<p>This simply is a shortcoming that should be fixed.</p>
<p>David Harding added on IRC:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><code>help &lt;command&gt;</code> is for RPCs; <code>-h</code> is for a quick summary of CLI
parameters.  Extended CLI parameter help should probably be in a
manual page.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-27T19:44:03.207Z
That's pretty much the opposite of the truth. The `bitcoin-cli` options in question (`-netinfo`), (`-getinfo`), (`-generate`) are as much end user features as the RPC commands, they've just been moved from bitcoind to bitcoin-cli. The fact that they aren't listed in -help or through other means is a shortcoming that should just be fixed.
Pieter Wuille
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-27T19:44:53.100Z
Cool, thanks. Will update.
Michael Folkson
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-26T16:08:16.187Z
2020-12-27T19:45:55.413Z
2020-12-27T19:45:55.413Z
Michael Folkson
<p>There is detailed help for bitcoin-cli commands using for example:</p>
<p><code>./src/bitcoin-cli getconnectioncount help</code>.</p>
<p>However, there isn't generally detailed help for bitcoin-cli options such as</p>
<p><code>./src/bitcoin-cli -netinfo help</code>.</p>
<p>(Note the dash in front of <code>netinfo</code> with no such dash before <code>getconnectioncount</code>)</p>
<p>Is there a reason why there isn't the same help for bitcoin-cli options?</p>
<p>Jon Atack added on IRC:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>If not is there an already planned way to add to the help doc and
would this be a good idea? For more detailed help than in
<code>./src/bitcoin-cli -h</code></p>
<p>I was thinking it might be good to have a detailed help doc for
<code>-netinfo</code> either with <code>help -netinfo</code> or expand the existing one at
<code>./src/bitcoin-cli -h | grep -A3 netinfo</code> or add a <code>doc/netinfo.md</code>
file</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-27T05:11:51.053Z
I don't understand why you dump random conversations between developers on this site. Without context this question makes no sense - most CLI options do have help.
Pieter Wuille
<bitcoin-core-development><bitcoin-cli>
Why don't we have a help for Bitcoin Core CLI options in the same way as we do for CLI commands?
Michael Folkson
# Why don't we have a help for Bitcoin Core CLI options in the same way as we do for CLI commands?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-12-26)

There is detailed help for bitcoin-cli commands using for example:

`./src/bitcoin-cli getconnectioncount help`.

However, there isn't generally detailed help for bitcoin-cli options such as

`./src/bitcoin-cli -netinfo help`.

(Note the dash in front of `netinfo` with no such dash before `getconnectioncount`)

Is there a reason why there isn't the same help for bitcoin-cli options?

Jon Atack added on IRC:

> If not is there an already planned way to add to the help doc and
> would this be a good idea? For more detailed help than in
> `./src/bitcoin-cli -h`
>
> I was thinking it might be good to have a detailed help doc for
> `-netinfo` either with `help -netinfo` or expand the existing one at
> `./src/bitcoin-cli -h | grep -A3 netinfo` or add a `doc/netinfo.md`
> file

**Tags:** bitcoin-core-development, bitcoin-cli

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I don't understand why you dump random conversations between developers on this site. Without context this question makes no sense - most CLI options do have help.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2020-12-26. Score: -2

This simply is a shortcoming that should be fixed.

David Harding added on IRC:

> `help`  is for RPCs; `-h` is for a quick summary of CLI
> parameters. Extended CLI parameter help should probably be in a
> manual page.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: That's pretty much the opposite of the truth. The `bitcoin-cli` options in question (`-netinfo`), (`-getinfo`), (`-generate`) are as much end user features as the RPC commands, they've just been moved from bitcoind to bitcoin-cli. The fact that they aren't listed in -help or through other means is a shortcoming that should just be fixed.  
> **username_0**: Cool, thanks. Will update.  

---

