Arguments in JSON Tutorial

Package info

This section references the CliArgs example package, which contains the following manifest:

move.toml

[package]
name = "CliArgs"
version = "0.1.0"
upgrade_policy = "compatible"
 
[addresses]
test_account = "_"
 
[dependencies]
AptosFramework = { git = "https://github.com/aptos-labs/aptos-framework.git", rev = "mainnet", subdir = "aptos-framework" }

Here, the package is deployed under the named address test_account.

ℹ️

Set your working directory to aptos-move/move-examples/cli_args to follow along:

Terminal

cd <aptos-core-parent-directory>/aptos-core/aptos-move/move-examples/cli_args

Deploying the package

Start by mining a vanity address for Ace, who will deploy the package:

Terminal

aptos key generate \
    --vanity-prefix 0xace \
    --output-file ace.key

Output

Terminal

{
  "Result": {
    "Account Address:": "0xacef1b9b7d4ab208b99fed60746d18dcd74865edb7eb3c3f1428233988e4ba46",
    "PublicKey Path": "ace.key.pub",
    "PrivateKey Path": "ace.key"
  }
}

ℹ️

The exact account address should vary for each run, though the vanity prefix should not.

Store Ace’s address in a shell variable, so you can call it inline later on:

Terminal

# Your exact address will vary
ace_addr=0xacef1b9b7d4ab208b99fed60746d18dcd74865edb7eb3c3f1428233988e4ba46

Fund Ace’s account with the faucet (only works on devnet):

Terminal

aptos account fund-with-faucet --account $ace_addr

Output

Terminal

{
  "Result": "Added 100000000 Octas to account acef1b9b7d4ab208b99fed60746d18dcd74865edb7eb3c3f1428233988e4ba46"
}

Now publish the package under Ace’s account:

Terminal

aptos move publish \
    --named-addresses test_account=$ace_addr \
    --private-key-file ace.key \
    --assume-yes

Output

Terminal

{
  "Result": {
    "transaction_hash": "0x1d7b074dd95724c5459a1c30fe4cb3875e7b0478cc90c87c8e3f21381625bec1",
    "gas_used": 1294,
    "gas_unit_price": 100,
    "sender": "acef1b9b7d4ab208b99fed60746d18dcd74865edb7eb3c3f1428233988e4ba46",
    "sequence_number": 0,
    "success": true,
    "timestamp_us": 1685077849297587,
    "version": 528422121,
    "vm_status": "Executed successfully"
  }
}

Entry functions

The only module in the package, cli_args.move, defines a simple Holder resource with fields of various data types:

Holder in cli_args.move

module test_account::cli_args {
  use std::signer;
  use aptos_std::type_info::{Self, TypeInfo};
  use std::string::String;
 
  struct Holder has key, drop {
      u8_solo: u8,
      bytes: vector<u8>,
      utf8_string: String,
      bool_vec: vector<bool>,
      address_vec_vec: vector<vector<address>>,
      type_info_1: TypeInfo,
      type_info_2: TypeInfo,
  }

A public entry function with multi-nested vectors can be used to set the fields:

Setter function in cli_args.move

/// Set values in a `Holder` under `account`.
public entry fun set_vals<T1, T2>(
    account: signer,
    u8_solo: u8,
    bytes: vector<u8>,
    utf8_string: String,
    bool_vec: vector<bool>,
    address_vec_vec: vector<vector<address>>,
) acquires Holder {
    let account_addr = signer::address_of(&account);
    if (exists<Holder>(account_addr)) {
        move_from<Holder>(account_addr);
    };
    move_to(&account, Holder {
        u8_solo,
        bytes,
        utf8_string,
        bool_vec,
        address_vec_vec,
        type_info_1: type_info::type_of<T1>(),
        type_info_2: type_info::type_of<T2>(),
    });
}

After the package has been published, aptos move run can be used to call set_vals():

ℹ️

To pass vectors (including nested vectors) as arguments from the command line, use JSON syntax escaped with quotes!

