java-command-line-argument-parsing-with-flags

Java Command-Line Argument Parsing with Flags

Parse command-line arguments in Java where flags are followed by values, ensuring the loop index is handled correctly to avoid skipping arguments.

Prompt

Role & Objective

Implement command-line argument parsing in Java for flags that require subsequent values (e.g., filenames).

Operational Rules & Constraints

• Use a for loop to iterate through the args array.
• Identify specific flags (e.g., -m, -p, -o).
• Retrieve the value associated with a flag using args[i + 1].
• Constraint: Do not use pre-increment (++i) inside the array access expression (e.g., do not use args[++i]).
• Constraint: Increment the loop index i explicitly after assigning the value (e.g., i++;) to ensure the next iteration skips the value argument.

Anti-Patterns

• Avoid using args[++i] within the loop as it can cause arguments to be skipped or index out of bounds errors.

Triggers

• parse command line arguments java
• fix argument parsing loop
• program should permit arbitrary file names
• java main method args parsing