptionNotFound("nullptr passed");
+        for(const App_p &subcomptr : subcommands_)
+            if(subcomptr.get() == subcom)
+                return subcomptr;
+        throw OptionNotFound(subcom->get_name());
+    }
+
+    /// Check to see if a subcommand is part of this command (text version)
+    CLI::App_p get_subcommand_ptr(std::string subcom) const {
+        for(const App_p &subcomptr : subcommands_)
+            if(subcomptr->check_name(subcom))
+                return subcomptr;
+        throw OptionNotFound(subcom);
+    }
+
+    /// Get an owning pointer to subcommand by index
+    CLI::App_p get_subcommand_ptr(int index = 0) const {
+        if((index >= 0) && (index < subcommands_.size()))
+            return subcommands_[index];
+        throw OptionNotFound(std::to_string(index));
+    }
 
     /// No argument version of count counts the number of times this subcommand was
-    /// passed in. The main app will return 1.
+    /// passed in. The main app will return 1. Unnamed subcommands will also return 1 unless
+    /// otherwise modified in a callback
     size_t count() const { return parsed_; }
 
     /// Changes the group membership
@@ -1215,10 +1263,9 @@ class App {
     /// Reset the parsed data
     void clear() {
 
-        parsed_ = false;
+        parsed_ = 0;
         missing_.clear();
         parsed_subcommands_.clear();
-
         for(const Option_p &opt : options_) {
             opt->clear();
         }
@@ -1231,8 +1278,10 @@ class App {
     /// This must be called after the options are in but before the rest of the program.
     void parse(int argc, const char *const *argv) {
         // If the name is not set, read from command line
-        if(name_.empty())
+        if((name_.empty()) || (has_automatic_name_)) {
+            has_automatic_name_ = true;
             name_ = argv[0];
+        }
 
         std::vector<std::string> args;
         for(int i = argc - 1; i > 0; i--)
@@ -1248,7 +1297,8 @@ class App {
 
         if(program_name_included) {
             auto nstr = detail::split_program_name(commandline);
-            if(name_.empty()) {
+            if((name_.empty()) || (has_automatic_name_)) {
+                has_automatic_name_ = true;
                 name_ = nstr.first;
             }
             commandline = std::move(nstr.second);
@@ -1276,11 +1326,14 @@ class App {
         if(parsed_ > 0)
             clear();
 
-        // _parse is incremented in commands/subcommands,
+        // parsed_ is incremented in commands/subcommands,
         // but placed here to make sure this is cleared when
-        // running parse after an error is thrown, even by _validate.
+        // running parse after an error is thrown, even by _validate or _configure.
         parsed_ = 1;
         _validate();
+        _configure();
+        // set the parent as nullptr as this object should be the top now
+        parent_ = nullptr;
         parsed_ = 0;
 
         _parse(args);
@@ -1599,10 +1652,28 @@ class App {
         });
         if(pcount > 1)
             throw InvalidError(name_);
-        for(const App_p &app : subcommands_)
+        for(const App_p &app : subcommands_) {
             app->_validate();
+        }
     }
 
+    /// configure subcommands to enable parsing through the current object
+    /// set the correct fallthrough and prefix for nameless subcommands and
+    /// makes sure parent is set correctly
+    void _configure() {
+        for(const App_p &app : subcommands_) {
+            if(app->has_automatic_name_) {
+                app->name_.clear();
+            }
+            if(app->name_.empty()) {
+                app->fallthrough_ = false; // make sure fallthrough_ is false to prevent infinite loop
+                app->prefix_command_ = false;
+            }
+            // make sure the parent is set to be this object in preparation for parse
+            app->parent_ = this;
+            app->_configure();
+        }
+    }
     /// Internal function to run (App) callback, top down
     void run_callback() {
         pre_callback();
@@ -1768,7 +1839,7 @@ class App {
         // Max error cannot occur, the extra subcommand will parse as an ExtrasError or a remaining item.
 
         for(App_p &sub : subcommands_) {
-            if(sub->count() > 0)
+            if((sub->count() > 0) || (sub->name_.empty()))
                 sub->_process_requirements();
         }
     }
@@ -1799,9 +1870,17 @@ class App {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Internal function to recursively increment the parsed counter on the current app as well unnamed subcommands
+    void increment_parsed() {
+        ++parsed_;
+        for(App_p &sub : subcommands_) {
+            if(sub->get_name().empty())
+                sub->increment_parsed();
+        }
+    }
     /// Internal parse function
     void _parse(std::vector<std::string> &args) {
-        parsed_++;
+        increment_parsed();
         bool positional_only = false;
 
         while(!args.empty()) {
@@ -1833,13 +1912,12 @@ class App {
     /// Fill in a single config option
     bool _parse_single_config(const ConfigItem &item, size_t level = 0) {
         if(level < item.parents.size()) {
-            App *subcom;
             try {
-                subcom = get_subcommand(item.parents.at(level));
+                auto subcom = get_subcommand(item.parents.at(level));
+                return subcom->_parse_single_config(item, level + 1);
             } catch(const OptionNotFound &) {
                 return false;
             }
-            return subcom->_parse_single_config(item, level + 1);
         }
 
         Option *op;
@@ -1922,6 +2000,18 @@ class App {
             }
         }
 
+        for(auto &subc : subcommands_) {
+            if(subc->name_.empty()) {
+                subc->_parse_positional(args);
+                if(subc->missing_.empty()) { // check if it was used and is not in the missing category
+                    return;
+                } else {
+                    args.push_back(std::move(subc->missing_.front().second));
+                    subc->missing_.clear();
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
         if(parent_ != nullptr && fallthrough_)
             return parent_->_parse_positional(args);
         else {
@@ -1997,6 +2087,17 @@ class App {
 
         // Option not found
         if(op_ptr == std::end(options_)) {
+            for(auto &subc : subcommands_) {
+                if(subc->name_.empty()) {
+                    subc->_parse_arg(args, current_type);
+                    if(subc->missing_.empty()) { // check if it was used and is not in the missing category
+                        return;
+                    } else {
+                        args.push_back(std::move(subc->missing_.front().second));
+                        subc->missing_.clear();
+                    }
+                }
+            }
             // If a subcommand, try the master command
             if(parent_ != nullptr && fallthrough_)
                 return parent_->_parse_arg(args, current_type);