argtable
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Description:
ANSI C library for parsing GNU-style command-line options
Type: Formula  |  Latest Version: 2.13@0  |  Tracked Since: Dec 17, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Developer tools
Tags: c-library command-line cli parsing development
Install: brew install argtable
About:
Argtable is an ANSI C library that allows you to parse GNU-style command-line options by simply defining a data structure. It automatically generates help and usage messages, significantly simplifying command-line interface development. The library is open-source, thread-safe, and integrates easily into any C project.
Key Features:
  • Declarative argument definition using struct fields
  • Automatic generation of help and usage messages
  • Supports short and long options, strings, integers, floats, and doubles
  • Thread-safe and fully ANSI C compliant
  • Minimal dependencies and easy integration
Use Cases:
  • Building command-line tools with standard argument parsing
  • Rapid prototyping of CLI utilities without custom parsers
  • Adding consistent command-line interfaces to existing C applications
Alternatives:
  • getopt – Standard POSIX utility but requires more boilerplate code than argtable's declarative approach.
  • libpopt – More feature-rich but heavier dependency; argtable is simpler and more lightweight.
License: LGPL-2.0-or-later
Bottles available for: arm64_tahoe, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_ventura, arm64_monterey, arm64_big_sur, sonoma, ventura, monterey, big_sur, catalina, arm64_linux, x86_64_linux
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Sep 11, 2025 7:16am 2.13 0 VERSION_BUMP ba08da99