As a data format, yaml is extremely complicated and it has many footguns. In this post I explain some of those pitfalls by means of an example, and I suggest a few simpler and safer yaml alternatives.

A 10 minute read covering some YAML edge-cases that you should have in mind when writing complex YAML files

  • @umbraroze
    3•3 days ago

    My hierarchy goes something like this:

    • A relatively trivial configuration file? TOML
    • A configuration file that needs a bit of complexity and nesting? YAML
    • Is it getting so complicated and longwinded that you’re actually unlikely to touch it by hand anyway? JSON
    • Have we become downright enterprisey? XML