Add single char alias option for --repl-init-script in REPL

[bjornregnell]

I can never remember if it is --init-repl-script or --init-scrip-repl or --repl-init-script... And it is not obvious that I need to check --help-repl not --help or --full-help

It would be nice to be able to

scala repl . -- -i 'import allmystuff.*'

I also have trouble remembering if the option should go before or after the -- fence, so maybe also allow if that makes sense:

scala repl . -i 'import allmystuff.*'

[Gedochao]

I also have trouble remembering if the option should go before or after the -- fence

it shouldn't have to, as REPL options should generally be caught by Scala CLI... but in a rare case where you use a very new REPL option that isn't caught by the Scala CLI launcher you're using (hasn't been added/isn't caught by old, hardcoded stuff), it's a workaround.

I can never remember if it is --init-repl-script or --init-scrip-repl or --repl-init-script... And it is not obvious that I need to check --help-repl not --help or --full-help

I think there's no harm for both --init-repl-script and --repl-init-script to be aliases.
I also see no reason not to have a single char alias, we just need to figure out one that's intuitive and without collisions.
While -i doesn't seem to be used in the compiler/repl themselves, it's the flag for interactive mode in Scala CLI.

[Gedochao]

there's an ongoing discussion internally, it seems we'll likely not have a single char alias for this (for lack of an intuitive one).
we may reconsider if there's public demand.

[bjornregnell]

OK fair enough. I think -E would be intuitive enough, though, if it does not collide with anything else.

Anyway, the using-directive option with repl-init import as compiler directive is a good workaround. Perhaps the possibility to do

//> using options --repl-init-script "import allmystuff.*" 

could be mentioned in the Scala-Cli doc here, to make people looking for this aware of it:
https://scala-cli.virtuslab.org/docs/commands/repl#passing-repl-options

Do you want me to open a doc-issue on that improvemen/example on scala-cli?

[Gedochao]

sure, that way it'll haunt me until I finally do it. Feel free to open an issue.

[bjornregnell]

No live here to haunt you even after Halloween :)
VirtusLab/scala-cli#3967

[noti0na1]

I have a similar issue with "disable server" 😂 it always takes a few minutes for me to figure out the correct way to write the option

[bjornregnell]

(And --help--full seems like it should do for repl help as well but that's maybe another issue?)

[Gedochao]

that's another issue - and strictly one for the Scala CLI repo.

[bjornregnell]

Another haunting issue here on confusing help distribution :)
VirtusLab/scala-cli#3968

[bjornregnell]

(What about a using-directive that can allow me to import stuff when starting the repl? (sbt can do this) Perhaps I should open a discussion for that as well on scala-cli)

[Gedochao]

we have a directive for compiler options already.

//> using options --repl-init-script "println(\"Hello from REPL init script!\")"

Which results in

scala-cli repl example.scala
Compiling project (Scala 3.7.4, JVM (23))
Compiled project (Scala 3.7.4, JVM (23))
Hello from REPL init script!
Welcome to Scala 3.7.4 (23.0.2, Java OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM).
Type in expressions for evaluation. Or try :help.
                                                                                                                                                                                            
scala> 

[bjornregnell]

Fantastic!! I didn't know about that. Is it mentioned somewhere in the scala-cli doc pages? Couldn't find it here: https://scala-cli.virtuslab.org/docs/commands/repl
(that's also where I got the impression that the -- fence was mandatory)

[Gedochao]

https://scala-cli.virtuslab.org/docs/commands/compile#passing-compiler-options-with-using-directives
I guess it's not immediately obvious that Scala CLI doesn't differentiate between compiler and repl options here.
And no wonder, since the compiler repo doesn't differentiate them either, it's all in the same box called Scala Settings

scala3/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/config/ScalaSettings.scala

Lines 128 to 129 in 0470ec1

	val replInitScript: Setting[String] = StringSetting(RootSetting, "repl-init-script", "code", "The code will be run on REPL startup.", "", aliases = List("--repl-init-script"))
	val replQuitAfterInit: Setting[Boolean] = BooleanSetting(RootSetting, "repl-quit-after-init", "Quit REPL after evaluating the init script.", aliases = List("--repl-quit-after-init"))

I feel it in my bones that another settings' refactor is ahead of us... repl and scaladoc options should be easier to differentiate from compiler options.
Alas.