Chapter 20. A Command-Line Parser

Many programs begin the same way: they read command-line arguments, decide what the user requested, then execute an operation.

10 items

Section	Title
1	A Command-Line Parser
2	A File Copier
3	A Line Filter
4	A Tiny HTTP Client
5	A Static Library
6	Testing Strategy
7	Benchmarking
8	demo
9	Where to Go From Here
10	Appendix A. Zig Syntax Summary

Writes › Book › Learn › Learn Zig › Chapter 20. A Command-Line Parser ›

A Command-Line Parser

Many programs begin the same way: they read command-line arguments, decide what the user requested, then execute an operation.

Writes › Book › Learn › Learn Zig › Chapter 20. A Command-Line Parser ›

A File Copier

A file copier is a useful small program. It opens one file for reading, opens another file for writing, then copies bytes from the first to the second.

Writes › Book › Learn › Learn Zig › Chapter 20. A Command-Line Parser ›

A Line Filter

A line filter reads text, changes or selects some lines, and writes the result. Many Unix programs have this shape.

Writes › Book › Learn › Learn Zig › Chapter 20. A Command-Line Parser ›

A Tiny HTTP Client

An HTTP client opens a network connection, sends a request, receives a response, and writes the response body.

Writes › Book › Learn › Learn Zig › Chapter 20. A Command-Line Parser ›

A Static Library

A library is code meant to be used by another program. In Zig, a library can be built from the same kind of source files as an executable. The difference is in how the build...

Writes › Book › Learn › Learn Zig › Chapter 20. A Command-Line Parser ›

Testing Strategy

Tests should be close to the code they check. Zig makes this easy with test blocks.

Writes › Book › Learn › Learn Zig › Chapter 20. A Command-Line Parser ›

Benchmarking

A benchmark measures the cost of a program or operation. The result is useful only if the measurement is repeatable and the work being measured is clearly defined.

Writes › Book › Learn › Learn Zig › Chapter 20. A Command-Line Parser ›

demo

A program is finished only when another machine can build and run it reliably.

Writes › Book › Learn › Learn Zig › Chapter 20. A Command-Line Parser ›

Where to Go From Here

The programs in this chapter are small, but they have the shape of larger Zig programs.

Writes › Book › Learn › Learn Zig › Chapter 20. A Command-Line Parser ›

Appendix A. Zig Syntax Summary

This appendix summarizes the core syntax of Zig 0.16. It is a compact reference, not a tutorial.