An example of how to use getopts in bash

Question

I want to call myscript file in this way:

$ ./myscript -s 45 -p any_string

or

$ ./myscript -h  #should display         


        

Answer 1

I know that this is already answered, but for the record and for anyone with the same requeriments as me I decided to post this related answer. The code is flooded with comments to explain the code.

Updated answer:

Save the file as getopt.sh:

#!/bin/bash

function get_variable_name_for_option {
    local OPT_DESC=${1}
    local OPTION=${2}
    local VAR=$(echo ${OPT_DESC} | sed -e "s/.*\[\?-${OPTION} \([A-Z_]\+\).*/\1/g" -e "s/.*\[\?-\(${OPTION}\).*/\1FLAG/g")

    if [[ "${VAR}" == "${1}" ]]; then
        echo ""
    else
        echo ${VAR}
    fi
}

function parse_options {
    local OPT_DESC=${1}
    local INPUT=$(get_input_for_getopts "${OPT_DESC}")

    shift
    while getopts ${INPUT} OPTION ${@};
    do
        [ ${OPTION} == "?" ] && usage
        VARNAME=$(get_variable_name_for_option "${OPT_DESC}" "${OPTION}")
            [ "${VARNAME}" != "" ] && eval "${VARNAME}=${OPTARG:-true}" # && printf "\t%s\n" "* Declaring ${VARNAME}=${!VARNAME} -- OPTIONS='$OPTION'"
    done

    check_for_required "${OPT_DESC}"

}

function check_for_required {
    local OPT_DESC=${1}
    local REQUIRED=$(get_required "${OPT_DESC}" | sed -e "s/\://g")
    while test -n "${REQUIRED}"; do
        OPTION=${REQUIRED:0:1}
        VARNAME=$(get_variable_name_for_option "${OPT_DESC}" "${OPTION}")
                [ -z "${!VARNAME}" ] && printf "ERROR: %s\n" "Option -${OPTION} must been set." && usage
        REQUIRED=${REQUIRED:1}
    done
}

function get_input_for_getopts {
    local OPT_DESC=${1}
    echo ${OPT_DESC} | sed -e "s/\([a-zA-Z]\) [A-Z_]\+/\1:/g" -e "s/[][ -]//g"
}

function get_optional {
    local OPT_DESC=${1}
    echo ${OPT_DESC} | sed -e "s/[^[]*\(\[[^]]*\]\)[^[]*/\1/g" -e "s/\([a-zA-Z]\) [A-Z_]\+/\1:/g" -e "s/[][ -]//g"
}

function get_required {
    local OPT_DESC=${1}
    echo ${OPT_DESC} | sed -e "s/\([a-zA-Z]\) [A-Z_]\+/\1:/g" -e "s/\[[^[]*\]//g" -e "s/[][ -]//g"
}

function usage {
    printf "Usage:\n\t%s\n" "${0} ${OPT_DESC}"
    exit 10
}

Then you can use it like this:

#!/bin/bash
#
# [ and ] defines optional arguments
#

# location to getopts.sh file
source ./getopt.sh
USAGE="-u USER -d DATABASE -p PASS -s SID [ -a START_DATE_TIME ]"
parse_options "${USAGE}" ${@}

echo ${USER}
echo ${START_DATE_TIME}

Old answer:

I recently needed to use a generic approach. I came across with this solution:

#!/bin/bash
# Option Description:
# -------------------
#
# Option description is based on getopts bash builtin. The description adds a variable name feature to be used
# on future checks for required or optional values.
# The option description adds "=>VARIABLE_NAME" string. Variable name should be UPPERCASE. Valid characters
# are [A-Z_]*.
#
# A option description example:
#   OPT_DESC="a:=>A_VARIABLE|b:=>B_VARIABLE|c=>C_VARIABLE"
#
# -a option will require a value (the colon means that) and should be saved in variable A_VARIABLE.
# "|" is used to separate options description.
# -b option rule applies the same as -a.
# -c option doesn't require a value (the colon absense means that) and its existence should be set in C_VARIABLE
#
#   ~$ echo get_options ${OPT_DESC}
#   a:b:c
#   ~$
#


