`java --version` -> OK; `groovy --version` -> OK; `kotlin --version` -> KO ; why is this no...

# getting-started

[Peter]

java --version -> OK; groovy --version -> OK; kotlin --version -> KO ; why is this not aligned w/ the rest of the JVM ecosystem?

[Vampire]

There are more things in "the JVM ecosystem" than Java, Groovy, and Kotlin.
Some people just prefer one dash, especially if there are only long options.
Seems the Kotlin guys just decided to use one dash for all options. 🤷‍♂️

[Joffrey]

I guess Kotlin actually started aligned with the java / javac commands. The Java commands added support for --version starting from version 9 IIRC. Kotlin just didn't follow yet (doesn't mean they won't ever)

[Joffrey]

TIL that java --version prints to stdout while java -version prints to stderr mind blown

[Vampire]

TIL too 🙂

[Klitos Kyriacou]

The java command line options are a bit messy: some require -- while others require a single -. Some allow both and mean the same, some allow both and mean subtly different things.

[Vampire]

hysterically grown I guess. 😄

[Peter]

Kotlin should start using -- (I know this is opinionated, but hey, c'mon)

[Vampire]

It's not only opinionated, also a breaking change for any script or similar that uses them. 🤷‍♂️
Feel free to open a feature request / change request. 🙂

[Peter]

I might 😉 Thank you for the discussion.

[Mărcuţ Andrei]

Why not support both? 😅

[Peter]

FR opened: see Discourse