Fixing merge anchor key order

also add a unit test for func FormatStringFromFilename to cover such case

.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_report_v3.md

@@ -1,51 +0,0 @@
----
-name: Bug report - V3
-about: Create a report to help us improve
-title: ''
-labels: bug, v3
-assignees: ''
-
----
-
-**Describe the bug**
-A clear and concise description of what the bug is.
-
-Note that any how to questions should be posted in the discussion board and not raised as an issue.
-
-Version of yq: 3.X.X
-Operating system: mac/linux/windows/....
-Installed via: docker/binary release/homebrew/snap/...
-
-**Input Yaml**
-Concise yaml document(s) (as simple as possible to show the bug, please keep it to 10 lines or less)
-data1.yml:
-```yaml
-this: should really work
-```
-
-data2.yml:
-```yaml
-but: it strangely didn't
-```
-
-**Command**
-The command you ran:
-```
-yq merge data1.yml data2.yml
-```
-
-**Actual behavior**
-
-```yaml
-cat: meow
-```
-
-**Expected behavior**
-
-```yaml
-this: should really work
-but: it strangely didn't
-```
-
-**Additional context**
-Add any other context about the problem here.

.github/workflows/codeql.yml

@@ -38,11 +38,11 @@ jobs:
 
     steps:
     - name: Checkout repository
-      uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
     # Initializes the CodeQL tools for scanning.
     - name: Initialize CodeQL
-      uses: github/codeql-action/init@v2
+      uses: github/codeql-action/init@v3
       with:
         languages: ${{ matrix.language }}
         # If you wish to specify custom queries, you can do so here or in a config file.
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ jobs:
     # Autobuild attempts to build any compiled languages  (C/C++, C#, or Java).
     # If this step fails, then you should remove it and run the build manually (see below)
     - name: Autobuild
-      uses: github/codeql-action/autobuild@v2
+      uses: github/codeql-action/autobuild@v3
 
     # ℹ️ Command-line programs to run using the OS shell.
     # 📚 See https://docs.github.com/en/actions/using-workflows/workflow-syntax-for-github-actions#jobsjob_idstepsrun
@@ -67,4 +67,4 @@ jobs:
     #   make release
 
     - name: Perform CodeQL Analysis
-      uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@v2
+      uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@v3

.github/workflows/docker-release.yml

@@ -14,22 +14,35 @@ jobs:
       IMAGE_NAME: mikefarah/yq
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
       - name: Set up QEMU
-        uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@v2
+        uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@v3
         with:
           platforms: all
 
       - name: Set up Docker Buildx
         id: buildx
-        uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v2
+        uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3
         with:
           version: latest
 
       - name: Available platforms
         run: echo ${{ steps.buildx.outputs.platforms }} && docker version
 
+      - name: Login to Docker Hub
+        uses: docker/login-action@v3
+        with:
+          username: ${{ secrets.DOCKER_USERNAME }}
+          password: ${{ secrets.DOCKER_PASSWORD }}
+
+      - name: Login to GitHub Container Registry
+        uses: docker/login-action@v3
+        with:
+          registry: ghcr.io
+          username: ${{ github.actor }}
+          password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
       - name: Build and push image
         run: |
           echo "GithubRef: ${GITHUB_REF}"
@@ -38,14 +51,13 @@ jobs:
           IMAGE_VERSION=${VERSION:1}
           echo "IMAGE_VERSION: ${IMAGE_VERSION}"
 
-          PLATFORMS="linux/amd64,linux/ppc64le,linux/arm64"
+          PLATFORMS="linux/amd64,linux/ppc64le,linux/arm64,linux/arm/v7,linux/s390x"
 
           echo "Building and pushing version ${IMAGE_VERSION} of image ${IMAGE_NAME}"
-          echo '${{ secrets.DOCKER_PASSWORD }}' | docker login -u '${{ secrets.DOCKER_USERNAME }}' --password-stdin
           docker buildx build \
             --label "org.opencontainers.image.authors=https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/graphs/contributors" \
             --label "org.opencontainers.image.created=$(date --rfc-3339=seconds)" \
-            --label "org.opencontainers.image.description=yq is a portable command-line YAML processor" \
+            --label "org.opencontainers.image.description=yq is a portable command-line data file processor" \
             --label "org.opencontainers.image.documentation=https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/" \
             --label "org.opencontainers.image.licenses=MIT" \
             --label "org.opencontainers.image.revision=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" \
@@ -59,13 +71,16 @@ jobs:
             -t "${IMAGE_NAME}:${IMAGE_VERSION}" \
             -t "${IMAGE_NAME}:4" \
             -t "${IMAGE_NAME}:latest" \
+            -t "ghcr.io/${IMAGE_NAME}:${IMAGE_VERSION}" \
+            -t "ghcr.io/${IMAGE_NAME}:4" \
+            -t "ghcr.io/${IMAGE_NAME}:latest" \
             .
-          
+
           cd github-action
           docker buildx build \
             --label "org.opencontainers.image.authors=https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/graphs/contributors" \
             --label "org.opencontainers.image.created=$(date --rfc-3339=seconds)" \
-            --label "org.opencontainers.image.description=yq is a portable command-line YAML processor" \
+            --label "org.opencontainers.image.description=yq is a portable command-line data file processor" \
             --label "org.opencontainers.image.documentation=https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/" \
             --label "org.opencontainers.image.licenses=MIT" \
             --label "org.opencontainers.image.revision=$(git rev-parse HEAD)" \
@@ -79,4 +94,7 @@ jobs:
             -t "${IMAGE_NAME}:${IMAGE_VERSION}-githubaction" \
             -t "${IMAGE_NAME}:4-githubaction" \
             -t "${IMAGE_NAME}:latest-githubaction" \
+            -t "ghcr.io/${IMAGE_NAME}:${IMAGE_VERSION}-githubaction" \
+            -t "ghrc.io/${IMAGE_NAME}:4-githubaction" \
+            -t "ghcr.io/${IMAGE_NAME}:latest-githubaction" \
             .

