Model Settings

Overview

Modelsettings is a straight-forward, easy to use python application settings manager that includes ini file, environment variable, and command-line parameter support.

The necessary settings variables are declared in a yaml model, which is then used to parse an .ini file, environment variables, and finally command-line arguments.

In addition to reading settings from the three sources, modelsettings also includes sample configuration generator support for:

• command-line
• environment variables (e.g., export statements)
• ini file
• docker run
• docker compose
• kubernetes
• drone plugins

Quick start

Build the model

Modelsettings looks for a model_settings.yml in the current working directory. A simple model_settings.yml file might look like this:

env_prefix: CF
model:
  cream:
    choices:
    - True
    - False
    default: False
    example: True
    help: Would you like cream in your coffee?
    required: True
  sugar:
    choices:
    - True
    - False
    default: True
    example: True
    help: Would you like sugar in your coffee?
    required: True
  size:
    choices:
    - 10
    - 12
    - 16
    default: 12
    example: 16
    help: What size cup would you like in ounces?
    required: True

env_prefix is used as a prefix for the environment variables, this helps avoid name collision when running multiple python applications in the same shell.

model is a dictionary of required settings values.

Import and use the module

In your application, simply import modelsettings.

$ python3 -m venv venv
$ source venv/bin/activate
$ pip install modelsettings

app.py

from modelsettings import settings

def main():
    output = f"You ordered a {settings.SIZE} oz. cup of coffee"
    modifiers = []
    if settings.CREAM: modifiers.append("cream")
    if settings.SUGAR: modifiers.append("sugar")
    if modifiers:
        output += " with " + " and ".join(modifiers)
    output += "."
    print(output)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

All settings are converted to uppercase and available as settings.XXXXX

Additional command-line parameters

--help

Argparse help is generated from the model:

$ python app.py --help
usage: app.py [-h]
              [--generate {command,docker-run,docker-compose,ini,env,kubernetes,readme,drone-plugin}]
              [--settings SETTINGS] [--cream {True,False}]
              [--sugar {True,False}] [--size {10,12,16}]

optional arguments:
  -h, --help            show this help message and exit
  --generate {command,docker-run,docker-compose,ini,env,kubernetes,readme,drone-plugin}
                        Generate a template
  --settings SETTINGS   Specify a settings file. (ie settings.dev)
  --cream {True,False}  Would you like cream in your coffee? e.g., True
  --sugar {True,False}  Would you like sugar in your coffee? e.g., True
  --size {10,12,16}     What size cup would you like in ounces? e.g., 16

--generate

A command-line parameter of generate is added to the application which, when used, will generate sample settings in a number of formats.

$ python app.py --generate env
export CF_CREAM=True
export CF_SIZE=16
export CF_SUGAR=True

--generate readme

Markdown can be generated which includes all the available generate formats.

$ python app.py --generate readme >> README.md

Order of operations

The .ini file is read first, then the environment variables, then the command-line parameters.

.ini file support

The application will now support loading settings from a settings.ini file.

$ cat settings.ini
[settings]
cream=True
size=16
sugar=True
$ python app.py
You ordered a 16 oz. cup of coffee with cream and sugar.

An alternate settings file can be specified with the command line, this is useful during development of the application.

$ cat settings.dev
[settings]
cream=True
size=10
sugar=False
$ python app.py --settings settings.dev
You ordered a 10 oz. cup of coffee with cream.
$ python app.py --settings settings.dev --size 16
You ordered a 16 oz. cup of coffee with cream.

Environment variable support

All settings can be stored as environment variables. The environment variables should be prefaced with the env_prefix from the model_settings.yml file and capitalized.

$ export CF_CREAM=False
$ export CF_SIZE=12
$ export CF_SUGAR=True
$ python app.py
You ordered a 12 oz. cup of coffee with sugar.
$ export CF_CREAM=True
$ python app.py
You ordered a 12 oz. cup of coffee with cream and sugar.

Command-line parameter support

Command line parameters take precedence over .ini files and environment variables.

$ python app.py --size 10 --sugar False --cream False
You ordered a 10 oz. cup of coffee.
$ python app.py --size 12 --sugar True --cream False
You ordered a 12 oz. cup of coffee with sugar.
$ python app.py --size 16 --sugar True --cream True
You ordered a 16 oz. cup of coffee with cream and sugar.

model_settings.yml

1. The model support 5 basic python types:

• bool
• int
• float
• string
• list
• dict

The type is derived from the example given, and the settings variable is cast to that type.

In the example below, each supported type is shown with a corresponding yaml native example.

example is therefore a required property for every entry in the model.

bool:
  choices:
  - True
  - False
  default: False
  help: This is an integer setting
  required: False
  example: True
integer:
  choices:
  - 10
  - 20
  default: 60
  help: This is an integer setting
  required: False
  example: 30
float:
  default: 60.5
  help: This is an integer setting
  required: False
  example: 30.5
string:
  default: string
  help: This is a string setting
  required: False
  example: string
dictionary:
  default:
    key: value
  help: This is a dict setting
  required: False
  example:
    key: value
list:
  default:
  - item1
  - item2
  help: This is a list setting
  required: False
  example:
  - item1
  - item2

Dictionaries and lists objects in .ini and environment variables.

Dictionary and lists should be represented as json in .ini files and environment variables:

$ more complex.yml
env_prefix: RM
model:
  dictionary:
    default:
      key: value
    help: This is a dict setting
    required: False
    example:
      key: value
  list:
    default:
    - item1
    - item2
    help: This is a list setting
    required: False
    example:
    - item1
    - item2
$ export MODEL_SETTINGS=complex.yml

$ python app.py --generate env
export RM_DICTIONARY='{"key": "value"}'
export RM_LIST='["item1", "item2"]'

$ python app.py --generate ini
[settings]
dictionary={"key": "value"}
list=["item1", "item2"]

Docker

Because all settings are supported as environment variables, transitioning a python application to a docker container is simple.

Dockerfile

FROM python:3.6.4-alpine

RUN apk add -U \
	ca-certificates \
 && rm -rf /var/cache/apk/* \
 && pip install --no-cache-dir --upgrade pip

WORKDIR /usr/src/app/
ADD model_settings.yml .
ADD app.py .
ADD requirements.txt .
RUN pip install -r requirements.txt

ENTRYPOINT ["python", "app.py"]

Build

$ docker build -t coffee .
<...>
Successfully built 74938ac5902a
Successfully tagged coffee:latest

Generate

$ python app.py --generate docker-run
docker run -it \
     -e CF_CREAM=True \
     -e CF_SIZE=16 \
     -e CF_SUGAR=True \
     <container-name>

Run

$ docker run -it \
     -e CF_CREAM=True \
     -e CF_SIZE=16 \
     -e CF_SUGAR=True \
     coffee
You ordered a 16 oz. cup of coffee with cream and sugar.

$ docker run -it \
     -e CF_CREAM=False \
     -e CF_SIZE=12 \
     -e CF_SUGAR=True \
     coffee
You ordered a 12 oz. cup of coffee with sugar.