# curl man page generator This is the curl man page generator. It generates a single nroff man page output from the set of sources files in this directory. There is one source file for each supported command line option. The output gets `page-header` prepended and `page-footer` appended. The format is described below. ## Option files Each command line option is described in a file named `.d`, where option name is written without any prefixing dashes. Like the file name for the -v, --verbose option is named `verbose.d`. Each file has a set of meta-data and a body of text. ### Meta-data Added: (version number in which this was added) Arg: (the argument the option takes) c: (copyright line) Example: (example command line, without "curl" and can use `$URL`) Experimental: yes (if so) Help: (short text for the --help output for this option) Long: (long form name, without dashes) Magic: (description of "magic" options) Multi: single/append/boolean/mutex (if used more than once) Mutexed: (space separated list of options this overrides, no dashes) Protocols: (space separated list for which protocols this option works) Requires: (space separated list of features this requires, no dashes) See-also: (space separated list of related options, no dashes) Short: (single letter, without dash) SPDX-License-Identifier: curl Tags: (space separated list) --- (end of meta-data) ### Body The body of the description. Only refer to options with their long form option version, like `--verbose`. The output generator will replace such with the correct markup that shows both short and long version. Text written within `*asterisks*` will get shown using italics. Text within two `**asterisks**` will get shown using bold. Text that is prefixed with a space will be treated like an "example" and will be output in monospace. ## Header and footer `page-header` is the file that will be output before the generated options output for the master man page. `page-footer` is appended after all the individual options. ## Generate `./gen.pl mainpage` This command outputs a single huge nroff file, meant to become `curl.1`. The full curl man page. `./gen.pl listhelp` Generates a full `curl --help` output for all known command line options.