.github/workflows/go.yml

@@ -10,14 +10,14 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
 
-    - name: Set up Go 1.19
-      uses: actions/setup-go@v3
+    - name: Set up Go
+      uses: actions/setup-go@v5
       with:
-        go-version: 1.19
+        go-version: '^1.20'
       id: go
 
     - name: Check out code into the Go module directory
-      uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
     - name: Get dependencies
       run: |

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -2,27 +2,26 @@ name: Release YQ
 on:
   push:
     tags:
-      - 'v*'
+      - 'v4.*'
       - 'draft-*'
 
 jobs:
   publishGitRelease:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
-      - uses: actions/setup-go@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/setup-go@v5
         with:
-          go-version: '^1.19'
+          go-version: '^1.20'
           check-latest: true
       - name: Compile man page markup
         id: gen-man-page-md
         run: |
           ./scripts/generate-man-page-md.sh
-          echo "::set-output name=man-page-md::man.md"
 
       - name: Get the version
         id: get_version
-        run: echo ::set-output name=VERSION::${GITHUB_REF##*/}
+        run: echo "VERSION=${GITHUB_REF##*/}" >> "${GITHUB_OUTPUT}"
 
       - name: Generate man page
         uses: docker://pandoc/core:2.14.2
@@ -36,14 +35,12 @@ jobs:
             --variable=header:"yq (https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/) version ${{ steps.get_version.outputs.VERSION }}"
             --variable=author:"Mike Farah"
             --output=yq.1
-            ${{ steps.gen-man-page-md.outputs.man-page-md }}
+            man.md
 
       - name: Cross compile
         run: |
           sudo apt-get install rhash -y
-          go install github.com/mitchellh/gox@v1.0.1
-          mkdir -p build
-          cp yq.1 build/yq.1
+          go install github.com/goreleaser/goreleaser/v2@latest
           ./scripts/xcompile.sh
 
       - name: Release

.github/workflows/snap-release.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+name: Release Snap
+
+on:
+  release:
+    types: [released]
+
+  # Allows you to run this workflow manually from the Actions tab
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+jobs:
+    buildSnap:
+      environment: snap
+      runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+      steps:
+        - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        - uses: snapcore/action-build@v1
+          id: build
+        - uses: snapcore/action-publish@v1
+          env:
+            SNAPCRAFT_STORE_CREDENTIALS: ${{ secrets.STORE_LOGIN }}
+          with:
+            snap: ${{ steps.build.outputs.snap }}
+            release: stable

.github/workflows/test-yq.yml

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
 
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - name: Get test
         id: get_value
         uses: mikefarah/yq@master

.gitignore

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ _cgo_gotypes.go
 _cgo_export.*
 
 _testmain.go
+cover.out
 coverage.out
 coverage.html
 *.exe
@@ -41,7 +42,11 @@ yq*.snap
 
 test.yml
 test*.yml
+test*.xml
+test*.toml
 test*.yaml
+test_dir1/
+test_dir2/
 0.yml
 1.yml
 2.yml

.golangci.bck.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+run:
+  timeout: 5m
+linters:
+  enable:
+    - asciicheck
+    - depguard
+    - errorlint
+    - gci
+    - gochecknoinits
+    - gofmt
+    - goimports
+    - gosec
+    - gosimple
+    - staticcheck
+    - unused
+    - misspell
+    - nakedret
+    - nolintlint
+    - predeclared
+    - revive
+    - unconvert
+    - unparam
+linters-settings:
+  depguard:
+    rules:
+      prevent_unmaintained_packages:
+        list-mode: lax
+        files:
+          - $all
+          - "!$test"
+        deny:
+          - pkg: io/ioutil
+            desc: "replaced by io and os packages since Go 1.16: https://tip.golang.org/doc/go1.16#ioutil"
+issues:
+  exclude-rules:
+  - linters:
+    - revive
+    text: "var-naming"

.golangci.yml

@@ -1,16 +1,11 @@
-run:
-  timeout: 5m
+version: "2"
 linters:
   enable:
     - asciicheck
     - depguard
     - errorlint
-    - gci
     - gochecknoinits
-    - gofmt
-    - goimports
     - gosec
-    - megacheck
     - misspell
     - nakedret
     - nolintlint
@@ -18,23 +13,40 @@ linters:
     - revive
     - unconvert
     - unparam
-linters-settings:
-  depguard:
-    list-type: blacklist
-    include-go-root: true
-    packages:
-      - io/ioutil
-    packages-with-error-message:
-      - io/ioutil: "The 'io/ioutil' package is deprecated. Use corresponding 'os' or 'io' functions instead."
-issues:
-  exclude-rules:
-  - linters:
-    - gosec
-    text:  "Implicit memory aliasing in for loop."
-    path: _test\.go
-  - linters:
-    - revive
-    text: "unexported-return"
-  - linters:
-    - revive
-    text: "var-naming"
+  settings:
+    depguard:
+      rules:
+        prevent_unmaintained_packages:
+          list-mode: lax
+          files:
+            - $all
+            - '!$test'
+          deny:
+            - pkg: io/ioutil
+              desc: 'replaced by io and os packages since Go 1.16: https://tip.golang.org/doc/go1.16#ioutil'
+  exclusions:
+    generated: lax
+    presets:
+      - comments
+      - common-false-positives
+      - legacy
+      - std-error-handling
+    rules:
+      - linters:
+          - revive
+        text: var-naming
+    paths:
+      - third_party$
+      - builtin$
+      - examples$
+formatters:
+  enable:
+    - gci
+    - gofmt
+    - goimports
+  exclusions:
+    generated: lax
+    paths:
+      - third_party$
+      - builtin$
+      - examples$

.goreleaser.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+version: 2
+
+dist: build
+
+builds:
+  - id: yq
+
+    binary: yq_{{ .Os }}_{{ .Arch }}
+
+    ldflags:
+      - -s -w
+
+    env:
+      - CGO_ENABLED=0
+
+    targets:
+      - darwin_amd64
+      - darwin_arm64
+      - freebsd_386
+      - freebsd_amd64
+      - freebsd_arm
+      - linux_386
+      - linux_amd64
+      - linux_arm
+      - linux_arm64
+      - linux_mips
+      - linux_mips64
+      - linux_mips64le
+      - linux_mipsle
+      - linux_ppc64
+      - linux_ppc64le
+      - linux_riscv64
+      - linux_s390x
+      - netbsd_386
+      - netbsd_amd64
+      - netbsd_arm
+      - openbsd_386
+      - openbsd_amd64
+      - windows_386
+      - windows_amd64
+      - windows_arm
+      - windows_arm64
+
+    no_unique_dist_dir: true
+
+release:
+  disable: true
+  skip_upload: true

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-# Development
+.# Development
 
-1. Install (golang)[https://golang.org/]
+1. Install (Golang)[https://golang.org/]
 1. Run  `scripts/devtools.sh` to install the required devtools
 2. Run `make [local] vendor` to install the vendor dependencies
 2. Run `make [local] test` to ensure you can run the existing tests
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 
 # Documentation
 
-The documentation is a bit of a mixed bag (sorry in advanced, I do plan on simplifying it...) - with some parts automatically generated and stiched together and some statically defined.
+The documentation is a bit of a mixed bag (sorry in advance, I do plan on simplifying it...) - with some parts automatically generated and stiched together and some statically defined.
 
