Re: [Yaml-core] Using YAML for configuration data

[Rich M. <rd...@cf...>]

>Before I go too far down this route, is YAML really the best thing for
>my needs here? I'd really, *really* like to avoid using XML, but I'm
>not aware of that many options I can choose from (short of inventing a
>format of my own, which seems wrong...)

YAML works well for a variety of data-encoding problems, including log
and configuration files, informal "data bases", etc.  Because YAML is a
good match for the native data structures in modern scripting languages,
you can build up fairly complex data structures as text files, then load
them in, automagically.

I'm using YAML for a couple of projects, quite successfully.  It really
rocks, particularly when coupled with Perl and assorted Open Source tools.
That's the good news.

<flame alert>

The bad news is that

   *  The syntax definition hasn't stabilized completely.

   *  The parsers aren't "production-quality" (may not be particularly
      efficient or up to date; some have instabilities).

   *  Some of the same folks that are in charge of the parsers are tied
      up in battling out arcane points of the syntax definition, working
      on documentation, etc.

In my case, this means that I'm basically stuck with YAML.pm (admitted
by Ingy to be slow and dated, but extremely portable and robust within
its limitations).

I'm told that Syck has been made to work with Perl on some OSes, but I
don't see any "official" ports being produced.  Also, as I'm running in
a mixed environment (Linux, Mac OS X, Solaris), I have to consider the
potential cost of porting battles.  OTOH, I'll certainly keep an eye on
any progress in this area...

I'd _really_ like to see the "core" developers announce a "YAML 0.9"
(or whatever :-) syntax definition, coupled with a production-quality
parser.  Then they could go back to arguing syntax issues until they
are completely happy (think Perl 5 vs Perl 6...).

But this is just wishful thinking on my part.  And, as I'm not in a
position to jump in and help, my vote doesn't count all that much (:-).

-r
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