JSAP: the Java-based Simple Argument Parser JSAP parses your command line and instantiates objects of types you specify based upon that command line. If you configure JSAP to expect an Integer on the command line, and the user does not provide a String that can be converted to an Integer, JSAP will alert your program to the fact that there was a problem with the command line. If JSAP indicates that your command line was successfully parsed, you are guaranteed an Integer when you request that parameter's value from your program. There's a pretty big (and growing) list of return types supported by JSAP.