 Documentation is written in markdown, and is published in the 'gitbook' branch.
 
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ The pipeline will run the tests and automatically concatenate the files together
 
 The first step is to find if what you want is automatically generated or not - start by looking in the master branch. 
 
+Note that PRs with small changes (e.g. minor typos) may not be merged (see https://joel.net/how-one-guy-ruined-hacktoberfest2020-drama).
+
 ### Updating dynamic documentation from master
 - Search for the documentation you want to update. If you find matches in a `*_test.go` file - update that, as that will automatically update the matching `*.md` file 
 - Assuming you are updating a `*_test.go` file, once updated, run the test to regenerated the docs. E.g. for the 'Add' test generated docs, from the pkg/yqlib folder run:

Dockerfile

@@ -1,16 +1,16 @@
-FROM golang:1.19.2 as builder
+FROM golang:1.24.5 AS builder
 
 WORKDIR /go/src/mikefarah/yq
 
 COPY . .
 
-RUN CGO_ENABLED=0 go build .
+RUN CGO_ENABLED=0 go build -ldflags "-s -w" .
 # RUN ./scripts/test.sh -- this too often times out in the github pipeline.
 RUN ./scripts/acceptance.sh
 
 # Choose alpine as a base image to make this useful for CI, as many
 # CI tools expect an interactive shell inside the container
-FROM alpine:3 as production
+FROM alpine:3 AS production
 LABEL maintainer="Mike Farah <mikefarah@users.noreply.github.com>"
 
 COPY --from=builder /go/src/mikefarah/yq/yq /usr/bin/yq

Dockerfile.dev

@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
-FROM golang:1.19.2
+FROM golang:1.24.5
+
+RUN apt-get update && \
+    apt-get install -y npm && \
+    npm install -g npx cspell@latest
 
 COPY scripts/devtools.sh /opt/devtools.sh
 
-RUN set -e -x \
-    && /opt/devtools.sh
+RUN set -e -x && \
+    /opt/devtools.sh
+
 ENV PATH=/go/bin:$PATH
 
 ENV CGO_ENABLED 0

Makefile

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ MAKEFLAGS += --warn-undefined-variables
 SHELL := /bin/bash
 .SHELLFLAGS := -o pipefail -euc
 .DEFAULT_GOAL := install
-ENGINE := $(shell { command -v podman || command -v docker; } 2>/dev/null)
+ENGINE := $(shell { (podman version > /dev/null 2>&1 && command -v podman) || command -v docker; } 2>/dev/null)
 
 include Makefile.variables
 
@@ -84,8 +84,12 @@ format: vendor
 	${ENGINERUN} bash ./scripts/format.sh
 
 
+.PHONY: spelling
+spelling: format
+	${ENGINERUN} bash ./scripts/spelling.sh
+
 .PHONY: secure
-secure: format
+secure: spelling
 	${ENGINERUN} bash ./scripts/secure.sh
 
 .PHONY: check

Makefile.variables

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ export GIT_DESCRIBE = $(shell git describe --tags --always)
 LDFLAGS :=
 LDFLAGS += -X main.GitCommit=${GIT_COMMIT}${GIT_DIRTY}
 LDFLAGS += -X main.GitDescribe=${GIT_DESCRIBE}
+LDFLAGS += -w -s
 
 GITHUB_TOKEN ?=
 
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ ifeq ($(CYG_CHECK),1)
 else
 	# all non-windows environments
 	ROOT := $(shell pwd)
+	SELINUX := $(shell which getenforce 2>&1 >/dev/null && echo :z)
 endif
 
 DEV_IMAGE := ${PROJECT}_dev
@@ -32,7 +34,7 @@ DEV_IMAGE := ${PROJECT}_dev
 ENGINERUN := ${ENGINE} run --rm \
 	-e LDFLAGS="${LDFLAGS}" \
 	-e GITHUB_TOKEN="${GITHUB_TOKEN}" \
-	-v ${ROOT}/vendor:/go/src \
-	-v ${ROOT}:/${PROJECT}/src/${IMPORT_PATH} \
+	-v ${ROOT}/vendor:/go/src${SELINUX} \
+	-v ${ROOT}:/${PROJECT}/src/${IMPORT_PATH}${SELINUX} \
 	-w /${PROJECT}/src/${IMPORT_PATH} \
 	${DEV_IMAGE}

README.md

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 ![Build](https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/workflows/Build/badge.svg)  ![Docker Pulls](https://img.shields.io/docker/pulls/mikefarah/yq.svg) ![Github Releases (by Release)](https://img.shields.io/github/downloads/mikefarah/yq/total.svg) ![Go Report](https://goreportcard.com/badge/github.com/mikefarah/yq) ![CodeQL](https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/workflows/CodeQL/badge.svg)
 
 
-a lightweight and portable command-line YAML, JSON and XML processor. `yq` uses [jq](https://github.com/stedolan/jq) like syntax but works with yaml files as well as json, xml, properties, csv and tsv. It doesn't yet support everything `jq` does - but it does support the most common operations and functions, and more is being added continuously.
+a lightweight and portable command-line YAML, JSON, INI and XML processor. `yq` uses [jq](https://github.com/stedolan/jq) like syntax but works with yaml files as well as json, xml, ini, properties, csv and tsv. It doesn't yet support everything `jq` does - but it does support the most common operations and functions, and more is being added continuously.
 
 yq is written in go - so you can download a dependency free binary for your platform and you are good to go! If you prefer there are a variety of package managers that can be used as well as Docker and Podman, all listed below.
 
