bash: --argument vs -arg In most scripts (but mainly bash) it's commonplace to see some arguments that are configured like so: `bash-4.3:$ command --longer-argument -la` Where did this originate from? I'm mainly just curious as to why this became effectively a unanimous standard. Is it mainly for readability? Also, why not use something like `bash-4.3:$ command -longer-argument`, where all CLI arguments are specified by only one dash?

This can be helpful (for `tar` but I think it can be extended to other programs as well): <

> Long options are meant to be obvious and easy to remember, and their meanings are generally easier to discern than those of their corresponding short options (see below). For example:
>
> $ tar --create --verbose --blocking-factor=20 --file=/dev/rmt0
>
> gives a fairly good set of hints about what the command does, even for those not fully acquainted with tar.

Also this link Standards for Command Line Interfaces.

And here is a joke about GNU long options: <

Usually running `command -h/--help` shows which options (short/long) the command provides.