Python Argparse example

argparse_example.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3

import argparse
import sys

if __name__ == "__main__":

    """
    Running examples:
    
    $ ./argparse_example.py 
    usage: argparse_example.py [-h] --strparam STRPARAM [--boolparam]
                               [--intparam INTPARAM] [--append APPEND_LIST]
    argparse_example.py: error: the following arguments are required: --strparam/-s
    
    $ ./argparse_example.py -h
    usage: argparse_example.py [-h] --strparam STRPARAM [--boolparam]
                               [--intparam INTPARAM] [--append APPEND_LIST]
    Application description
    optional arguments:
      -h, --help            show this help message and exit
      --strparam STRPARAM, -s STRPARAM
                            String parameter mandatory
      --boolparam, -b       Boolean flag parameter
      --intparam INTPARAM, -i INTPARAM
                            Int parameter
      --append APPEND_LIST, -a APPEND_LIST
                            Add values to a list
			    
    $ ./argparse_example.py -s "hello world"
    Namespace(append_list=[], boolparam=False, intparam=0, strparam='hello world')
    
    $ ./argparse_example.py -s "hello world" -b
    Namespace(append_list=[], boolparam=True, intparam=0, strparam='hello world')
    
    $ ./argparse_example.py -s "hello world" -b -i 9
    Namespace(append_list=[], boolparam=True, intparam=9, strparam='hello world')
    
    $ ./argparse_example.py -s "hello world" -b -i 9 -a foo -a bar
    Namespace(append_list=['foo', 'bar'], boolparam=True, intparam=9, strparam='hello world')
    """

    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Application description")
    parser.add_argument("--strparam", "-s", dest="strparam", type=str, action="store", default=None, required=True, help="String parameter mandatory")
    parser.add_argument("--boolparam", "-b", dest="boolparam", action="store_true", default=False, help="Boolean flag parameter")
    parser.add_argument("--intparam", "-i", dest="intparam", type=int, action="store", default=0, help="Int parameter")
    parser.add_argument("--append", "-a", dest="append_list", action='append', default=[], help="Add values to a list")
    args = parser.parse_args(sys.argv[1:])

    print(args)