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ Pipe from STDIN:
 yq '.a.b[0].c' < file.yaml
 ```
 
-Update a yaml file, inplace
+Update a yaml file, in place
 ```bash
 yq -i '.a.b[0].c = "cool"' file.yaml
 ```
@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ NAME=mike yq -i '.a.b[0].c = strenv(NAME)' file.yaml
 
 Merge multiple files
 ```bash
+# merge two files
+yq -n 'load("file1.yaml") * load("file2.yaml")'
+
+# merge using globs:
 # note the use of `ea` to evaluate all the files at once
 # instead of in sequence
 yq ea '. as $item ireduce ({}; . * $item )' path/to/*.yml
@@ -45,12 +49,17 @@ yq -i '
 ' file.yaml
 ```
 
-Convert JSON to YAML
+Find and update an item in an array:
 ```bash
-yq -P sample.json
+yq '(.[] | select(.name == "foo") | .address) = "12 cat st"'
 ```
 
-See the [documentation](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/) for more examples.
+Convert JSON to YAML
+```bash
+yq -Poy sample.json
+```
+
+See [recipes](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/recipes) for more examples and the [documentation](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/) for more information.
 
 Take a look at the discussions for [common questions](https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/discussions/categories/q-a), and [cool ideas](https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/discussions/categories/show-and-tell)
 
@@ -61,26 +70,27 @@ Take a look at the discussions for [common questions](https://github.com/mikefar
 ### wget
 Use wget to download, gzipped pre-compiled binaries:
 
+
+For instance, VERSION=v4.2.0 and BINARY=yq_linux_amd64
+
 #### Compressed via tar.gz
 ```bash
 wget https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/releases/download/${VERSION}/${BINARY}.tar.gz -O - |\
-  tar xz && mv ${BINARY} /usr/bin/yq
+  tar xz && mv ${BINARY} /usr/local/bin/yq
 ```
 
 #### Plain binary
 
 ```bash
-wget https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/releases/download/${VERSION}/${BINARY} -O /usr/bin/yq &&\
-    chmod +x /usr/bin/yq
+wget https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/releases/download/${VERSION}/${BINARY} -O /usr/local/bin/yq &&\
+    chmod +x /usr/local/bin/yq
 ```
 
-For instance, VERSION=v4.2.0 and BINARY=yq_linux_amd64
-
-Use VERSION=latest to always get the latest version:
+#### Latest version
 
 ```bash
-wget https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/releases/latest/download/yq_linux_amd64 -O /usr/bin/yq &&\
-    chmod +x /usr/bin/yq
+wget https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/releases/latest/download/yq_linux_amd64 -O /usr/local/bin/yq &&\
+    chmod +x /usr/local/bin/yq
 ```
 
 ### MacOS / Linux via Homebrew:
@@ -228,6 +238,16 @@ go install github.com/mikefarah/yq/v4@latest
 ## Community Supported Installation methods
 As these are supported by the community :heart: - however, they may be out of date with the officially supported releases.
 
+_Please note that the Debian package (previously supported by @rmescandon) is no longer maintained. Please use an alternative installation method._
+
+
+### X-CMD
+Checkout `yq` on x-cmd: https://x-cmd.com/mod/yq
+
+- Instant Results: See the output of your yq filter in real-time.
+- Error Handling: Encounter a syntax error? It will display the error message and the results of the closest valid filter
+
+Thanks @edwinjhlee!
 
 ### Nix
 
@@ -254,6 +274,9 @@ pacman -S go-yq
 ```
 
 ### Windows:
+
+Using [Chocolatey](https://chocolatey.org)
+
 [![Chocolatey](https://img.shields.io/chocolatey/v/yq.svg)](https://chocolatey.org/packages/yq)
 [![Chocolatey](https://img.shields.io/chocolatey/dt/yq.svg)](https://chocolatey.org/packages/yq)
 ```
@@ -261,12 +284,15 @@ choco install yq
 ```
 Supported by @chillum (https://chocolatey.org/packages/yq)
 
-and
+Using [scoop](https://scoop.sh/)
+```
+scoop install main/yq
+```
 
-### Winget
-winget install yq
-
-https://winget.run/pkg/MikeFarah/yq
+Using [winget](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/package-manager/)
+```
+winget install --id MikeFarah.yq
+```
 
 ### Mac:
 Using [MacPorts](https://www.macports.org/)
@@ -277,27 +303,31 @@ sudo port install yq
 Supported by @herbygillot (https://ports.macports.org/maintainer/github/herbygillot)
 
 ### Alpine Linux
-- Enable edge/community repo by adding ```$MIRROR/alpine/edge/community``` to ```/etc/apk/repositories```
-- Update database index with ```apk update```
-- Install yq with ```apk add yq```
 
-Supported by Tuan Hoang
-https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/package/edge/community/x86/yq
+Alpine Linux v3.20+ (and Edge):
+```
+apk add yq-go
+```
 
