YAML
Fixing YAML Indentation Errors With a Linter and Editor
A messy file with nine findings, reported by yamllint line by line, then repaired with yq and a project config. The workflow that finds and fixes indentation.
7 min read
Library
Everything you need to level up your coding skills.
YAML
A Cheat Sheet of YAML Syntax for Everyday Config Files
One page of YAML syntax: scalars, quoting, collections, block strings, anchors, documents, comments and the values that change type. Copy-ready snippets.
6 min read
YAML
YAML 1.1 Versus 1.2 and Why the Difference Really Matters
The same 33 scalar values loaded by a 1.1 parser and a 1.2 parser: booleans, octal, base 60 and floats. Which libraries implement which, and how to stay safe.
5 min read
XML
Sorting XML Elements for Stable Output and Clean Diffs
Sort XML records by a key with XSLT or lxml so two exports of the same data produce the same file, including numeric keys and nested children.
6 min read
XML
Merging XML Config Files in Git Without Manual Conflicts
Two branches each add a dependency to the same pom.xml and Git reports a conflict. See why, then use the union merge driver and a manual rule that works.
6 min read
XML
Detecting Structure Changes in an XML Feed Over Time
A feed renamed price to cost and the loader kept running with empty columns. A short script compares element path snapshots and reports the change.
6 min read
XML
Pretty Printing XML for Cleaner Git History and Reviews
A one-line XML file turns every change into one giant diff. Two ways to fix it, a textconv diff driver and a formatted file in the repo, with real output.
7 min read
XML
Diffing XML Ignoring Attribute Order and Layout Noise
Make a line diff of two XML files show real changes only, by canonicalizing both sides, then use xmldiff when you need structural edit actions.
6 min read
XML
Canonical XML and Why Your Diffs Need It Before Comparing
Three XML files with the same meaning gave three different checksums. Canonical XML (C14N) fixes attribute order and quoting, but not whitespace.
6 min read
XML
Checking Feed Health With a Daily Script and Clear Alerts
A feed health check that tests the fetch, status, content type, well-formedness, item count and freshness, run on eight scenarios with its output.
6 min read
XML
Dealing With XML Feeds That Break Their Own Schema
A feed with a raw ampersand, a missing id, a bad date, a duplicate id and an extra element: repair what is safe, quarantine the rest, report each reject.
7 min read
JSON
Handling a Weather API With Nested Arrays of Measurements
Weather APIs return columns as parallel arrays. Turn them into rows with pandas and DuckDB, handle nulls and unequal lengths, and keep units and zones.
6 min read
Get new articles by email
We send one email when a new article is published. No spam.