diff --git a/lemon/arg_parser.cc b/lemon/arg_parser.cc
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lemon/arg_parser.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,469 @@
+/* -*- C++ -*-
+ *
+ * This file is a part of LEMON, a generic C++ optimization library
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2003-2008
+ * Egervary Jeno Kombinatorikus Optimalizalasi Kutatocsoport
+ * (Egervary Research Group on Combinatorial Optimization, EGRES).
+ *
+ * Permission to use, modify and distribute this software is granted
+ * provided that this copyright notice appears in all copies. For
+ * precise terms see the accompanying LICENSE file.
+ *
+ * This software is provided "AS IS" with no warranty of any kind,
+ * express or implied, and with no claim as to its suitability for any
+ * purpose.
+ *
+ */
+
+#include <lemon/arg_parser.h>
+
+namespace lemon {
+
+  void ArgParser::_showHelp(void *p)
+  {
+    (static_cast<ArgParser*>(p))->showHelp();
+    exit(1);
+  }
+
+  ArgParser::ArgParser(int argc, const char **argv) :_argc(argc), _argv(argv),
+                                                     _command_name(argv[0]) {
+    funcOption("-help","Print a short help message",_showHelp,this);
+    synonym("help","-help");
+    synonym("h","-help");
+
+  }
+
+  ArgParser::~ArgParser()
+  {
+    for(Opts::iterator i=_opts.begin();i!=_opts.end();++i)
+      if(i->second.self_delete)
+	switch(i->second.type) {
+	case BOOL:
+	  delete i->second.bool_p;
+	  break;
+	case STRING:
+	  delete i->second.string_p;
+	  break;
+	case DOUBLE:
+	  delete i->second.double_p;
+	  break;
+	case INTEGER:
+	  delete i->second.int_p;
+	  break;
+	case UNKNOWN:
+	  break;
+	case FUNC:
+	  break;
+	}
+  }
+  
+
+  ArgParser &ArgParser::intOption(const std::string &name,
+			       const std::string &help,
+			       int value, bool obl)
+  {
+    ParData p;
+    p.int_p=new int(value);
+    p.self_delete=true;
+    p.help=help;
+    p.type=INTEGER;
+    p.mandatory=obl;
+    p.self_delete=true;
+    _opts[name]=p;
+    return *this;
+  }
+
+  ArgParser &ArgParser::doubleOption(const std::string &name,
+			       const std::string &help,
+			       double value, bool obl)
+  {
+    ParData p;
+    p.double_p=new double(value);
+    p.self_delete=true;
+    p.help=help;
+    p.type=DOUBLE;
+    p.mandatory=obl;
+    _opts[name]=p;
+    return *this;
+  }
+
+  ArgParser &ArgParser::boolOption(const std::string &name,
+			       const std::string &help,
+			       bool value, bool obl)
+  {
+    ParData p;
+    p.bool_p=new bool(value);
+    p.self_delete=true;
+    p.help=help;
+    p.type=BOOL;
+    p.mandatory=obl;
+    _opts[name]=p;
+
+    value = false;
+
+    return *this;
+  }
+
+  ArgParser &ArgParser::stringOption(const std::string &name,
+			       const std::string &help,
+			       std::string value, bool obl)
+  {
+    ParData p;
+    p.string_p=new std::string(value);
+    p.self_delete=true;
+    p.help=help;
+    p.type=STRING;
+    p.mandatory=obl;
+    _opts[name]=p;
+    return *this;
+  }
+
+  ArgParser &ArgParser::refOption(const std::string &name,
+			       const std::string &help,
+			       int &ref, bool obl)
+  {
+    ParData p;
+    p.int_p=&ref;
+    p.self_delete=false;
+    p.help=help;
+    p.type=INTEGER;
+    p.mandatory=obl;
+    _opts[name]=p;
+    return *this;
+  }
+
+  ArgParser &ArgParser::refOption(const std::string &name,
+                                  const std::string &help,
+                                  double &ref, bool obl)
+  {
+    ParData p;
+    p.double_p=&ref;
+    p.self_delete=false;
+    p.help=help;
+    p.type=DOUBLE;
+    p.mandatory=obl;
+    _opts[name]=p;
+    return *this;
+  }
+
+  ArgParser &ArgParser::refOption(const std::string &name,
+                                  const std::string &help,
+                                  bool &ref, bool obl)
+  {
+    ParData p;
+    p.bool_p=&ref;
+    p.self_delete=false;
+    p.help=help;
+    p.type=BOOL;
+    p.mandatory=obl;
+    _opts[name]=p;