+Alpine Linux up to v3.19:
+```
+apk add yq
+```
 
-### On Ubuntu 16.04 or higher from Debian package:
-```sh
-sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys CC86BB64
-sudo add-apt-repository ppa:rmescandon/yq
-sudo apt update
-sudo apt install yq -y
+Supported by Tuan Hoang (https://pkgs.alpinelinux.org/packages?name=yq-go)
+
+### Flox:
+
+Flox can be used to install yq on Linux, MacOS, and Windows through WSL.
+
+```
+flox install yq
 ```
-Supported by @rmescandon (https://launchpad.net/~rmescandon/+archive/ubuntu/yq)
 
 ## Features
 - [Detailed documentation with many examples](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/)
 - Written in portable go, so you can download a lovely dependency free binary
-- Uses similar syntax as `jq` but works with YAML, [JSON](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/usage/convert) and [XML](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/usage/xml) files
+- Uses similar syntax as `jq` but works with YAML, INI, [JSON](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/usage/convert) and [XML](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/usage/xml) files
 - Fully supports multi document yaml files
 - Supports yaml [front matter](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/usage/front-matter) blocks (e.g. jekyll/assemble)
 - Colorized yaml output
@@ -305,7 +335,7 @@ Supported by @rmescandon (https://launchpad.net/~rmescandon/+archive/ubuntu/yq)
 - [Deeply data structures](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/operators/traverse-read)
 - [Sort keys](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/operators/sort-keys)
 - Manipulate yaml [comments](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/operators/comment-operators), [styling](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/operators/style), [tags](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/operators/tag) and [anchors and aliases](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/operators/anchor-and-alias-operators).
-- [Update inplace](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/v/v4.x/commands/evaluate#flags)
+- [Update in place](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/v/v4.x/commands/evaluate#flags)
 - [Complex expressions to select and update](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/operators/select#select-and-update-matching-values-in-map)
 - Keeps yaml formatting and comments when updating (though there are issues with whitespace)
 - [Decode/Encode base64 data](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/operators/encode-decode)
@@ -332,41 +362,62 @@ Examples:
 # yq defaults to 'eval' command if no command is specified. See "yq eval --help" for more examples.
 yq '.stuff' < myfile.yml # outputs the data at the "stuff" node from "myfile.yml"
 
-yq -i '.stuff = "foo"' myfile.yml # update myfile.yml inplace
+yq -i '.stuff = "foo"' myfile.yml # update myfile.yml in place
 
 
 Available Commands:
-  completion       Generate the autocompletion script for the specified shell
-  eval             (default) Apply the expression to each document in each yaml file in sequence
-  eval-all         Loads _all_ yaml documents of _all_ yaml files and runs expression once
-  help             Help about any command
-  shell-completion Generate completion script
+  completion  Generate the autocompletion script for the specified shell
+  eval        (default) Apply the expression to each document in each yaml file in sequence
+  eval-all    Loads _all_ yaml documents of _all_ yaml files and runs expression once
+  help        Help about any command
 
 Flags:
   -C, --colors                        force print with colors
+      --csv-auto-parse                parse CSV YAML/JSON values (default true)
+      --csv-separator char            CSV Separator character (default ,)
   -e, --exit-status                   set exit status if there are no matches or null or false is returned
+      --expression string             forcibly set the expression argument. Useful when yq argument detection thinks your expression is a file.
+      --from-file string              Load expression from specified file.
   -f, --front-matter string           (extract|process) first input as yaml front-matter. Extract will pull out the yaml content, process will run the expression against the yaml content, leaving the remaining data intact
       --header-preprocess             Slurp any header comments and separators before processing expression. (default true)
   -h, --help                          help for yq
   -I, --indent int                    sets indent level for output (default 2)
-  -i, --inplace                       update the file inplace of first file given.
-  -p, --input-format string           [yaml|y|xml|x] parse format for input. Note that json is a subset of yaml. (default "yaml")
+  -i, --inplace                       update the file in place of first file given.
+  -p, --input-format string           [auto|a|yaml|y|json|j|props|p|csv|c|tsv|t|xml|x|base64|uri|toml|lua|l|ini|i] parse format for input. (default "auto")
+      --lua-globals                   output keys as top-level global variables
+      --lua-prefix string             prefix (default "return ")
+      --lua-suffix string             suffix (default ";\n")
+      --lua-unquoted                  output unquoted string keys (e.g. {foo="bar"})
   -M, --no-colors                     force print with no colors
   -N, --no-doc                        Don't print document separators (---)
+  -0, --nul-output                    Use NUL char to separate values. If unwrap scalar is also set, fail if unwrapped scalar contains NUL char.
   -n, --null-input                    Don't read input, simply evaluate the expression given. Useful for creating docs from scratch.
-  -o, --output-format string          [yaml|y|json|j|props|p|xml|x] output format type. (default "yaml")
+  -o, --output-format string          [auto|a|yaml|y|json|j|props|p|csv|c|tsv|t|xml|x|base64|uri|toml|shell|s|lua|l|ini|i] output format type. (default "auto")
   -P, --prettyPrint                   pretty print, shorthand for '... style = ""'
-  -s, --split-exp string              print each result (or doc) into a file named (exp). [exp] argument must return a string. You can use $index in the expression as the result counter.
-      --unwrapScalar                  unwrap scalar, print the value with no quotes, colors or comments (default true)
+      --properties-array-brackets     use [x] in array paths (e.g. for SpringBoot)
+      --properties-separator string   separator to use between keys and values (default " = ")
+  -s, --split-exp string              print each result (or doc) into a file named (exp). [exp] argument must return a string. You can use $index in the expression as the result counter. The necessary directories will be created.
+      --split-exp-file string         Use a file to specify the split-exp expression.
+      --string-interpolation          Toggles strings interpolation of \(exp) (default true)
+      --tsv-auto-parse                parse TSV YAML/JSON values (default true)
+  -r, --unwrapScalar                  unwrap scalar, print the value with no quotes, colors or comments. Defaults to true for yaml (default true)
   -v, --verbose                       verbose mode
   -V, --version                       Print version information and quit
-      --xml-attribute-prefix string   prefix for xml attributes (default "+")
+      --xml-attribute-prefix string   prefix for xml attributes (default "+@")
       --xml-content-name string       name for xml content (if no attribute name is present). (default "+content")
+      --xml-directive-name string     name for xml directives (e.g. <!DOCTYPE thing cat>) (default "+directive")
+      --xml-keep-namespace            enables keeping namespace after parsing attributes (default true)
+      --xml-proc-inst-prefix string   prefix for xml processing instructions (e.g. <?xml version="1"?>) (default "+p_")
+      --xml-raw-token                 enables using RawToken method instead Token. Commonly disables namespace translations. See https://pkg.go.dev/encoding/xml#Decoder.RawToken for details. (default true)
+      --xml-skip-directives           skip over directives (e.g. <!DOCTYPE thing cat>)
+      --xml-skip-proc-inst            skip over process instructions (e.g. <?xml version="1"?>)
+      --xml-strict-mode               enables strict parsing of XML. See https://pkg.go.dev/encoding/xml for more details.
 
 Use "yq [command] --help" for more information about a command.
 ```
 ## Known Issues / Missing Features
 - `yq` attempts to preserve comment positions and whitespace as much as possible, but it does not handle all scenarios (see https://github.com/go-yaml/yaml/tree/v3 for details)
 - Powershell has its own...[opinions on quoting yq](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/usage/tips-and-tricks#quotes-in-windows-powershell)
+- "yes", "no" were dropped as boolean values in the yaml 1.2 standard - which is the standard yq assumes.
 
 See [tips and tricks](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/usage/tips-and-tricks) for more common problems and solutions.

acceptance_tests/bad_args.sh

@@ -3,25 +3,25 @@
 testWriteInPlacePipeIn() {
   result=$(./yq e -i -n '.a' 2>&1)
   assertEquals 1 $?
-  assertEquals "Error: write inplace flag only applicable when giving an expression and at least one file" "$result"
+  assertEquals "Error: write in place flag only applicable when giving an expression and at least one file" "$result"
 }
 
 testWriteInPlacePipeInEvalall() {
   result=$(./yq ea -i -n '.a' 2>&1)
   assertEquals 1 $?
-  assertEquals "Error: write inplace flag only applicable when giving an expression and at least one file" "$result"
+  assertEquals "Error: write in place flag only applicable when giving an expression and at least one file" "$result"
 }
 
 testWriteInPlaceWithSplit() {
   result=$(./yq e -s "cat" -i '.a = "thing"' test.yml 2>&1)
   assertEquals 1 $?
-  assertEquals "Error: write inplace cannot be used with split file" "$result"
+  assertEquals "Error: write in place cannot be used with split file" "$result"
 }
 
 testWriteInPlaceWithSplitEvalAll() {
   result=$(./yq ea -s "cat" -i '.a = "thing"' test.yml 2>&1)
   assertEquals 1 $?
-  assertEquals "Error: write inplace cannot be used with split file" "$result"
+  assertEquals "Error: write in place cannot be used with split file" "$result"
 }
 
 testNullWithFiles() {

acceptance_tests/basic.sh

@@ -96,6 +96,17 @@ testBasicExpressionFromFile() {
   assertEquals '{"xyz":"meow","cool":"frog"}' "$X"
 }
 
