@Retention(RUNTIME)
@Target(FIELD)
public static @interface CommandLine.ParentCommand

Fields annotated with @ParentCommand will be initialized with the parent command of the current subcommand. If the current command does not have a parent command, this annotation has no effect.

Parent commands often define options that apply to all the subcommands. This annotation offers a convenient way to inject a reference to the parent command into a subcommand, so the subcommand can access its parent options. For example:

 @Command(name = "top", subcommands = Sub.class)
 class Top implements Runnable {

        @Option(names = { "-d", "--directory" }, description = "this option applies to all subcommands")
        File baseDirectory;

        public void run() {
                System.out.println("Hello from top");
        }
 }

 @Command(name = "sub")
 class Sub implements Runnable {

        @ParentCommand
        private Top parent;

        public void run() {
                System.out.println("Subcommand: parent command 'directory' is " + parent.baseDirectory);
        }
 }

Since:: 2.2

Annotation Type CommandLine.ParentCommand