+
+    ref = false;
+
+    return *this;
+  }
+
+  ArgParser &ArgParser::refOption(const std::string &name,
+			       const std::string &help,
+			       std::string &ref, bool obl)
+  {
+    ParData p;
+    p.string_p=&ref;
+    p.self_delete=false;
+    p.help=help;
+    p.type=STRING;
+    p.mandatory=obl;
+    _opts[name]=p;
+    return *this;
+  }
+
+  ArgParser &ArgParser::funcOption(const std::string &name,
+			       const std::string &help,
+			       void (*func)(void *),void *data)
+  {
+    ParData p;
+    p.func_p.p=func;
+    p.func_p.data=data;
+    p.self_delete=false;
+    p.help=help;
+    p.type=FUNC;
+    p.mandatory=false;
+    _opts[name]=p;
+    return *this;
+  }
+
+  ArgParser &ArgParser::optionGroup(const std::string &group,
+				    const std::string &opt)
+  {
+    Opts::iterator i = _opts.find(opt);
+    LEMON_ASSERT(i!=_opts.end(), "Unknown option: '"+opt+"'");
+    LEMON_ASSERT(!(i->second.ingroup), 
+                 "Option already in option group: '"+opt+"'");
+    GroupData &g=_groups[group];
+    g.opts.push_back(opt);
+    i->second.ingroup=true;
+    return *this;
+  }
+
+  ArgParser &ArgParser::onlyOneGroup(const std::string &group)
+  {
+    GroupData &g=_groups[group];
+    g.only_one=true;
+    return *this;
+  }
+
+  ArgParser &ArgParser::synonym(const std::string &syn,
+				const std::string &opt)
+  {
+    Opts::iterator o = _opts.find(opt);
+    Opts::iterator s = _opts.find(syn);
+    LEMON_ASSERT(o!=_opts.end(), "Unknown option: '"+opt+"'");
+    LEMON_ASSERT(s==_opts.end(), "Option already used: '"+syn+"'");
+    ParData p;
+    p.help=opt;
+    p.mandatory=false;
+    p.syn=true;
+    _opts[syn]=p;
+    o->second.has_syn=true;
+    return *this;
+  }
+
+  ArgParser &ArgParser::mandatoryGroup(const std::string &group)
+  {
+    GroupData &g=_groups[group];
+    g.mandatory=true;
+    return *this;
+  }
+
+  ArgParser &ArgParser::other(const std::string &name,
+			      const std::string &help)
+  {
+    _others_help.push_back(OtherArg(name,help));
+    return *this;
+  }
+
+  void ArgParser::show(std::ostream &os,Opts::iterator i)
+  {
+    os << "-" << i->first;
+    if(i->second.has_syn)
+      for(Opts::iterator j=_opts.begin();j!=_opts.end();++j)
+	if(j->second.syn&&j->second.help==i->first)
+	  os << "|-" << j->first;
+    switch(i->second.type) {
+    case STRING:
+      os << " str";
+      break;
+    case INTEGER:
+      os << " int";
+      break;
+    case DOUBLE:
+      os << " num";
+      break;
+    default:
+      break;
+    }
+  }
+
+  void ArgParser::show(std::ostream &os,Groups::iterator i)
+  {
+    GroupData::Opts::iterator o=i->second.opts.begin();
+    while(o!=i->second.opts.end()) {
+      show(os,_opts.find(*o));
+      ++o;
+      if(o!=i->second.opts.end()) os<<'|';
+    }
+  }
+    
+  void ArgParser::showHelp(Opts::iterator i)
+  {
+    if(i->second.help.size()==0||i->second.syn) return;
+    std::cerr << "  ";
+    show(std::cerr,i);
+    std::cerr << std::endl;
+    std::cerr << "     " << i->second.help << std::endl;
+  }
+  void ArgParser::showHelp(std::vector<ArgParser::OtherArg>::iterator i)
+  {
+    if(i->help.size()==0) return;
+    std::cerr << "  " << i->name << std::endl
+	      << "     " << i->help << std::endl;
+  }
+    
+  void ArgParser::shortHelp()
+  {
+    const unsigned int LINE_LEN=77;
+    const std::string indent("    ");
+    std::cerr << "Usage:\n  " << _command_name;
+    int pos=_command_name.size()+2;
+    for(Groups::iterator g=_groups.begin();g!=_groups.end();++g) {
+      std::ostringstream cstr;
+      cstr << ' ';
+      if(!g->second.mandatory) cstr << '[';
+      show(cstr,g);
+      if(!g->second.mandatory) cstr << ']';
+      if(pos+cstr.str().size()>LINE_LEN) {
+	std::cerr << std::endl << indent;
+	pos=indent.size();
+      }
+      std::cerr << cstr.str();
+      pos+=cstr.str().size();
+    }
+    for(Opts::iterator i=_opts.begin();i!=_opts.end();++i)
+      if(!i->second.ingroup&&!i->second.syn) {
+	std::ostringstream cstr;
