If receiving a dictionary from docopt with -- and <> annoys you, this function might help

clean_docopt_args.py

import re

def clean_arguments(args):
    """Cleans docopt arguments, removing --, - and < > from arguments

    Parameters
    ----------
    args : dict
        Dictionary with arguments form docopt

    Returns
    -------
    args : dict
        Dictionary with the clean arguments

    """
    re_doctopt = r'^--|^<|^-|>$'
    matched_keys = {key for key, value in args.iteritems() if re.sub(re_doctopt, '', key) != key}
    for key in matched_keys:
        new_key = re.sub(re_doctopt, '', key)
        args[new_key] = args[key]
        args.pop(key, None)
    return args