Merlin CLI (Command Line Interface)

Overview

Merlin CLI is the command line interface to the Merlin system. It provides support for the declaration of the root block directive, a working home directory, a kernel directive, and other parameters qualifying debug output and language policy.

The prime objective the Merlin CLI is to launch a root block descriptor and facilitate the deployment of the block and as a consequence, the deployment of subsidiary blocks, containers and components.

Command Line

The Merlin CLI takes a [block] filename as it's primary argument. The block may be a block XML file or a jar file containing a block directive.

Example of block deployment based on a supplied block directive.

 $ merlin -help
usage: merlin [block] [-lang <code>] [-install <url>] [-library
       <directory>] [-help] [-version] [-home <directory>] [-debug] [-info]
       [-config <url>] [-jmx] [-execute] [-repository <directory>] [-kernel
       <url>

Command Line Qualifiers

Qualifier Parameter Description
-help Prints the help message.
-lang A two letter country code Sets the default language country code to the supplied value.
-version Prints Merlin version information and exit.
-info Lists deployment parameters on startup.
-debug Instructs Merlin to issue internal system debug messages.
-home directory A relative or absolute path to a working home directory. If not suppled, the system will default to ${user.dir}/home.
-kernel url A url of a kernel configuration overriding the default kernel directive. The value defaults to ${merlin.home}/config/kernel.xml.
-config url A configuration source containing a set of target configuration fragements that will override configuration entries defined under a block.
-repository file Declaration of a local repository. If not suppplied Merlin will default to ${merlin.home}/repository/.

Command Line Qualifiers (non-standard)

Non-standard command line arguments should be considered as experimental and subject to change. Usage without a good understanding of the internals of the Merlin platform is not recommended.

Qualifier Parameter Description
-jmx Launches a jmx server and registeres the merlin kernal as a managed entity.
-install url Installation of a block archive (.bar file) into the local repository and exists. The -repository argument may be used to select the destination repository for the installation. Resource will be included relative to the bar file group identifier. Existing resources with a modification date equal to or later than the archived entry will be ignored.