# PackageCompiler.jl does not support ARGS (arguments)?
**URL:** https://discourse.julialang.org/t/packagecompiler-jl-does-not-support-args-arguments/103513
**Category:** General Usage
**Tags:** compilation, argument, package-compiler
**Created:** [September 4, 2023, 3:37pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/packagecompiler-jl-does-not-support-args-arguments/103513 "2023-09-04T15:37:06Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Miroslav-Stimac](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Miroslav-Stimac)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2023, 3:37pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/packagecompiler-jl-does-not-support-args-arguments/103513/1 "2023-09-04T15:37:06Z")
Hello,
It seems that PackageCompiler does not work with ARGS.
I tried several ways and none worked:
**CASE 1:**
In precompile\_app.jl:
```julia
MyProgram.julia_main(["CHECK_DATA_1", "DEV"])
```
In MyProgram.jl:
```julia
module MyProgram
argument_list = ARGS
println("Length of arguments array: " * string(length(ARGS)))
println("Content of arguments array: ")
program_main()
# My Source Code
end
Base.@ccallable function julia_main(ARGS::Vector{String})::Cint
program_main()
return 0
end
end
```
When compiling with PackageCompiler, then I get this error message:
Failed to precompile MyProgram [8055130b-358c-4aa5-b077-72da6b1478e9] to C:\Users\sbbstm.julia\compiled\v1.8\MyProgram\jl\_5E4F.tmp.
ERROR: LoadError: MethodError: no method matching julia\_main()
Closest candidates are:
julia\_main(::Vector{String}) at C:\JuliaWS\MyProgram\MyProgram\src\MyProgram.jl:890
**CASE 2:**
In precompile\_app.jl:
```julia
MyProgram.julia_main()
```
In MyProgram.jl:
```julia
module MyProgram
argument_list = ARGS
println("Length of arguments array: " * string(length(ARGS)))
println("Content of arguments array: ")
program_main()
# My Source Code
end
Base.@ccallable function julia_main(ARGS::Vector{String})::Cint
program_main()
return 0
end
end
```
When compiling with PackageCompiler, then I get this error message:
Failed to precompile MyProgram [8055130b-358c-4aa5-b077-72da6b1478e9] to C:\Users\sbbstm.julia\compiled\v1.8\MyProgram\jl\_517D.tmp.
ERROR: LoadError: MethodError: no method matching julia\_main()
Closest candidates are:
julia\_main(::Vector{String}) at C:\JuliaWS\MyProgram\MyProgram\src\MyProgram.jl:890
**CASE 3:**
In precompile\_app.jl:
```julia
MyProgram.julia_main()
```
```julia
module MyProgram
argument_list = ARGS
println("Length of arguments array: " * string(length(ARGS)))
println("Content of arguments array: ")
program_main()
# My Source Code
end
julia_main()::Cint
program_main()
return 0
end
end
```
It compiles an creates a MyProgram.exe in the folder bin, but when starting the compiled MyProgram.exe, it does nothing related to ARGS!
It even does not write the result of these 2 lines, neither when I give arguments nor when i give no arguments when starting MyProgram.exe:
```julia
println("Length of arguments array: " * string(length(ARGS)))
println("Content of arguments array: ")
```
**WITHOUT PackageCompiler.jl:**
When starting the same source code as in CASE 3 without PackageCompiler and giving no args, then I get this here (that is what I expected and what is OK):
_Length of arguments array: 0
Content of arguments array:_
When starting the program (source code via Julia.exe) with arguments, such as “Julia.exe MyProgram.jl bla 123” then it works correctly. The output is:
_Length of arguments array: 2
Content of arguments array:
bla
123_
**It seems that ARGS does not work with PackageCompiler.
Is there any workaround or bugfix?**
My system:
- Winows 10 64 Bits
- Julia 1.8.5
- PackageCompiler v2.1.7
Thanks for your advices in advance!
Kind regards,
Miroslav Stimac
---
### Author:  [@sschmidhuber](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/sschmidhuber)
#### Post date: [September 4, 2023, 10:27pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/packagecompiler-jl-does-not-support-args-arguments/103513/2 "2023-09-04T22:27:40Z")
Hello Miroslav,
PackageCompiler works with ARGS. You need to use the `julia_main()` function signature as you did in CASE 3. But keep in mind the entry point, for a compiled julia application, is `julia_main()`, so your `println()` functions were never called.
In the interpreted version you got another output, because the file is just executed top down, including global scope (where your println() calls live).
`ARGS` is a global constant in Julia, you don’t need to put anywhere as function parameter, you can just use it.
Try this, if you want to compile it:
```julia
module compiled_example
function julia_main()::Cint
println("Length of arguments array: $(length(ARGS))")
println("Content of arguments array: ", ARGS)
# program main, add your code here
exit(0)
end
end
```
and if you want to run it as script:
```julia
#! /usr/bin/env julia
module compiled_example
function julia_main()::Cint
println("Length of arguments array: $(length(ARGS))")
println("Content of arguments array: ", ARGS)
# program main, add your code here
exit(0)
end
julia_main()
end
```
---
### Author:  [@xgdgsc](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/xgdgsc)
#### Post date: [September 5, 2023, 1:35am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/packagecompiler-jl-does-not-support-args-arguments/103513/3 "2023-09-05T01:35:07Z")
Easy way is using [Home · Comonicon.jl](https://comonicon.org/stable/)
---
### Author:  [@Miroslav-Stimac](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Miroslav-Stimac)
#### Post date: [September 5, 2023, 6:14am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/packagecompiler-jl-does-not-support-args-arguments/103513/4 "2023-09-05T06:14:21Z")
Thank you very much!
You are right!
If I put the code in the function, then it works correctly and I can use ARGS.
Kind regards,
Miroslav Stimac