A very simple example of setting up a command line tool using PHP

cli.php

<?php

/*
 * A ridiculously simple example of using PHP as a command line tool
 *
 * The following usage is supported by this script:
 *
 *   php cli.php -a [-c]
 *     Do something based on the -a flag. Use the optional -c flag to modify what happens when using the -a flag.
 *
 *   php cli.php -b foo
 *     Do something because the -b flag is set to 'foo'.
 *
 *   php cli.php -b bar
 *     Do something because the -b flag is set to 'bar'.
 *
 *   php cli.php
 *     Write out the default usage information.
 */

// make sure this script is being accessed from the command line
if (php_sapi_name() == 'cli') {
  
	/* 
	 * Define the supported flags
	 *   single letters (e.g. a & c) act as boolean (true/false) operators
	 *   letters with colons (e.g. b) act as string passing whatever text immediately follows the flag
	 */
	$args = getopt("ab:c");

	if (isset($args["a"])) {
	
		// check to see if the -c flag is set. this makes -c an optional argument for the -a flag
		$option = false;
		if (isset($args["c"])) {
			$option = true;
		}
		$include = $option ? "was used" : "wasn't used";
	
		// do something based on the -a flag
		print "\n";
		print "You used the -a flag and the -c flag ".$include.".\n\n";
	
	} elseif (isset($args["b"]) && ($args["b"] == "foo")) {
	
		// do something based on the -b flag being set to the string 'foo'
		print "\n";
		print "You used the -b flag and the value 'foo'.\n\n";
	
	} elseif (isset($args["b"]) && ($args["b"] == "bar")) {
	
		// do something based on the -b flag being set to the string 'bar'
		print "\n";
		print "You used the -b flag and the value 'bar'.\n\n";
	
	} elseif (isset($args["b"])) {
	
		// catching an error
		print "\n";
		print "You used the -b flag and supplied a value but it was neither 'foo' nor 'bar'. Please use one of those two values.\n\n";
	
	} else {
	
		// when in doubt write out the usage
		print "\n";
		print "Usage:\n\n";
		print "  php cli.php -a [-c]\n";
		print "    Do something. Use the optional -c flag to modify what happens when using the -a flag.\n\n";
		print "  php cli.php -b foo\n";
		print "    Do something because the -b flag is set to 'foo'.\n\n";
		print "  php cli.php -b bar\n";
		print "    Do something because the -b flag is set to 'bar'.\n\n";

	}

} else {
	
	print "This script should only be run from the command line.";
	
}