Code that generates process.argv?

[EndBug]

Hi, I'm trying to figure out a way to parse a CLI string to generate an array like argv, but every solution I find seems t rely on args already being parsed into an argv-like array. I was wondering if anyone could point me to the code that actually generates the argv array?

[targos]

Technically, argv is an array since the beginning of the process (it's one of the arguments passed to the main function to a C++ program: https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/language/main_function).
I think it is then split into process.argv and process.execArgv in our C++ code, but I don't know exactly where that happens. /cc @addaleax

[addaleax]

Yes – argv is already passed as an array from the operating system kernel, which doesn’t even have a concept of “CLI string” – parsing the string into an array of arguments is the job of the shell, so that might be what you’re looking for.

The part of Node.js that splits argv into process.argv and process.execArgv is in src/node_options.{cc,h}, but guessing from your question that’s not going to be the most useful thing for your use case.