I re-arranged the curl --help output. All the options are now sorted on

their long option names and all descriptions are one-liners.

CHANGES

@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@
                                   Changelog
 
 Daniel S (12 Jan 2008)
+- I re-arranged the curl --help output. All the options are now sorted on
+  their long option names and all descriptions are one-liners.
+
 - Eric Landes provided the patch (edited by me) that introduces the
   --keepalive-time to curl to set the keepalive probe interval. I also took
   the opportunity to rename the recently added no-keep-alive option to

RELEASE-NOTES

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ This release includes the following changes:
  o curl_easy_pause()
  o CURLOPT_SEEKFUNCTION and CURLOPT_SEEKDATA
  o --keepalive-time
+ o curl --help output was re-ordered
 
 This release includes the following bugfixes:
 

src/main.c

@@ -622,145 +622,151 @@ static void help(void)
 {
   int i;
   /* A few of these source lines are >80 columns wide, but that's only because
-     breaking the strings narrower makes this chunk look even worse! */
+     breaking the strings narrower makes this chunk look even worse!
+
+     Starting with 7.18.0, this list of command line options is sorted based
+     on the long option name. It is not done automatically, although a command
+     line like the following can help out:
+
+     curl --help | cut -c5- | grep "^-" | sort
+  */
   static const char * const helptext[]={
     "Usage: curl [options...] <url>",
     "Options: (H) means HTTP/HTTPS only, (F) means FTP only",
-    " -a/--append        Append to target file when uploading (F)",
-    " -A/--user-agent <string> User-Agent to send to server (H)",
     "    --anyauth       Pick \"any\" authentication method (H)",
-    " -b/--cookie <name=string/file> Cookie string or file to read cookies from (H)",
+    " -a/--append        Append to target file when uploading (F)",
     "    --basic         Use HTTP Basic Authentication (H)",
-    " -B/--use-ascii     Use ASCII/text transfer",
+    "    --cacert <file> CA certificate to verify peer against (SSL)",
-    " -c/--cookie-jar <file> Write cookies to this file after operation (H)",
+    "    --capath <directory> CA directory to verify peer against (SSL)",
+    " -E/--cert <cert[:passwd]> Client certificate file and password (SSL)",
+    "    --cert-type <type> Certificate file type (DER/PEM/ENG) (SSL)",
+    "    --ciphers <list> SSL ciphers to use (SSL)",
+    "    --compressed    Request compressed response (using deflate or gzip)",
+    " -K/--config        Specify which config file to read",
+    "    --connect-timeout <seconds> Maximum time allowed for connection",
     " -C/--continue-at <offset> Resumed transfer offset",
+    " -b/--cookie <name=string/file> Cookie string or file to read cookies from (H)",
+    " -c/--cookie-jar <file> Write cookies to this file after operation (H)",
+    "    --create-dirs   Create necessary local directory hierarchy",
+    "    --crlf          Convert LF to CRLF in upload",
     " -d/--data <data>   HTTP POST data (H)",
     "    --data-ascii <data>  HTTP POST ASCII data (H)",
     "    --data-binary <data> HTTP POST binary data (H)",
     "    --data-urlencode <name=data/name@filename> HTTP POST data url encoded (H)",
-    "    --negotiate     Use HTTP Negotiate Authentication (H)",
     "    --digest        Use HTTP Digest Authentication (H)",
     "    --disable-eprt  Inhibit using EPRT or LPRT (F)",
     "    --disable-epsv  Inhibit using EPSV (F)",
     " -D/--dump-header <file> Write the headers to this file",
     "    --egd-file <file> EGD socket path for random data (SSL)",
-    "    --tcp-nodelay   Use the TCP_NODELAY option",
+    "    --engine <eng>  Crypto engine to use (SSL). \"--engine list\" for list",
 #ifdef USE_ENVIRONMENT
     "    --environment   Write results to environment variables (RISC OS)",
 #endif
-    " -e/--referer       Referer URL (H)",
-    " -E/--cert <cert[:passwd]> Client certificate file and password (SSL)",
-    "    --cert-type <type> Certificate file type (DER/PEM/ENG) (SSL)",
-    "    --key <key>     Private key file name (SSL/SSH)",
-    "    --key-type <type> Private key file type (DER/PEM/ENG) (SSL)",
-    "    --pass  <pass>  Pass phrase for the private key (SSL/SSH)",
-    "    --pubkey <key>  Public key file name (SSH)",
-    "    --engine <eng>  Crypto engine to use (SSL). \"--engine list\" for list",
-    "    --cacert <file> CA certificate to verify peer against (SSL)",
-    "    --capath <directory> CA directory (made using c_rehash) to verify",
-    "                    peer against (SSL)",
-    "    --hostpubmd5 <md5> Hex encoded MD5 string of the host public key. (SSH)",
-    "    --ciphers <list> SSL ciphers to use (SSL)",
-    "    --compressed    Request compressed response (using deflate or gzip)",
-    "    --connect-timeout <seconds> Maximum time allowed for connection",
