---
title: "Getting Started"
description: "Learn how to get started with Args"
canonical: https://bomb.sh/docs/args/getting-started/
---

# Getting Started

A <1kB library for parsing CLI flags. Inspired by Deno's `std/cli` [`parseArgs`](https://github.com/denoland/std/blob/main/cli/parse_args.ts) module.

## Features

🤏 very small

🍃 very simple

🏃 very fast (beats [`node:util`](https://nodejs.org/api/util.html#utilparseargsconfig))

🔏 strongly typed

## Installation

You can install Args using npm, yarn, or pnpm:

**npm**

```bash
npm install @bomb.sh/args
```

**pnpm**

```bash
pnpm add @bomb.sh/args
```

**Yarn**

```bash
yarn add @bomb.sh/args
```

## Quick Start

Basic usage does not require any configuration.

```ts
import { parse } from "@bomb.sh/args";

// my-cli build --bundle -rf --a value --b=value --c 1
const argv = process.argv.slice(2);
const args = parse(argv);

console.log(args);
// { _: ['build'], bundle: true, r: true, f: true, a: "value", b: "value", c: 1 }
```

Parsing can be configured to ensure arguments are coerced to specific types, which enhances type safety.

```ts
import { parse } from "@bomb.sh/args";

const args = parse(process.argv, {
  default: { a: 1, b: 2, c: "value" },
  alias: { h: "help" },
  boolean: ["foo", "bar"],
  string: ["baz", "qux"],
  array: ["input"],
});
```

## Benchmarks

```
mri               x 1,650,986 ops/sec ±0.32% (97 runs sampled)
@bomb.sh/args     x 1,407,191 ops/sec ±0.38% (99 runs sampled)
minimist          x 383,506 ops/sec ±0.28% (99 runs sampled)
node:util         x 320,953 ops/sec ±0.35% (98 runs sampled)
yargs-parser      x 31,874 ops/sec ±1.32% (92 runs sampled)
```

## Acknowledgements

This package was previously published as `ultraflag` up until `v0.3.0`, when it was renamed to `@bomb.sh/args`.

## Next Steps

1. Explore the [API Reference](/docs/args/api) for detailed documentation
2. Join our [Discord community](https://bomb.sh/chat) for support and discussions

## Contributing

We welcome contributions! Please check out our [Contributing Guide](/contributing) for details on our code of conduct and the process for submitting pull requests.