plac
is a Python package that can generate command line parameters from function signatures.
plac
works on Python 2.6 through all versions of Python 3.
plac
has no dependencies beyond modules already present in the Python standard library.
plac
implements most of its functionality in a single file that may be included in your source code.
plac
can automatically generate command line parameters from a function signature.
import plac def main(model, iter=100, debug=False): """ A script for machine learning """ print (model, iter, debug) if __name__ == '__main__': # Execute function via plac.call() plac.call(main)
The program above can now take parameters from the command line like so:
python example.py A 1000
Running the script with no parameters as python example.py
would print:
usage: example.py [-h] model [iter] [debug]
example.py: error: the following arguments are required: model
In addition, the program can also generate a help message:
python example.py -h
Produces the following output:
usage: example.py [-h] model [iter] [debug]
A script for machine learning
positional arguments:
model
iter [100]
debug [False]
options:
-h, --help show this help message and exit
Additional customization
When you need more control plac
offers three decorators to describe positional, option and flag type parameters:
import plac # Add decorators to the function @plac.pos('model', help="model name", choices=['A', 'B', 'C']) @plac.opt('iter', help="iterations", type=int) @plac.flg('debug', help="debug mode") def main(model, iter=100, debug=False): """ A script for machine learning """ print (model, iter, debug) if __name__ == '__main__': # Execute function via plac.call(). plac.call(main)
That will produce the following help:
usage: example.py [-h] [-i 100] [-d] {A,B,C}
A script for machine learning
positional arguments:
{A,B,C} model name
options:
-h, --help show this help message and exit
-i 100, --iter 100 iterations
-d, --debug debug mode
Decorator reference
To use plac
all you need to know are the following three decorators:
@plac.pos
- for positional parameters model
@plac.opt
- for key value options --iter 100
@plac.flg
- for flags --debug
that have the following signatures:
# Positional parameters. pos(arg, help=None, type=None, choices=None, metavar=None): # Option parameters. opt(arg, help=None, type=None, abbrev=None, choices=None, metavar=None): # Flag parameters. flg(arg, help=None, abbrev=None):Zero dependencies ... not even plac :-)
Notably, the main functionality of plac
is implemented in a single Python module called plac_core.py
that, if necessary, may be included and distributed with your source code thus reducing external dependencies in your code.
Copy plac_core.py
to your package then use it like so:
from mypackage import plac_core as placAvoiding name clashes
Python syntax, or your variable naming may impose constraints on what words may be used as parameters. To circumvent that limitation append a trailing underscore to the name. plac
will strip that underscore from the command line parameter name:
import plac @plac.flg('list_') # avoid clash with builtin @plac.flg('yield_') # avoid clash with keyword @plac.opt('sys_') # avoid clash with a very common name def main(list_, yield_=False, sys_=100): print(list_) print(yield_) print(sys_) if __name__ == '__main__': plac.call(main)
produces the usage:
usage: example13.py [-h] [-l] [-y] [-s 100]
optional arguments:
-h, --help show this help message and exit
-l, --list
-y, --yield [False]
-s 100, --sys 100 [100]
Variable arguments
plac
may accept multiple positional arguments and even additional key=value pairs:
import plac @plac.pos('args', help="words") @plac.opt('kwds', help="key=value", ) def main(*args, **kwds): print(args) print(kwds) if __name__ == '__main__': plac.call(main)
the usage will be:
usage: example15.py [-h] [args ...] [kwds ...]
positional arguments:
args words
kwds key=value
optional arguments:
-h, --help show this help message and exit
when running it as:
python example15.py A B x=10 y=20
the program prints:
('A', 'B')
{'x': '10', 'y': '20'}
Installation
pip install plac
Testing
Run
python doc/test_plac.py
You will see several apparent errors, but this is right, since the tests are checking for several error conditions. The important thing is that you get a line like
Executed XX tests OK
Author: Michele Simionato, michele.simionato@gmail.com
Maintainer: Istvan Albert, istvan.albert@gmail.com
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