vsml: a (v)ery (s)imple (m)arkup (l)anguage

“avoiding complexity reduces bugs.” - linus torvalds

table of contents

• features
  • current features
  • planned features
• file syntax
• functions
  • initFile
  • findSecStart
  • findSecEnd
  • findKey
  • readKeyValue
  • editKeyValue
  • rename
  • add
  • delete

features

current features

• simple ini-like syntax
• lightning fast python functions
• comments

planned features

• toml-like subsections
• make initFile check for more possible issues

file syntax

# a comment before a section!
[ExampleSection]
ExampleKey1=ExampleValue1
ExampleKey2=ExampleValue2

# a comment between sections!

[ExampleSection2]
# a comment inside a section!
ExampleKey1=ExampleValue1
ExampleKey2=ExampleValue2
ExampleKey3=ExampleValue3
# a comment at the end of the file!

functions

initFile

the initFile function checks if the file exists, and can be written to.

if it is possible to write to the file, it will strip the file of unneeded whitespace so that the following functions will work properly.

in future versions, this function will attempt to fix files with syntax errors.

it is highly recommended to run this function before any others.

usage:

initFile("/path/to/file.vsml")

findSec

the findSec function returns the first line, and last line of a section, in the form of a list.

usage:

findSec("/path/to/file.vsml", "ExampleSection1") # returned: [ 0, 2 ]

findKey

the findKey function returns where a key is in a file.

usage:

findKey("/path/to/file.vsml", "ExampleKey1", "ExampleSection1") # returned: 1

readKeyValue

the readKeyValue function returns the value of a key.

usage:

readKeyValue("/path/to/file.vsml", "ExampleKey1", "ExampleSection1") # returned: "testValue1"

editKeyValue

the editKeyValue function changes the value of a key.

usage:

editKeyValue("/path/to/file.vsml", "ExampleKey1", "NotExampleValue1", "ExampleSection1")

rename

the rename function changes the name of a key, or a section.

usage (key):

rename("/path/to/file.vsml", "NotExampleKey1", "ExampleSection1", key="ExampleKey1")

usage (section):

rename("/path/to/file.vsml", "NotExampleSection1", "ExampleSection1")

add

the add function adds a key, or section.

usage (key, by section):

add("/path/to/file.vsml", section="ExampleSection1", key="ExampleKey2", value="ExampleValue2")

usage (key, by line number):

add("/path/to/file.vsml", lineNum=27, key="ExampleKey2", value="ExampleValue2")

usage (section, add to end of file):

add("/path/to/file.vsml", section="ExampleSection2")

usage (section, by line number):

add("/path/to/file.vsml", lineNum=26, section="ExampleSection2")

delete

the delete function deletes a key, or section.

usage (key):

delete("/path/to/file.vsml", section="ExampleSection1", key="ExampleKey1")

usage (section):

delete("/path/to/file.vsml", section="ExampleSection1")

usage (line number):

delete("/path/to/file.vsml", lineNum=27)