The library(option) provides some utilities for processing option lists. Option lists are commonly used as an alternative for many arguments. Examples of built-in predicates are open/4 and write_term/3. Naming the arguments results in more readable code, and the list nature makes it easy to extend the list of options accepted by a predicate. Option lists come in two styles, both of which are handled by this library.
Processing options inside time-critical code (loops) can cause serious overhead. One possibility is to define a record using library(record) and initialise this using make_<record>/2. In addition to providing good performance, this also provides type-checking and central declaration of defaults.
:- record atts(width:integer=100, shape:oneof([box,circle])=box). process(Data, Options) :- make_atts(Options, Attributes), action(Data, Attributes). action(Data, Attributes) :- atts_shape(Attributes, Shape), ...
Options typically have exactly one argument. The library does support options with 0 or more than one argument with the following restrictions:
Option | Term of the form Name(?Value). |
Option | Term of the form Name(?Value). |
Multi-values options (e.g., proxy(Host, Port)) are allowed, where both option-name and arity define the identity of the option.
meta_options(is_meta, OptionsIn, Options), ... is_meta(callback).
Meta-options must have exactly one argument. This argument will be qualified.