Running function with nested vector arguments from CLI

aptos move run \
    --function-id $ace_addr::cli_args::set_vals \
    --type-args \
        0x1::account::Account \
        0x1::chain_id::ChainId \
    --args \
        u8:123 \
        "hex:0x1234" \
        "string:hello, world\! ♥" \
        "bool:[false, true, false, false]" \
        'address:[["0xace", "0xbee"], ["0xcad"], []]' \
    --private-key-file ace.key \
    --assume-yes

Output

Terminal

{
  "Result": {
    "transaction_hash": "0x5e141dc6c28e86fa9f5594de93d07a014264ebadfb99be6db922a929eb1da24f",
    "gas_used": 504,
    "gas_unit_price": 100,
    "sender": "acef1b9b7d4ab208b99fed60746d18dcd74865edb7eb3c3f1428233988e4ba46",
    "sequence_number": 1,
    "success": true,
    "timestamp_us": 1685077888820037,
    "version": 528422422,
    "vm_status": "Executed successfully"
  }
}

The function ID, type arguments, and arguments can alternatively be specified in a JSON file:

entry_function_arguments.json

{
    "function_id": "<test_account>::cli_args::set_vals",
    "type_args": [
        "0x1::account::Account",
        "0x1::chain_id::ChainId"
    ],
    "args": [
        {
            "type": "u8",
            "value": 123
        },
        {
            "type": "hex",
            "value": "0x1234"
        },
        {
            "type": "string",
            "value": "hello, world! ♥"
        },
        {
            "type": "bool",
            "value": [
                false,
                true,
                false,
                false
            ]
        },
        {
            "type": "address",
            "value": [
                [
                    "0xace",
                    "0xbee"
                ],
                [
                    "0xcad"
                ],
                []
            ]
        }
    ]
}

Here, the call to aptos move run looks like:

Running function with JSON input file

aptos move run \
    --json-file entry_function_arguments.json \
    --private-key-file ace.key \
    --assume-yes

Output

Terminal

{
  "Result": {
    "transaction_hash": "0x60a32315bb48bf6d31629332f6b1a3471dd0cb016fdee8d0bb7dcd0be9833e60",
    "gas_used": 3,
    "gas_unit_price": 100,
    "sender": "acef1b9b7d4ab208b99fed60746d18dcd74865edb7eb3c3f1428233988e4ba46",
    "sequence_number": 2,
    "success": true,
    "timestamp_us": 1685077961499641,
    "version": 528422965,
    "vm_status": "Executed successfully"
  }
}

ℹ️

If you are trying to run the example yourself don’t forget to substitute Ace’s actual address for <test_account> in entry_function_arguments.json!

View functions

Once the values in a Holder have been set, the reveal() view function can be used to check the first three fields, and to compare type arguments against the last two fields:

View function

struct RevealResult has drop {
    u8_solo: u8,
    bytes: vector<u8>,
    utf8_string: String,
    bool_vec: vector<bool>,
    address_vec_vec: vector<vector<address>>,
    type_info_1_match: bool,
    type_info_2_match: bool
}
 
#[view]
/// Pack into a `RevealResult` the first three fields in host's
/// `Holder`, as well as two `bool` flags denoting if `T1` & `T2`
/// respectively match `Holder.type_info_1` & `Holder.type_info_2`,
/// then return the `RevealResult`.
public fun reveal<T1, T2>(host: address): RevealResult acquires Holder {
    let holder_ref = borrow_global<Holder>(host);
    RevealResult {
        u8_solo: holder_ref.u8_solo,
        bytes: holder_ref.bytes,
        utf8_string: holder_ref.utf8_string,
        bool_vec: holder_ref.bool_vec,
        address_vec_vec: holder_ref.address_vec_vec,
        type_info_1_match:
            type_info::type_of<T1>() == holder_ref.type_info_1,
        type_info_2_match:
            type_info::type_of<T2>() == holder_ref.type_info_2
    }
}

This view function can be called with arguments specified either from the CLI or from a JSON file:

Arguments via CLI

aptos move view \
    --function-id $ace_addr::cli_args::reveal \
    --type-args \
        0x1::account::Account \
        0x1::account::Account \
    --args address:$ace_addr

Arguments via JSON file

aptos move view --json-file view_function_arguments.json

ℹ️

If you are trying to run the example yourself don’t forget to substitute Ace’s actual address for <test_account> in view_function_arguments.json (twice)!

view_function_arguments.json

{
    "function_id": "<test_account>::cli_args::reveal",
    "type_args": [
        "0x1::account::Account",
        "0x1::account::Account"
    ],
    "args": [
        {
            "type": "address",
            "value": "<test_account>"
        }
    ]
}

Terminal

{
  "Result": [
    {
      "address_vec_vec": [
        [
          "0xace",
          "0xbee"
        ],
        [
          "0xcad"
        ],
        []
      ],
      "bool_vec": [
        false,
        true,
        false,
        false
      ],
      "bytes": "0x1234",
      "type_info_1_match": true,
      "type_info_2_match": false,
      "u8_solo": 123,
      "utf8_string": "hello, world! ♥"
    }
  ]
}