+testBasicExpressionFromFileDos() {
+  ./yq -n ".xyz = 123" > test.yml
+  echo '.xyz = "meow" | .cool = "frog"' | sed 's/$'"/`echo \\\r`/" > instructions.txt
+  
+  X=$(./yq --from-file instructions.txt test.yml -o=j -I=0)
+  assertEquals '{"xyz":"meow","cool":"frog"}' "$X"
+
+  X=$(./yq ea --from-file instructions.txt test.yml -o=j -I=0)
+  assertEquals '{"xyz":"meow","cool":"frog"}' "$X"
+}
+
 testBasicGitHubAction() {
   ./yq -n ".a = 123" > test.yml
   X=$(cat /dev/null | ./yq test.yml)
@@ -143,7 +154,7 @@ testBasicCatWithFilesNoDash() {
 }
 
 # when the nullinput flag is used
-# dont automatically read STDIN (this breaks github actions)
+# don't automatically read STDIN (this breaks github actions)
 testBasicCreateFileGithubAction() {
   cat /dev/null | ./yq -n ".a = 123" > test.yml
 }
@@ -302,7 +313,7 @@ testBasicExitStatusNoEval() {
   assertEquals 1 "$?"
 }
 
-testBasicExtractFieldWithSeperator() {
+testBasicExtractFieldWithSeparator() {
     cat >test.yml <<EOL
 ---
 name: chart-name
@@ -312,7 +323,7 @@ EOL
   assertEquals "chart-name" "$X"
 }
 
-testBasicExtractMultipleFieldWithSeperator() {
+testBasicExtractMultipleFieldWithSeparator() {
     cat >test.yml <<EOL
 ---
 name: chart-name
@@ -351,6 +362,12 @@ EOM
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
-
+testBasicClosedStdIn() {
+  cat >test.yml <<EOL
+a: 1
+EOL
+  X=$(./yq e '.a' test.yml <&-)
+  assertEquals "1" "$X"
+}
 
 source ./scripts/shunit2

acceptance_tests/flags.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+setUp() {
+  rm test*.yml || true
+  cat >test.yml <<EOL
+# comment
+EOL
+}
+
+testStringInterpolation() {
+    X=$(./yq -n '"Mike \(3 + 4)"')
+    assertEquals "Mike 7" "$X"
+}
+
+testNoStringInterpolation() {
+    X=$(./yq --string-interpolation=f -n '"Mike \(3 + 4)"')
+    assertEquals "Mike \(3 + 4)" "$X"
+}
+
+
+source ./scripts/shunit2

acceptance_tests/inputs-format-auto.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,249 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+setUp() {
+  rm test*.yml 2>/dev/null || true
+  rm test*.toml 2>/dev/null || true
+  rm test*.tfstate 2>/dev/null || true
+  rm test*.json 2>/dev/null || true
+  rm test*.properties 2>/dev/null || true
+  rm test*.csv 2>/dev/null || true
+  rm test*.tsv 2>/dev/null || true
+  rm test*.xml 2>/dev/null || true
+}
+
+testInputJson() {
+  cat >test.json <<EOL
+{ "mike" : { "things": "cool" } }
+EOL
+
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+{
+  "mike": {
+    "things": "cool"
+  }
+}
+EOM
+
+  X=$(./yq test.json)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+
+  X=$(./yq ea test.json)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+}
+
+testInputToml() {
+  cat >test.toml <<EOL
+[owner]
+name = "Tom Preston-Werner"
+dob = 1979-05-27T07:32:00-08:00
+EOL
+
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+owner:
+  name: Tom Preston-Werner
+  dob: 1979-05-27T07:32:00-08:00
+EOM
+
+  X=$(./yq -oy test.toml)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+
+  X=$(./yq ea -oy test.toml)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+}
+
+testInputTfstate() {
+  cat >test.tfstate <<EOL
+{ "mike" : { "things": "cool" } }
+EOL
+
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+{"mike": {"things": "cool"}}
+EOM
+
+  X=$(./yq test.tfstate)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+
+  X=$(./yq ea test.tfstate)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+}
+
+testInputJsonOutputYaml() {
+  cat >test.json <<EOL
+{ "mike" : { "things": "cool" } }
+EOL
+
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+mike:
+  things: cool
+EOM
+
+  X=$(./yq test.json -oy)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+
+  X=$(./yq ea test.json -oy)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+}
+
+testInputProperties() {
+  cat >test.properties <<EOL
+mike.things = hello
+EOL
+
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+mike.things = hello
+EOM
+
+  X=$(./yq e test.properties)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+
+  X=$(./yq test.properties)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+
+  X=$(./yq ea test.properties)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+}
+
+testInputPropertiesGitHubAction() {
+  cat >test.properties <<EOL
+mike.things = hello
+EOL
+
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+mike.things = hello
+EOM
+
+  X=$(cat /dev/null | ./yq e test.properties)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+
+  X=$(cat /dev/null | ./yq ea test.properties)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+}
+
+testInputCSV() {
+  cat >test.csv <<EOL
+fruit,yumLevel
+apple,5
+banana,4
+EOL
+
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+fruit,yumLevel
+apple,5
+banana,4
+EOM
+
+  X=$(./yq e test.csv)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+
+  X=$(./yq ea test.csv)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+}
+
+testInputCSVUTF8() {
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+id,first,last
+1,john,smith
+1,jane,smith
+EOM
+
+  X=$(./yq utf8.csv)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+}
+
+testInputTSV() {
+  cat >test.tsv <<EOL
+fruit	yumLevel
+apple	5
+banana	4
+EOL
+
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+fruit	yumLevel
+apple	5
+banana	4
+EOM
+
+  X=$(./yq e test.tsv)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+
+  X=$(./yq ea test.tsv)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+}
+
+
+
+
+testInputXml() {
+  cat >test.xml <<EOL
+<cat legs="4">BiBi</cat>
+EOL
+
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+<cat legs="4">BiBi</cat>
+EOM
+
+  X=$(./yq e test.xml)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+
+  X=$(./yq ea test.xml)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+}
+
+testInputXmlNamespaces() {
+  cat >test.xml <<EOL
+<?xml version="1.0"?>
+<map xmlns="some-namespace" xmlns:xsi="some-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="some-url">
+</map>
+EOL
+
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+<?xml version="1.0"?>
+<map xmlns="some-namespace" xmlns:xsi="some-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="some-url"></map>
+EOM
+
+  X=$(./yq e test.xml)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+
+  X=$(./yq ea test.xml)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+}
+
+
+
+testInputXmlStrict() {
+  cat >test.xml <<EOL
+<?xml version="1.0"?>
+<!DOCTYPE root [
+<!ENTITY writer "Catherine.">
+<!ENTITY copyright "(r) Great">
+]>
+<root>
+    <item>&writer;&copyright;</item>
+</root>
+EOL
+
+  X=$(./yq --xml-strict-mode test.xml  2>&1)
+  assertEquals 1 $?
+  assertEquals "Error: bad file 'test.xml': XML syntax error on line 7: invalid character entity &writer;" "$X"
+
+  X=$(./yq ea --xml-strict-mode test.xml  2>&1)
+  assertEquals "Error: bad file 'test.xml': XML syntax error on line 7: invalid character entity &writer;" "$X"
+}
+
+testInputXmlGithubAction() {
+  cat >test.xml <<EOL
+<cat legs="4">BiBi</cat>
+EOL
+
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+<cat legs="4">BiBi</cat>
+EOM
+
+  X=$(cat /dev/null | ./yq e test.xml)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+
+  X=$(cat /dev/null | ./yq ea test.xml)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+}
+
+source ./scripts/shunit2

