Question 1

How to generate C code from a docopt file with docopt.c?

Accepted Answer

Run 'python -m docopt_c -o output.c input.docopt' or use a pipe like 'cat input.docopt | python -m docopt_c > output.c'. This creates a C file with a 'docopt' function to parse arguments based on your spec.

Question 2

Does docopt.c handle subcommands or positional arguments yet?

Accepted Answer

No, the README explicitly states it currently only supports options, with positional arguments and commands planned for future updates. For now, you can't use it for full CLI patterns like those in the naval fate example.

Question 3

What's the performance like compared to getopt in C?

Accepted Answer

docopt.c generates code that parses arguments similarly, but performance depends on the CLI complexity. For simple cases, it's comparable, but hand-optimized getopt might be faster due to less generated overhead.

Question 4

Can I use docopt.c in a C++ project?

Accepted Answer

Yes, since it generates plain C code, you can include it in C++ with 'extern "C"' wrappers to ensure proper linkage, but you'll need to manage C-style structs and functions.

Question 5

How do I handle errors with the generated docopt.c code?

Accepted Answer

The 'docopt' function returns a struct with parsed values; invalid arguments typically trigger help display if enabled. You should check flags like 'args.help' for user errors, but detailed error handling is built into the generated logic.

Question 6

Is docopt.c stable for production use?

Accepted Answer

It has CI/CD badges and active maintenance, but the incomplete feature set means it's best for projects only needing options. For production with full CLI features, you might need to wait for updates or supplement it.

Question 7

docopt.c or argp for CLI parsing in C?

Accepted Answer

Choose docopt.c for a documentation-driven approach with automatic code generation, ideal for rapid prototyping and doc sync. Argp is part of GNU C Library, offering more control and full feature support out-of-the-box, but requires manual coding.

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