-    "    --create-dirs   Create necessary local directory hierarchy",
-    "    --crlf          Convert LF to CRLF in upload",
     " -f/--fail          Fail silently (no output at all) on HTTP errors (H)",
+    " -F/--form <name=content> Specify HTTP multipart POST data (H)",
+    "    --form-string <name=string> Specify HTTP multipart POST data (H)",
     "    --ftp-account <data> Account data to send when requested by server (F)",
     "    --ftp-alternative-to-user String to replace \"USER [name]\" (F)",
     "    --ftp-create-dirs Create the remote dirs if not present (F)",
     "    --ftp-method [multicwd/nocwd/singlecwd] Control CWD usage (F)",
     "    --ftp-pasv      Use PASV/EPSV instead of PORT (F)",
+    " -P/--ftp-port <address> Use PORT with address instead of PASV (F)",
     "    --ftp-skip-pasv-ip Skip the IP address for PASV (F)\n"
     "    --ftp-ssl       Try SSL/TLS for ftp transfer (F)",
-    "    --ftp-ssl-control Require SSL/TLS for ftp login, clear for transfer (F)",
-    "    --ftp-ssl-reqd  Require SSL/TLS for ftp transfer (F)",
     "    --ftp-ssl-ccc   Send CCC after authenticating (F)",
     "    --ftp-ssl-ccc-mode [active/passive] Set CCC mode (F)",
-    " -F/--form <name=content> Specify HTTP multipart POST data (H)",
+    "    --ftp-ssl-control Require SSL/TLS for ftp login, clear for transfer (F)",
-    "    --form-string <name=string> Specify HTTP multipart POST data (H)",
+    "    --ftp-ssl-reqd  Require SSL/TLS for ftp transfer (F)",
-    " -g/--globoff       Disable URL sequences and ranges using {} and []",
     " -G/--get           Send the -d data with a HTTP GET (H)",
-    " -h/--help          This help text",
+    " -g/--globoff       Disable URL sequences and ranges using {} and []",
     " -H/--header <line> Custom header to pass to server (H)",
+    " -I/--head          Show document info only",
+    " -h/--help          This help text",
+    "    --hostpubmd5 <md5> Hex encoded MD5 string of the host public key. (SSH)",
+    " -0/--http1.0       Use HTTP 1.0 (H)",
     "    --ignore-content-length  Ignore the HTTP Content-Length header",
     " -i/--include       Include protocol headers in the output (H/F)",
-    " -I/--head          Show document info only",
-    " -j/--junk-session-cookies Ignore session cookies read from file (H)",
-    "    --interface <interface> Specify network interface/address to use",
-    "    --keepalive-time <seconds> Interval between keepalive probes",
-    "    --krb <level>   Enable kerberos with specified security level (F)",
     " -k/--insecure      Allow connections to SSL sites without certs (H)",
-    " -K/--config        Specify which config file to read",
+    "    --interface <interface> Specify network interface/address to use",
+    " -4/--ipv4          Resolve name to IPv4 address",
+    " -6/--ipv6          Resolve name to IPv6 address",
+    " -j/--junk-session-cookies Ignore session cookies read from file (H)",
+    "    --keepalive-time <seconds> Interval between keepalive probes",
+    "    --key <key>     Private key file name (SSL/SSH)",
+    "    --key-type <type> Private key file type (DER/PEM/ENG) (SSL)",
+    "    --krb <level>   Enable kerberos with specified security level (F)",
     "    --libcurl <file> Dump libcurl equivalent code of this command line",
-    " -l/--list-only     List only names of an FTP directory (F)",
     "    --limit-rate <rate> Limit transfer speed to this rate",
-    "    --local-port <num>[-num] Force use of these local port numbers\n",
+    " -l/--list-only     List only names of an FTP directory (F)",
+    "    --local-port <num>[-num] Force use of these local port numbers",
     " -L/--location      Follow Location: hints (H)",
-    "    --location-trusted Follow Location: and send authentication even ",
+    "    --location-trusted Follow Location: and send auth to other hosts (H)",
-    "                    to other hostnames (H)",
-    " -m/--max-time <seconds> Maximum time allowed for the transfer",
-    "    --max-redirs <num> Maximum number of redirects allowed (H)",
-    "    --max-filesize <bytes> Maximum file size to download (H/F)",
     " -M/--manual        Display the full manual",
+    "    --max-filesize <bytes> Maximum file size to download (H/F)",
+    "    --max-redirs <num> Maximum number of redirects allowed (H)",
+    " -m/--max-time <seconds> Maximum time allowed for the transfer",
+    "    --negotiate     Use HTTP Negotiate Authentication (H)",
     " -n/--netrc         Must read .netrc for user name and password",
     "    --netrc-optional Use either .netrc or URL; overrides -n",
-    "    --ntlm          Use HTTP NTLM authentication (H)",
     " -N/--no-buffer     Disable buffering of the output stream",
     "    --no-keepalive  Disable keepalive use on the connection",
     "    --no-sessionid  Disable SSL session-ID reusing (SSL)",
+    "    --ntlm          Use HTTP NTLM authentication (H)",
