This tool is use to is used to run, test and convert netlists. The details below come straight from the MAME documentation. To be honest, 99.9% of MAME users will never need to use this program, but here's some details anyway.
General options:
The following options apply to all commands.
-c, --cmd=run|convert|listdevices|static|header|docheader|run|convert|listdevices|static|header
-f, --file=Value nfile to process (default is stdin)
-D, --define=Value predefine value as macro, e.g. -Dname=value. If '=value' is omitted predefine it as 1. This option may be specified repeatedly.
-r, --rom=Value where to look for data files
-v, --verbose be verbose - this produces lots of output
-q, --quiet be quiet - no warnings
--version display version and exit
-h, --help display help and exit
Options for run and static commands:
These options apply to run and static commands.
-n, --name=Value the netlist in file specified by -f option to run; default is first one
Options for run command:
These options are only used by the run command.
-t, --time_to_run=Value time to run the emulation (seconds)
-l, --log=Value define terminal to log. This option may be specified repeatedly.
-i, --input=Value input file to process (default is none)
--loadstate=Value load state from file and continue from there
--savestate=Value save state to file at end of run
Options for convert command:
These options are only used by the convert command.
-y, --type=spice|eagle|rinf type of file to be converted: spice,eagle,rinf
> nltool -c run -t 3.5 -f nl_examples/cdelay.c -n cap_delay
Run netlist "cap_delay" from file nl_examples/cdelay.c for 3.5 seconds
> nltool --cmd=listdevices
List all known devices.