--- a/share/local-bsdtools/farray.sh	Thu Sep 19 18:29:57 2024 +0200
+++ b/share/local-bsdtools/farray.sh	Thu Sep 19 20:03:29 2024 +0200
@@ -1265,6 +1265,8 @@
 #: Args:
 #:   $1 (str): The name of the alist.
 #:             Must conform to shell variable naming conventions.
+#:   $2, $3 ... (optional): A sequence of key-value pairs the alist will be
+#:                          populated with.
 #:
 #: Exit:
 #:   Iff the alist already exists.
@@ -1294,6 +1296,15 @@
 
     # And associate the token with the array name
     eval "${__farr_name}"="${__farr_token}"
+
+    #
+    # When there are key-value pairs populate the alist with.
+    # Note that the alist's name is not shifted away yet and must be taken
+    # into account. It is also needed for `falist_set`.
+    #
+    if [ $# -gt 2 ]; then
+	falist_set "$@"
+    fi
 }
 
 
@@ -1491,8 +1502,8 @@
 #:
 #: Args:
 #:   $1 (str): The name of an existing alist.
-#:   $2: The key.
-#:   $3: The value.
+#:   $2, $3 ... (optional): A sequence of key-value pairs the alist will be
+#:                          populated with.
 #:
 #: Exit:
 #:   If one of the underlying arrays that implement the alist does not exist
@@ -1505,36 +1516,41 @@
     local __farr_idx __farr_elkey
 
     _farr_alist_get_meta "$@"
-    [ $# -lt 2 ] && _farr_fatal "missing key"
-    __farr_key="$2"
-    [ $# -lt 3 ] && _farr_fatal "missing value"
-    __farr_value="$3"
+    shift
+
+    while [ $# -ne 0 ]; do
+        [ $# -lt 1 ] && _farr_fatal "missing key"
+        __farr_key="$1"
+        [ $# -lt 2 ] && _farr_fatal "missing value"
+        __farr_value="$2"
 
-    __farr_idx=1
-    while [ ${__farr_idx} -le ${__farr_len} ]; do
-        eval __farr_elkey=\"\$\{${__farr_keyname}_${__farr_idx}+SET\}\"
-        if [ -n "${__farr_elkey}" ]; then
-            eval __farr_elkey=\"\$\{${__farr_keyname}_${__farr_idx}\}\"
-            if [ "${__farr_elkey}" = "${__farr_key}" ]; then
-                eval ${__farr_valname}_${__farr_idx}="$(_farr_quote_for_eval "${__farr_value}")"
-                return 0
+        __farr_idx=1
+        while [ ${__farr_idx} -le ${__farr_len} ]; do
+            eval __farr_elkey=\"\$\{${__farr_keyname}_${__farr_idx}+SET\}\"
+            if [ -n "${__farr_elkey}" ]; then
+                eval __farr_elkey=\"\$\{${__farr_keyname}_${__farr_idx}\}\"
+                if [ "${__farr_elkey}" = "${__farr_key}" ]; then
+                    eval ${__farr_valname}_${__farr_idx}="$(_farr_quote_for_eval "${__farr_value}")"
+                    return 0
+                fi
+            else
+                _farr_fatal "key unexpectedly unset (index ${__farr_idx})"
             fi
-        else
-            _farr_fatal "key unexpectedly unset (index ${__farr_idx})"
-        fi
-        __farr_idx=$((__farr_idx + 1))
+            __farr_idx=$((__farr_idx + 1))
+        done
+        #
+        # Not yet found: "append" ..
+        #
+        # NOTE: __farr_idx already the new correct length
+        #
+        __farr_len=${__farr_idx}
+        #   ... the key/value pairs to storage
+        eval ${__farr_keyname}_${__farr_len}="$(_farr_quote_for_eval "${__farr_key}")"
+        eval ${__farr_valname}_${__farr_len}="$(_farr_quote_for_eval "${__farr_value}")"
+        #   ... the new length
+        eval ${__farr_objname}__=${__farr_len}
+        shift 2
     done
-    #
-    # Not yet found: "append" ..
-    #
-    # NOTE: __farr_idx already the new correct length
-    #
-    __farr_len=${__farr_idx}
-    #   ... the key/value pairs to storage
-    eval ${__farr_keyname}_${__farr_len}="$(_farr_quote_for_eval "${__farr_key}")"
-    eval ${__farr_valname}_${__farr_len}="$(_farr_quote_for_eval "${__farr_value}")"
-    #   ... the new length
-    eval ${__farr_objname}__=${__farr_len}
     return 0
 }
 

--- a/tests/farray-alist.t	Thu Sep 19 18:29:57 2024 +0200
+++ b/tests/farray-alist.t	Thu Sep 19 20:03:29 2024 +0200
@@ -230,21 +230,29 @@
 Compare
 =======
 
-  $ falist_create LIST1
-  $ falist_set LIST1 K1 V1
-  $ falist_set LIST1 K2 V2
+  $ falist_create LIST1 K1 V1 K2 V2
+  $ falist_debug LIST1
+  DEBUG: alist `LIST1' has length 2
+  DEBUG:     `K1' -> `V1'
+  DEBUG:     `K2' -> `V2'
 
-  $ falist_create LIST2
-  $ falist_set LIST2 K2 V2
-  $ falist_set LIST2 K1 V1
+  $ falist_create LIST2 K2 V2 K1 V1
+  $ falist_debug LIST2
+  DEBUG: alist `LIST2' has length 2
+  DEBUG:     `K2' -> `V2'
+  DEBUG:     `K1' -> `V1'
 
-  $ falist_create LIST3
-  $ falist_set LIST3 K1 V1
-  $ falist_set LIST3 K2 V2
+  $ falist_create LIST3 K1 V1 K2 V2
+  $ falist_debug LIST3
+  DEBUG: alist `LIST3' has length 2
+  DEBUG:     `K1' -> `V1'
+  DEBUG:     `K2' -> `V2'
 
-  $ falist_create LIST4
-  $ falist_set LIST4 K1 V1
-  $ falist_set LIST4 K2 V2-4
+  $ falist_create LIST4 K1 V1 K2 V2-4
+  $ falist_debug LIST4
+  DEBUG: alist `LIST4' has length 2
+  DEBUG:     `K1' -> `V1'
+  DEBUG:     `K2' -> `V2-4'
 
   $ falist_are_equal LIST1 LIST2
   $ falist_are_equal LIST1 LIST4