parsing - Argparse: How to disallow some options in the presence of others - Python -

i have following utility:

import argparse  parser = argparse.argumentparser(description='do action.') parser.add_argument('--foo', '--fo', type=int, default=-1, help='do foo') parser.add_argument('--bar', '--br', type=int, default=-1, help='do bar') parser.add_argument('--baz', '--bz', type=int, default=-1, help='do baz') parser.add_argument('--bat', '--bt', type=int, default=-1, help='do bat') 

however, if --foo option used, --bat option should disallowed, , conversely, --bat option should used if --bar , --baz present. how can accomplish using argparse? sure, add bunch of if / else blocks check that, there's built-in argparse me?

you can create mutually-exclusive groups of options parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group:

group = parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group() group.add_argument('--foo', '--fo', type=int, default=-1, help='do foo') group.add_argument('--bat', '--bt', type=int, default=-1, help='do bat') 

, more complex dependency graphs (for example, --bat requiring --bar , --baz), argparse doesn't offer specific support. that'd going far in direction of inner-platform effect, trying rebuild of full generality of complete programming language within argparse subsystem.