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