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Proposition: `-c` should use a single argument

Changes

Scripts passed inline to -c should be in one single argument. ex:

ion -c echo hello world

should be

ion -c 'echo hello world'

Extra parameters should be passed as @args

Pros:

  • No need to interpret user meaning, thus making the tool more obvious. ex: What should ion -c echo hello '@args[1]' print? Most would expect the literal '@args[1]', not its expansion.
  • Most if not all *nix CLI tools expect a single parameter after a short option
  • Streamlines the API as positional parameters are always used in the same manner
  • Use the standard (sh-like) -c format

Cons:

  • Breaking change. But as it is in alpha stage right now, it is the perfect moment IMO.

Wanna be cons:

  • Useless nested quoting. But because arguments are stripped of their quotes, one also needs nested quoting in the current manner of things, simply in a more local way. ex:
ion -c echo "'"'Not expanded $(Hello World)'"'"

vs

ion -c "echo '"'Not expanded $(Hello World)'"'"