{"id":12825,"library":"argsparser","title":"Tiny Command Line Arguments Parser (Abandoned)","description":"argsparser is an extremely tiny command-line arguments parser for Node.js, last published as version 0.0.7 over a decade ago. It operates by converting an array of arguments (typically `process.argv`) into a key-value object based on simple parsing rules. Keys are identified as the first element or elements prefixed by `-` or `--`. Subsequent elements become the key's value; if multiple values follow, they form an array, and if no value, the key's value is `true`. Its primary differentiator was its minimalistic footprint and simple parsing logic. Due to its age, lack of maintenance, and reliance on very old Node.js versions (specifically `>=0.2.0`), it is not suitable for modern projects and should be considered entirely abandoned. Modern alternatives like `commander`, `yargs`, or `minimist` offer robust and actively maintained solutions for CLI parsing.","status":"abandoned","version":"0.0.7","language":"javascript","source_language":"en","source_url":"ssh://git@github.com/kof/node-argsparser","tags":["javascript","arguments","options","command line","parser"],"install":[{"cmd":"npm install argsparser","lang":"bash","label":"npm"},{"cmd":"yarn add argsparser","lang":"bash","label":"yarn"},{"cmd":"pnpm add argsparser","lang":"bash","label":"pnpm"}],"dependencies":[],"imports":[{"note":"This package is strictly CommonJS. ES Module `import` syntax is not supported. Attempting to `import` will result in a runtime error in modern Node.js environments unless explicitly transpiled or using dynamic import() in an async context, which is overly complex for this package.","wrong":"import { parse } from 'argsparser';","symbol":"parse","correct":"const argsparser = require('argsparser');\nconst args = argsparser.parse();"},{"note":"The package exports a single function-like object; there is no named export. Direct `require('argsparser')` retrieves the main module object which contains the `parse` method.","wrong":"import argsparser from 'argsparser';","symbol":"argsparser (default)","correct":"const argsparser = require('argsparser');"}],"quickstart":{"code":"const argsparser = require('argsparser');\n\n// Example 1: Parses process.argv by default\n// Assuming script run with: node script.js -a test --b another\nconst defaultArgs = argsparser.parse();\nconsole.log('Default (process.argv) parse result:', defaultArgs);\n// Expected output (approx): { node: '/path/to/node', 'script.js': '/path/to/script.js', '-a': 'test', '--b': 'another' }\n\n// Example 2: Passing a custom array of arguments\nconst customArgs = argsparser.parse(['-x', 'value1', 'value2', '--flag']);\nconsole.log('Custom array parse result:', customArgs);\n// Expected output: { '-x': ['value1', 'value2'], '--flag': true }\n\n// Example 3: No arguments (empty array)\nconst emptyArgs = argsparser.parse([]);\nconsole.log('Empty array parse result:', emptyArgs);\n// Expected output: {}","lang":"javascript","description":"Demonstrates parsing `process.argv` by default and parsing a custom array of arguments, illustrating how flags, values, and multi-value options are handled."},"warnings":[{"fix":"Migrate to a actively maintained CLI arguments parser like `commander`, `yargs`, or `minimist`.","message":"This package is entirely unmaintained, with its last publish over 10 years ago. It has not received any updates to support modern Node.js versions, security patches, or bug fixes. Using it in production or any modern environment is highly discouraged and poses significant security and compatibility risks.","severity":"breaking","affected_versions":"0.0.7"},{"fix":"Replace `argsparser` with a modern, actively maintained CLI parsing library. If forced to use, ensure your Node.js environment is configured to run legacy CommonJS modules and be prepared for potential runtime errors.","message":"The package explicitly targets Node.js `>=0.2.0`, an extremely old version released in 2010. Modern Node.js versions have significant breaking changes, particularly regarding module systems (CommonJS vs. ES Modules) and core APIs. This package will likely not function correctly or at all in current Node.js runtimes without extensive compatibility layers.","severity":"breaking","affected_versions":"0.0.7"},{"fix":"Thoroughly test argument parsing for all expected and edge-case inputs if using this library. For more robust and configurable parsing, consider alternatives like `commander` or `yargs`.","message":"The parsing logic is very simple: it treats the first element as a key, and then elements prefixed with '-' or '--' as new keys. All subsequent elements are values until another key is found. If no value follows a key, it becomes `true`. This heuristic-based approach can lead to unexpected parsing results for complex or non-standard argument patterns compared to more feature-rich parsers.","severity":"gotcha","affected_versions":"0.0.7"}],"env_vars":null,"last_verified":"2026-04-19T00:00:00.000Z","next_check":"2026-07-18T00:00:00.000Z","problems":[{"fix":"If you must use this package, ensure your file is a CommonJS module (`.js` without `\"type\": \"module\"`) or use dynamic `import()` within an `async` function. For new projects, use modern ES Module compatible CLI parsers.","cause":"Attempting to use `require('argsparser')` in an ES Module context (`.mjs` file or `\"type\": \"module\"` in `package.json`). `argsparser` is a CommonJS module.","error":"TypeError: require is not a function"},{"fix":"Run `npm install argsparser` to ensure the package is correctly installed. If issues persist, try `rm -rf node_modules && npm install`.","cause":"The package is not installed or `npm install` failed. Alternatively, there might be caching issues with `node_modules`.","error":"Error: Cannot find module 'argsparser'"}],"ecosystem":"npm","meta_description":null,"install_score":null,"install_tag":null,"quickstart_score":null,"quickstart_tag":null,"pypi_latest":null}