acceptance_tests/inputs-format.sh

@@ -63,6 +63,61 @@ EOM
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
+testInputCSVCustomSeparator() {
+  cat >test.csv <<EOL
+fruit;yumLevel
+apple;5
+banana;4
+EOL
+
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+- fruit: apple
+  yumLevel: 5
+- fruit: banana
+  yumLevel: 4
+EOM
+
+  X=$(./yq -p=csv --csv-separator ";" test.csv)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+
+  X=$(./yq ea -p=csv --csv-separator ";" test.csv)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+}
+
+testInputCSVNoAuto() {
+  cat >test.csv <<EOL
+thing1
+name: cat
+EOL
+
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+- thing1: 'name: cat'
+EOM
+
+  X=$(./yq --csv-auto-parse=f test.csv -oy)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+
+  X=$(./yq ea --csv-auto-parse=f test.csv -oy)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+}
+
+testInputTSVNoAuto() {
+  cat >test.tsv <<EOL
+thing1
+name: cat
+EOL
+
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+- thing1: 'name: cat'
+EOM
+
+  X=$(./yq --tsv-auto-parse=f test.tsv -oy)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+
+  X=$(./yq ea --tsv-auto-parse=f test.tsv -oy)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+}
+
 testInputCSVUTF8() {
   read -r -d '' expected << EOM
 - id: 1
@@ -109,7 +164,7 @@ EOL
   read -r -d '' expected << EOM
 cat:
   +content: BiBi
-  +legs: "4"
+  +@legs: "4"
 EOM
 
   X=$(./yq e -p=xml test.yml)
@@ -120,7 +175,7 @@ EOM
 }
 
 testInputXmlNamespaces() {
-  cat >test.yml <<EOL
+  cat >test.xml <<EOL
 <?xml version="1.0"?>
 <map xmlns="some-namespace" xmlns:xsi="some-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="some-url">
 </map>
@@ -129,15 +184,15 @@ EOL
   read -r -d '' expected << EOM
 +p_xml: version="1.0"
 map:
-  +xmlns: some-namespace
-  +xmlns:xsi: some-instance
-  +xsi:schemaLocation: some-url
+  +@xmlns: some-namespace
+  +@xmlns:xsi: some-instance
+  +@xsi:schemaLocation: some-url
 EOM
 
-  X=$(./yq e -p=xml test.yml)
+  X=$(./yq e -p=xml test.xml)
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 
-  X=$(./yq ea -p=xml test.yml)
+  X=$(./yq ea -p=xml test.xml)
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
@@ -190,7 +245,7 @@ EOL
   read -r -d '' expected << EOM
 cat:
   +content: BiBi
-  +legs: "4"
+  +@legs: "4"
 EOM
 
   X=$(cat /dev/null | ./yq e -p=xml test.yml)

acceptance_tests/leading-separator.sh

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ a: test
 EOL
 }
 
-testLeadingSeperatorWithDoc() {
+testLeadingSeparatorWithDoc() {
   cat >test.yml <<EOL
 # hi peeps
 # cool
@@ -34,18 +34,94 @@ EOM
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
-testLeadingSeperatorPipeIntoEvalSeq() {
+
+testLeadingSeparatorWithNewlinesNewDoc() {
+  cat >test.yml <<EOL
+# hi peeps
+# cool
+
+
+---
+a: test
+---
+b: cool
+EOL
+
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+# hi peeps
+# cool
+
+
+---
+a: thing
+---
+b: cool
+EOM
+
+  X=$(./yq e '(select(di == 0) | .a) = "thing"' - < test.yml)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+}
+
+testLeadingSeparatorWithNewlinesMoreComments() {
+  cat >test.yml <<EOL
+# hi peeps
+# cool
+
+---
+# great
+
+a: test
+---
+b: cool
+EOL
+
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+# hi peeps
+# cool
+
+---
+# great
+
+a: thing
+---
+b: cool
+EOM
+
+  X=$(./yq e '(select(di == 0) | .a) = "thing"' - < test.yml)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+}
+
+
+testLeadingSeparatorWithDirective() {
+  cat >test.yml <<EOL
+%YAML 1.1
+---
+this: should really work
+EOL
+
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+%YAML 1.1
+---
+this: should really work
+EOM
+
+  X=$(./yq < test.yml)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+}
+
+
+testLeadingSeparatorPipeIntoEvalSeq() {
   X=$(./yq e - < test.yml)
   expected=$(cat test.yml)
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
-testLeadingSeperatorExtractField() {
+testLeadingSeparatorExtractField() {
   X=$(./yq e '.a' - < test.yml)
   assertEquals "test" "$X"
 }
 
-testLeadingSeperatorExtractFieldWithCommentsAfterSep() {
+testLeadingSeparatorExtractFieldWithCommentsAfterSep() {
   cat >test.yml <<EOL
 ---
 # hi peeps
@@ -56,7 +132,7 @@ EOL
   assertEquals "test" "$X"
 }
 
-testLeadingSeperatorExtractFieldWithCommentsBeforeSep() {
+testLeadingSeparatorExtractFieldWithCommentsBeforeSep() {
   cat >test.yml <<EOL
 # hi peeps
 # cool
@@ -68,7 +144,7 @@ EOL
 }
 