Script functions

The package also contains a script, set_vals.move, which is a wrapper for the setter function:

script

script {
    use test_account::cli_args;
    use std::vector;
    use std::string::String;
 
    /// Get a `bool` vector where each element indicates `true` if the
    /// corresponding element in `u8_vec` is greater than `u8_solo`.
    /// Then pack `address_solo` in a `vector<vector<<address>>` and
    /// pass resulting argument set to public entry function.
    fun set_vals<T1, T2>(
        account: signer,
        u8_solo: u8,
        bytes: vector<u8>,
        utf8_string: String,
        u8_vec: vector<u8>,
        address_solo: address,
    ) {
        let bool_vec = vector::map_ref(&u8_vec, |e_ref| *e_ref > u8_solo);
        let addr_vec_vec = vector[vector[address_solo]];
        cli_args::set_vals<T1, T2>(account, u8_solo, bytes, utf8_string, bool_vec, addr_vec_vec);
    }
}

First compile the package (this will compile the script):

Compilation

aptos move compile --named-addresses test_account=$ace_addr

Output

Terminal

{
  "Result": [
    "acef1b9b7d4ab208b99fed60746d18dcd74865edb7eb3c3f1428233988e4ba46::cli_args"
  ]
}

Next, run aptos move run-script:

Arguments via CLI

aptos move run-script \
    --compiled-script-path build/CliArgs/bytecode_scripts/set_vals.mv \
    --type-args \
        0x1::account::Account \
        0x1::chain_id::ChainId \
    --args \
        u8:123 \
        "hex:0x1234" \
        "string:hello, world\! ♥" \
        "u8:[122, 123, 124, 125]" \
        address:"0xace" \
    --private-key-file ace.key \
    --assume-yes

Output

Terminal

{
  "Result": {
    "transaction_hash": "0x1d644eba8187843cc43919469112339bc2c435a49a733ac813b7bc6c79770152",
    "gas_used": 3,
    "gas_unit_price": 100,
    "sender": "acef1b9b7d4ab208b99fed60746d18dcd74865edb7eb3c3f1428233988e4ba46",
    "sequence_number": 3,
    "success": true,
    "timestamp_us": 1685078415935612,
    "version": 528426413,
    "vm_status": "Executed successfully"
  }
}

Arguments via JSON file

aptos move run-script \
    --compiled-script-path build/CliArgs/bytecode_scripts/set_vals.mv \
    --json-file script_function_arguments.json \
    --private-key-file ace.key \
    --assume-yes

Output

Terminal

{
  "Result": {
    "transaction_hash": "0x840e2d6a5ab80d5a570effb3665f775f1755e0fd8d76e52bfa7241aaade883d7",
    "gas_used": 3,
    "gas_unit_price": 100,
    "sender": "acef1b9b7d4ab208b99fed60746d18dcd74865edb7eb3c3f1428233988e4ba46",
    "sequence_number": 4,
    "success": true,
    "timestamp_us": 1685078516832128,
    "version": 528427132,
    "vm_status": "Executed successfully"
  }
}

script_function_arguments.json

{
    "type_args": [
        "0x1::account::Account",
        "0x1::chain_id::ChainId"
    ],
    "args": [
        {
            "type": "u8",
            "value": 123
        },
        {
            "type": "hex",
            "value": "0x1234"
        },
        {
            "type": "string",
            "value": "hello, world! ♥"
        },
        {
            "type": "u8",
            "value": [
                122,
                123,
                124,
                125
            ]
        },
        {
            "type": "address",
            "value": "0xace"
        }
    ]
}

Both such script function invocations result in the following reveal() view function output:

View function call

aptos move view \
    --function-id $ace_addr::cli_args::reveal \
    --type-args \
        0x1::account::Account \
        0x1::chain_id::ChainId \
    --args address:$ace_addr

View function output

{
  "Result": [
    {
      "address_vec_vec": [["0xace"]],
      "bool_vec": [false, false, true, true],
      "bytes": "0x1234",
      "type_info_1_match": true,
      "type_info_2_match": true,
      "u8_solo": 123,
      "utf8_string": "hello, world! ♥"
    }
  ]
}

ℹ️

As of the time of this writing, the aptos CLI only supports script function arguments for vectors of type u8, and only up to a vector depth of 1. Hence vector<address> and vector<vector<u8>> are invalid script function argument types.

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