#!/usr/bin/env python """ one command line argument is consumed """ import argparse def main(): parser = argparse.ArgumentParser( formatter_class = argparse.RawDescriptionHelpFormatter, usage='%(prog)s [options]') parser.add_argument( 'hostName', nargs="?", default = "None", help='hostname to check') args = parser.parse_args() if args.hostName != 'None': nodes = [args.hostName] else: nodes = ... ...