[Boost-users] Boost Program Options: Just curiosity, why double dashes ?

Subject: [Boost-users] Boost Program Options: Just curiosity, why double dashes ?
From: Mauricio Gomes (mgpensar_at_[hidden])
Date: 2009-11-27 13:12:37

I am studying Boost Program Options library and I am curious, why was it
choosen double dashes as the token to identify an option in the command line
?

Example:
my_program --help

Would not a single dash be enough and less verbose ?
What is the rationale behind that ?

Thanks,
-- 
Mauricio Gomes
"Think globally, act locally".