+	cstr << ' ';
+	if(!i->second.mandatory) cstr << '[';
+	show(cstr,i);
+	if(!i->second.mandatory) cstr << ']';
+	if(pos+cstr.str().size()>LINE_LEN) {
+	  std::cerr << std::endl << indent;
+	  pos=indent.size();
+	}
+	std::cerr << cstr.str();
+	pos+=cstr.str().size();
+      }
+    for(std::vector<OtherArg>::iterator i=_others_help.begin();
+	i!=_others_help.end();++i)
+      {
+	std::ostringstream cstr;
+	cstr << ' ' << i->name;
+      
+	if(pos+cstr.str().size()>LINE_LEN) {
+	  std::cerr << std::endl << indent;
+	  pos=indent.size();
+	}
+	std::cerr << cstr.str();
+	pos+=cstr.str().size();
+      }
+    std::cerr << std::endl;
+  }
+    
+  void ArgParser::showHelp()
+  {
+    shortHelp();
+    std::cerr << "Where:\n";
+    for(std::vector<OtherArg>::iterator i=_others_help.begin();
+	i!=_others_help.end();++i) showHelp(i);
+    for(Opts::iterator i=_opts.begin();i!=_opts.end();++i) showHelp(i);
+    exit(1);
+  }
+    
+      
+  void ArgParser::unknownOpt(std::string arg) 
+  {
+    std::cerr << "\nUnknown option: " << arg << "\n";
+    std::cerr << "\nType '" << _command_name <<
+      " --help' to obtain a short summary on the usage.\n\n";
+    exit(1);
+  }
+    
+  void ArgParser::requiresValue(std::string arg, OptType t) 
+  {
+    std::cerr << "Argument '" << arg << "' requires a";
+    switch(t) {
+    case STRING:
+      std::cerr << " string";
+      break;
+    case INTEGER:
+      std::cerr << "n integer";
+      break;
+    case DOUBLE:
+      std::cerr << " floating point";
+      break;
+    default:
+      break;
+    }
+    std::cerr << " value\n\n";
+    showHelp();
+  }
+    
+
+  void ArgParser::checkMandatories()
+  {
+    bool ok=true;
+    for(Opts::iterator i=_opts.begin();i!=_opts.end();++i)
+      if(i->second.mandatory&&!i->second.set) 
+	{
+	  if(ok)
+	    std::cerr << _command_name 
+		      << ": The following mandatory arguments are missing.\n";
+	  ok=false;
+	  showHelp(i);
+	}
+    for(Groups::iterator i=_groups.begin();i!=_groups.end();++i)
+      if(i->second.mandatory||i->second.only_one)
+	{
+	  int set=0;
+	  for(GroupData::Opts::iterator o=i->second.opts.begin();
+	      o!=i->second.opts.end();++o)
+	    if(_opts.find(*o)->second.set) ++set;
+	  if(i->second.mandatory&&!set) {
+	    std::cerr << _command_name 
+		      << ": At least one of the following arguments is mandatory.\n";
+	    ok=false;
+	    for(GroupData::Opts::iterator o=i->second.opts.begin();
+		o!=i->second.opts.end();++o)
+	      showHelp(_opts.find(*o));
+	  }
+	  if(i->second.only_one&&set>1) {
+	    std::cerr << _command_name 
+		      << ": At most one of the following arguments can be given.\n";
+	    ok=false;
+	    for(GroupData::Opts::iterator o=i->second.opts.begin();
+		o!=i->second.opts.end();++o)
+	      showHelp(_opts.find(*o));
+	  }
+	}
+    if(!ok) {
+      std::cerr << "\nType '" << _command_name <<
+	" --help' to obtain a short summary on the usage.\n\n";
+      exit(1);
+    }
+  }
+
+  ArgParser &ArgParser::parse()
+  {
+    for(int ar=1; ar<_argc; ++ar) {
+      std::string arg(_argv[ar]);
+      if (arg[0] != '-' || arg.size() == 1) {
+	_file_args.push_back(arg);
+      }
+      else {
+	Opts::iterator i = _opts.find(arg.substr(1));
+	if(i==_opts.end()) unknownOpt(arg);
+	else {
+	  if(i->second.syn) i=_opts.find(i->second.help);
+	  ParData &p(i->second);
+	  if (p.type==BOOL) *p.bool_p=true;
+	  else if (p.type==FUNC) p.func_p.p(p.func_p.data);
+	  else if(++ar==_argc) requiresValue(arg, p.type);
+	  else {
+	    std::string val(_argv[ar]);
+	    std::istringstream vals(val);
+	    switch(p.type) {
+	    case STRING:
+	      *p.string_p=val;
+	      break;
+	    case INTEGER:
+	      vals >> *p.int_p;
+	      break;
+	    case DOUBLE:
+	      vals >> *p.double_p;
+	      break;
+	    default:
+	      break;
+	    }
+	    if(p.type!=STRING&&(!vals||!vals.eof()))
+	      requiresValue(arg, p.type);
+	  }
+	  p.set = true;
+	}
+      }
+    }
+    checkMandatories();
+
+    return *this;
+  }  
+
+}