         }
 
         let s = args[0]
-        if s.characters.count == 0 || s[s.startIndex] != "-" || s.characters.count == 1 {
+        if s.count == 0 || s[s.startIndex] != "-" || s.count == 1 {
             return (false, "Unknown identifier: \(s)")
         }
 

                if hasValue == false && args.count > 0 {
                    hasValue = true
                    value = args.first![...]
                }
                if hasValue == false {
                    return (false, "flag needs an argument: -\(name)")

                if let err = flag.value.set(str: value) {
                    return (false, "invalid value \(value) for flag -\(name): \(err)");
                }
            }
        } else {
            if name == "help" || name == "h" { // special case for nice help message.
