[issue39167] argparse boolean type bug
Trenton Bricken added the comment: Thanks for all of these replies. The functionality is that the user adds --flag True False and then all of the other parameters are run with True. And then again with False. I thought this was a bug because of the confusing type=bool behavior. But it certainly isn't a big deal and it seems like you are already aware of it. Thanks for all of your open source contributions and help. -- ___ Python tracker <https://bugs.python.org/issue39167> ___ ___ Python-bugs-list mailing list Unsubscribe: https://mail.python.org/mailman/options/python-bugs-list/archive%40mail-archive.com
[issue39167] argparse boolean type bug
Trenton Bricken added the comment: Thank you for your quick and helpful reply. The problem with your solution is twofold: 1. it adds some cognitive load in needing to remember whether or not the flag defaults to True or False and thus whether or not you need to add it. It is easier for me to have everything as a flag with a value that follows. 2. More importantly, I am using argparse for trying lots of different combinations of inputs to a function so I pass them in as a list and then permute the possible values for each input. For example: --flag1 a b --flag2 c d I want to then run a command with the parameter combinations: a, c; a, d; b, c; b, d; And I don't think store_true store_false would allow me to pass in having combinations of True and False like --flag True False would. I am fine now with my current work around, but was very confused for some time why my flag would be true when I set it to false. And think this is a counterintuitive pitfall other developers can fall into. -- ___ Python tracker <https://bugs.python.org/issue39167> ___ ___ Python-bugs-list mailing list Unsubscribe: https://mail.python.org/mailman/options/python-bugs-list/archive%40mail-archive.com
[issue39167] argparse boolean type bug
Trenton Bricken added the comment: Update: I was being dumb before, the problem still remains but my work around previously was wrong. This is the new workaround: def buildBool(arg): if arg == 'False': return False else: return True -- ___ Python tracker <https://bugs.python.org/issue39167> ___ ___ Python-bugs-list mailing list Unsubscribe: https://mail.python.org/mailman/options/python-bugs-list/archive%40mail-archive.com
[issue39167] argparse boolean type bug
New submission from Trenton Bricken :
This is a bug with argparse.
Say I have:
parser.add_argument('--verbose', type=bool, action='store', nargs='+',
default = [False],
help='turns on verbosity')
If in the command line I have "--verbose False' the default will then evaluate
to True and return the value "True" rather than the value of "False" that I
tried to set it to!
When a developer has lots of arguments to pass in, they may not remember if an
argument defaults to False or True. Setting the value to False and having it
then return True is very confusing and should not occur.
Right now I have a work-around where I have a new type=buildBool where:
def buildBool(arg):
return bool(arg)
and do:
parser.add_argument('--verbose', type=buildBool, action='store', nargs='+',
default = ['False'],
help='turns on verbosity')
but this means I have to have this type and have my default value be a string
which is suboptimal and this bug remains a trap for other developers.
--
messages: 359045
nosy: Trenton Bricken
priority: normal
severity: normal
status: open
title: argparse boolean type bug
type: behavior
versions: Python 3.7
___
Python tracker
<https://bugs.python.org/issue39167>
___
___
Python-bugs-list mailing list
Unsubscribe:
https://mail.python.org/mailman/options/python-bugs-list/archive%40mail-archive.com