# Required options 
REQUIRED_DESC="a:=>REQ_A_VAR_VALUE|B:=>REQ_B_VAR_VALUE|c=>REQ_C_VAR_FLAG"

# Optional options (duh)
OPTIONAL_DESC="P:=>OPT_P_VAR_VALUE|r=>OPT_R_VAR_FLAG"

function usage {
    IFS="|"
    printf "%s" ${0}
    for i in ${REQUIRED_DESC};
    do
        VARNAME=$(echo $i | sed -e "s/.*=>//g")
    printf " %s" "-${i:0:1} $VARNAME"
    done

    for i in ${OPTIONAL_DESC};
    do
        VARNAME=$(echo $i | sed -e "s/.*=>//g")
        printf " %s" "[-${i:0:1} $VARNAME]"
    done
    printf "\n"
    unset IFS
    exit
}

# Auxiliary function that returns options characters to be passed
# into 'getopts' from a option description.
# Arguments:
#   $1: The options description (SEE TOP)
#
# Example:
#   OPT_DESC="h:=>H_VAR|f:=>F_VAR|P=>P_VAR|W=>W_VAR"
#   OPTIONS=$(get_options ${OPT_DESC})
#   echo "${OPTIONS}"
#
# Output:
#   "h:f:PW"
function get_options {
    echo ${1} | sed -e "s/\([a-zA-Z]\:\?\)=>[A-Z_]*|\?/\1/g"
}

# Auxiliary function that returns all variable names separated by '|'
# Arguments:
#       $1: The options description (SEE TOP)
#
# Example:
#       OPT_DESC="h:=>H_VAR|f:=>F_VAR|P=>P_VAR|W=>W_VAR"
#       VARNAMES=$(get_values ${OPT_DESC})
#       echo "${VARNAMES}"
#
# Output:
#       "H_VAR|F_VAR|P_VAR|W_VAR"
function get_variables {
    echo ${1} | sed -e "s/[a-zA-Z]\:\?=>\([^|]*\)/\1/g"
}

# Auxiliary function that returns the variable name based on the
# option passed by.
# Arguments:
#   $1: The options description (SEE TOP)
#   $2: The option which the variable name wants to be retrieved
#
# Example:
#   OPT_DESC="h:=>H_VAR|f:=>F_VAR|P=>P_VAR|W=>W_VAR"
#   H_VAR=$(get_variable_name ${OPT_DESC} "h")
#   echo "${H_VAR}"
#
# Output:
#   "H_VAR"
function get_variable_name {
    VAR=$(echo ${1} | sed -e "s/.*${2}\:\?=>\([^|]*\).*/\1/g")
    if [[ ${VAR} == ${1} ]]; then
        echo ""
    else
        echo ${VAR}
    fi
}

# Gets the required options from the required description
REQUIRED=$(get_options ${REQUIRED_DESC})

# Gets the optional options (duh) from the optional description
OPTIONAL=$(get_options ${OPTIONAL_DESC})

# or... $(get_options "${OPTIONAL_DESC}|${REQUIRED_DESC}")

# The colon at starts instructs getopts to remain silent
while getopts ":${REQUIRED}${OPTIONAL}" OPTION
do
    [[ ${OPTION} == ":" ]] && usage
    VAR=$(get_variable_name "${REQUIRED_DESC}|${OPTIONAL_DESC}" ${OPTION})
    [[ -n ${VAR} ]] && eval "$VAR=${OPTARG}"
done

shift $(($OPTIND - 1))

# Checks for required options. Report an error and exits if
# required options are missing.

# Using function version ...
VARS=$(get_variables ${REQUIRED_DESC})
IFS="|"
for VARNAME in $VARS;
do
    [[ -v ${VARNAME} ]] || usage
done
unset IFS

# ... or using IFS Version (no function)
OLDIFS=${IFS}
IFS="|"
for i in ${REQUIRED_DESC};
do
    VARNAME=$(echo $i | sed -e "s/.*=>//g")
    [[ -v ${VARNAME} ]] || usage
    printf "%s %s %s\n" "-${i:0:1}" "${!VARNAME:=present}" "${VARNAME}"
done
IFS=${OLDIFS}

I didn't test this roughly, so I could have some bugs in there.