import argparse parser = argparse.ArgumentParser( description="change the option prefix characters", prefix_chars="-+/" ) parser.add_argument("-a", action="store_false", default=None, help="turn A off") parser.add_argument("+a", action="store_true", default=None, help="turn A on") parser.add_argument("//noarg", "++noarg", action="store_true", default=False) print(parser.parse_args()) # python argparse_prefix_chars.py -h # python argparse_prefix_chars.py +a # python argparse_prefix_chars.py -a # python argparse_prefix_chars.py //noarg # python argparse_prefix_chars.py ++noarg # python argparse_prefix_chars.py --noarg <--- error