takes lists and merges them into columns

zip-args.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3

import argparse
from sys import argv, stderr

parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='zip together lists')
parser.add_argument("-s", "--separator", default=" ", help='character to separate items', required=False)
parser.add_argument("lists", nargs="+")
args = parser.parse_args()

lists = list(map(lambda x: x.strip().split("\n"), args.lists))

if len(dict.fromkeys(map(len, lists))) != 1:
    print("[!] warning - lists were not all the same length", file=stderr)

zipped = zip(*lists)

for t in zipped:
    for i, item in enumerate(t):
        print(item, end=args.separator) if i+1 != len(t) else print(item)

Examples:

./zip-args.py 'pi
e
zero
gamma' '3.14
2.72
0
0.58'

pi 3.14
e 2.72
zero 0
gamma 0.58

./zip-args.py --separator ',' 'dog
cat
snake' 'mammal
mammal
reptile' 'nice
mean
spooky'

dog,mammal,nice
cat,mammal,mean
snake,reptile,spooky