# Ruby gem, library, class to implement typical functionality of a utility like cp? **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [October 14, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-gem-library-class-to-implement-typical-functionality-of-a-utility-like-cp/117216 "2007-10-14T21:45:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![randy\_k](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@randy\_k](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/randy_k)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-gem-library-class-to-implement-typical-functionality-of-a-utility-like-cp/117216/1 "2007-10-14T21:45:35Z")
I’m in the process of writing a small utility in Ruby to convert files in one format to a different format. Eventually it would be nice to to have the utility incorporate all or most of the command line functionality and options of a command like cp, mv, or ln (with suitable variations). For example, it would be nice to invoke it in any of 3 forms, like: cp [OPTION]… SOURCE DEST cp [OPTION]… SOURCE… DIRECTORY cp [OPTION]… --target-directory=DIRECTORY SOURCE… and to use many of the options available to cp like help, backup, force, interactive, … Is there a Ruby gem, library, class, or whatever that implements some or all of that functionality? Randy K. ---
**Author:** ![randy\_k](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@randy\_k](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/randy_k)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2007, 1:24am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-gem-library-class-to-implement-typical-functionality-of-a-utility-like-cp/117216/2 "2007-10-15T01:24:57Z")
On Oct 14, 2007, at 1:43 PM, Randy K. wrote: > any of 3 forms, like: > some or all > of that functionality? > > Randy K. require ‘fileutils’ FileUtils.mv src, dst etc… cheers. a @ [http://codeforpeople.com/](http://codeforpeople.com/) ---
**Author:** ![randy\_k](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@randy\_k](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/randy_k)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2007, 1:17pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-gem-library-class-to-implement-typical-functionality-of-a-utility-like-cp/117216/3 "2007-10-15T13:17:48Z")
On Sunday 14 October 2007 07:22 pm, ara.t.howard wrote: > > invoke it in > > Is there a Ruby gem, library, class, or whatever that implements > > some or all > > of that functionality? > > > > Randy K. > > require ‘fileutils’ > > FileUtils.mv src, dst Ara, Thanks! You’ve answered the question I asked, but not the question I really intended to ask ;-), although your answer may be helpful anyway. What I’m really looking for is a gem, library, class, or even just another utility written in Ruby (that I could use as a template) that processes command line parameters in a fashion like some typical \*nix utilities (like maybe cp, ln, mv, …). In other words, if I found such a utility written in Ruby, I’d think about leaving the “framework” that processes the command line parameters (like –help (-h), --force (-f), --interactive (-i), --backup and stripping out the code that performs the function of that utility, substituting the functionality I need. (And changing the actions for the various command line parameters as appropriate.) The code is probably not that hard to write, I just thought that if somebody had already written it, I could save some time and effort (assuming there were no licensing or copyright issues). Randy K. ---
**Author:** ![randy\_k](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@randy\_k](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/randy_k)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2007, 4:29pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-gem-library-class-to-implement-typical-functionality-of-a-utility-like-cp/117216/4 "2007-10-15T16:29:26Z")
On Monday 15 October 2007 10:12 am, mortee wrote: > You’re looking for optparse. I guess it’s not a gem but part of the > standard library. Yes, wonderful, thanks! And looking it up in the pickaxe(2) also leads me to GetoptLong so there appear to be at least two options–now (or soon) I’ll have to spend a little time deciding which is most useful to me. (A nice problem to have 😉 Randy K. ---
**Author:** ![randy\_k](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@randy\_k](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/randy_k)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2007, 4:13pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-gem-library-class-to-implement-typical-functionality-of-a-utility-like-cp/117216/5 "2007-10-15T16:13:01Z")
Randy K. wrote: > In other words, if I found such a utility written in Ruby, I’d think about > leaving the “framework” that processes the command line parameters (like > –help (-h), --force (-f), --interactive (-i), --backup and stripping out the > code that performs the function of that utility, substituting the > functionality I need. (And changing the actions for the various command line > parameters as appropriate.) You’re looking for optparse. I guess it’s not a gem but part of the standard library. mortee