     " -o/--output <file> Write output to <file> instead of stdout",
-    " -O/--remote-name   Write output to a file named as the remote file",
+    "    --pass  <pass>  Pass phrase for the private key (SSL/SSH)",
     "    --post301       Do not switch to GET after following a 301 redirect (H)",
-    " -p/--proxytunnel   Operate through a HTTP proxy tunnel (using CONNECT)",
+    " -#/--progress-bar  Display transfer progress as a progress bar",
+    " -x/--proxy <host[:port]> Use HTTP proxy on given port",
     "    --proxy-anyauth Pick \"any\" proxy authentication method (H)",
     "    --proxy-basic   Use Basic authentication on the proxy (H)",
     "    --proxy-digest  Use Digest authentication on the proxy (H)",
     "    --proxy-negotiate Use Negotiate authentication on the proxy (H)",
     "    --proxy-ntlm    Use NTLM authentication on the proxy (H)",
-    " -P/--ftp-port <address> Use PORT with address instead of PASV (F)",
+    " -U/--proxy-user <user[:password]> Set proxy user and password",
-    " -q                 If used as the first parameter disables .curlrc",
+    " -p/--proxytunnel   Operate through a HTTP proxy tunnel (using CONNECT)",
+    "    --pubkey <key>  Public key file name (SSH)",
     " -Q/--quote <cmd>   Send command(s) to server before file transfer (F/SFTP)",
-    " -r/--range <range> Retrieve a byte range from a HTTP/1.1 or FTP server",
     "    --random-file <file> File for reading random data from (SSL)",
+    " -r/--range <range> Retrieve a byte range from a HTTP/1.1 or FTP server",
     "    --raw           Pass HTTP \"raw\", without any transfer decoding (H)",
+    " -e/--referer       Referer URL (H)",
+    " -O/--remote-name   Write output to a file named as the remote file",
     " -R/--remote-time   Set the remote file's time on the local output",
+    " -X/--request <command> Specify request command to use",
     "    --retry <num>   Retry request <num> times if transient problems occur",
     "    --retry-delay <seconds> When retrying, wait this many seconds between each",
     "    --retry-max-time <seconds> Retry only within this period",
-    " -s/--silent        Silent mode. Don't output anything",
     " -S/--show-error    Show error. With -s, make curl show errors when they occur",
+    " -s/--silent        Silent mode. Don't output anything",
     "    --socks4 <host[:port]> SOCKS4 proxy on given host + port",
     "    --socks4a <host[:port]> SOCKS4a proxy on given host + port",
-    "    --socks5-hostname <host[:port]> SOCKS5 proxy, pass name instead of IP",
     "    --socks5 <host[:port]> SOCKS5 proxy on given host + port",
+    "    --socks5-hostname <host[:port]> SOCKS5 proxy, pass name instead of IP",
+    " -Y/--speed-limit   Stop transfer if below speed-limit for 'speed-time' secs",
+    " -y/--speed-time    Time needed to trig speed-limit abort. Defaults to 30",
+    " -2/--sslv2         Use SSLv2 (SSL)",
+    " -3/--sslv3         Use SSLv3 (SSL)",
     "    --stderr <file> Where to redirect stderr. - means stdout",
+    "    --tcp-nodelay   Use the TCP_NODELAY option",
     " -t/--telnet-option <OPT=val> Set telnet option",
+    " -z/--time-cond <time> Transfer based on a time condition",
+    " -1/--tlsv1         Use TLSv1 (SSL)",
     "    --trace <file>  Write a debug trace to the given file",
     "    --trace-ascii <file> Like --trace but without the hex output",
     "    --trace-time    Add time stamps to trace/verbose output",
     " -T/--upload-file <file> Transfer <file> to remote site",
     "    --url <URL>     Set URL to work with",
+    " -B/--use-ascii     Use ASCII/text transfer",
     " -u/--user <user[:password]> Set server user and password",
-    " -U/--proxy-user <user[:password]> Set proxy user and password",
+    " -A/--user-agent <string> User-Agent to send to server (H)",
     " -v/--verbose       Make the operation more talkative",
     " -V/--version       Show version number and quit",
+
 #ifdef MSDOS
     "    --wdebug        Turn on Watt-32 debugging under DJGPP",
 #endif
     " -w/--write-out [format] What to output after completion",
-    " -x/--proxy <host[:port]> Use HTTP proxy on given port",
+    " -q                 If used as the first parameter disables .curlrc",
-    " -X/--request <command> Specify request command to use",
-    " -y/--speed-time    Time needed to trig speed-limit abort. Defaults to 30",
-    " -Y/--speed-limit   Stop transfer if below speed-limit for 'speed-time' secs",
-    " -z/--time-cond <time> Transfer based on a time condition",
-    " -0/--http1.0       Use HTTP 1.0 (H)",
-    " -1/--tlsv1         Use TLSv1 (SSL)",
-    " -2/--sslv2         Use SSLv2 (SSL)",
-    " -3/--sslv3         Use SSLv3 (SSL)",
-    " -4/--ipv4          Resolve name to IPv4 address",
-    " -6/--ipv6          Resolve name to IPv6 address",
-    " -#/--progress-bar  Display transfer progress as a progress bar",
     NULL
   };
   for(i=0; helptext[i]; i++) {