We don't have a commandline handler that does long options, and while it is theoretical possible to add it, the point is still why it is so important to warrant that, I haven't heard much more than obtaining some hypothetical bullet point with Unix-in-principle-only software (which we are not) and an already debunked option for machine query of version info.
I don't think that my shooting my mouth off about this any further is going to be particularly constructive.
I will, however round off by pointing out that FPC- which (AIUI) was for a long time oriented towards unix- happily adopts the unix convention of a single leading dash indicating an option as distinct from (for example) a Windows-style / or the rarely-seen convention of using +- for turning options on or off.
My sole point is that most software- and this includes Lazarus- in the modern GNU-dominated environment responds intelligently to --version and --help. I am emphatically NOT suggesting that FPC should go out of its way to display "live" version and help information in response to those, merely that it should recognise the longstanding convention and react with a hint as to what options should be used to get introductory information.
And that really is my last word on the matter.
MarkMLl