 
-testLeadingSeperatorExtractFieldMultiDoc() {
+testLeadingSeparatorExtractFieldMultiDoc() {
   cat >test.yml <<EOL
 ---
 a: test
@@ -85,13 +161,13 @@ EOM
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
-testLeadingSeperatorExtractFieldMultiDocWithComments() {
+testLeadingSeparatorExtractFieldMultiDocWithComments() {
   cat >test.yml <<EOL
 # here
 ---
 # there
 a: test
-# whereever
+# wherever
 ---
 # you are
 a: test2
@@ -108,26 +184,26 @@ EOM
 }
 
 
-testLeadingSeperatorEvalSeq() {
+testLeadingSeparatorEvalSeq() {
   X=$(./yq e test.yml)
   expected=$(cat test.yml)
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
-testLeadingSeperatorPipeIntoEvalAll() {
+testLeadingSeparatorPipeIntoEvalAll() {
   X=$(./yq ea - < test.yml)
   expected=$(cat test.yml)
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
 
-testLeadingSeperatorEvalAll() {
+testLeadingSeparatorEvalAll() {
   X=$(./yq ea test.yml)
   expected=$(cat test.yml)
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
-testLeadingSeperatorMultiDocEvalSimple() {
+testLeadingSeparatorMultiDocEvalSimple() {
   read -r -d '' expected << EOM
 ---
 a: test
@@ -141,7 +217,7 @@ EOM
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
-testLeadingSeperatorMultiDocInOneFile() {
+testLeadingSeparatorMultiDocInOneFile() {
   cat >test.yml <<EOL
 ---
 # hi peeps
@@ -155,7 +231,7 @@ EOL
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
-testLeadingSeperatorMultiDocInOneFileEvalAll() {
+testLeadingSeparatorMultiDocInOneFileEvalAll() {
   cat >test.yml <<EOL
 ---
 # hi peeps
@@ -169,7 +245,7 @@ EOL
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
-testLeadingSeperatorMultiDocEvalComments() {
+testLeadingSeparatorMultiDocEvalComments() {
   cat >test.yml <<EOL
 # hi peeps
 # cool
@@ -197,7 +273,7 @@ EOM
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
-testLeadingSeperatorMultiDocEvalCommentsTrailingSep() {
+testLeadingSeparatorMultiDocEvalCommentsTrailingSep() {
   cat >test.yml <<EOL
 # hi peeps
 # cool
@@ -229,7 +305,7 @@ EOM
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
-testLeadingSeperatorMultiMultiDocEvalCommentsTrailingSep() {
+testLeadingSeparatorMultiMultiDocEvalCommentsTrailingSep() {
   cat >test.yml <<EOL
 # hi peeps
 # cool
@@ -269,7 +345,7 @@ EOM
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
-testLeadingSeperatorMultiDocEvalCommentsLeadingSep() {
+testLeadingSeparatorMultiDocEvalCommentsLeadingSep() {
   cat >test.yml <<EOL
 ---
 # hi peeps
@@ -329,7 +405,7 @@ EOM
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
-testLeadingSeperatorMultiDocEvalCommentsStripComments() {
+testLeadingSeparatorMultiDocEvalCommentsStripComments() {
   cat >test.yml <<EOL
 ---
 # hi peeps
@@ -352,7 +428,7 @@ EOM
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
-testLeadingSeperatorMultiDocEvalCommentsLeadingSepNoDocFlag() {
+testLeadingSeparatorMultiDocEvalCommentsLeadingSepNoDocFlag() {
   cat >test.yml <<EOL
 ---
 # hi peeps
@@ -378,7 +454,7 @@ EOM
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
-testLeadingSeperatorMultiDocEvalJsonFlag() {
+testLeadingSeparatorMultiDocEvalJsonFlag() {
   cat >test.yml <<EOL
 ---
 # hi peeps
@@ -407,7 +483,7 @@ EOM
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
-testLeadingSeperatorMultiDocEvalAllJsonFlag() {
+testLeadingSeparatorMultiDocEvalAllJsonFlag() {
   cat >test.yml <<EOL
 ---
 # hi peeps
@@ -436,7 +512,7 @@ EOM
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
-testLeadingSeperatorMultiDocEvalAll() {
+testLeadingSeparatorMultiDocEvalAll() {
   read -r -d '' expected << EOM
 ---
 a: test

acceptance_tests/load-file.sh

@@ -3,25 +3,25 @@
 testLoadFileNotExist() {
   result=$(./yq e -n 'load("cat.yml")' 2>&1)
   assertEquals 1 $?
-  assertEquals "Error: Failed to load cat.yml: open cat.yml: no such file or directory" "$result"
+  assertEquals "Error: failed to load cat.yml: open cat.yml: no such file or directory" "$result"
 }
 
 testLoadFileExpNotExist() {
   result=$(./yq e -n 'load(.a)' 2>&1)
   assertEquals 1 $?
-  assertEquals "Error: Filename expression returned nil" "$result"
+  assertEquals "Error: filename expression returned nil" "$result"
 }
 
 testStrLoadFileNotExist() {
   result=$(./yq e -n 'strload("cat.yml")' 2>&1)
   assertEquals 1 $?
-  assertEquals "Error: Failed to load cat.yml: open cat.yml: no such file or directory" "$result"
+  assertEquals "Error: failed to load cat.yml: open cat.yml: no such file or directory" "$result"
 }
 
 testStrLoadFileExpNotExist() {
   result=$(./yq e -n 'strload(.a)' 2>&1)
   assertEquals 1 $?
-  assertEquals "Error: Filename expression returned nil" "$result"
+  assertEquals "Error: filename expression returned nil" "$result"
 }
 
 source ./scripts/shunit2

acceptance_tests/nul-separator.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,286 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+setUp() {
+    rm test*.yml || true
+}
+
+## Convenient bash shortcut to read records of NUL separated values
+## from stdin the safe way. See example usage in the next tests.
+read-0() {
+    local eof="" IFS=''
+    while [ "$1" ]; do
+        ## - The `-r` avoids bad surprise with '\n' and other interpreted
+        ##   sequences that can be read.
+        ## - The `-d ''` is the (strange?) way to refer to NUL delimiter.
+        ## - The `--` is how to avoid unpleasant surprises if your
+        ##   "$1" starts with "-" (minus) sign. This protection also
+        ##   will produce a readable error if you want to try to start
+        ##   your variable names with a "-".
+        read -r -d '' -- "$1" || eof=1
+        shift
+    done
+    [ -z "$eof" ] ## fail on EOF
+}
+
+## Convenient bash shortcut to be used with the next function `p-err`
+## to read NUL separated values the safe way AND catch any errors from
+## the process creating the stream of NUL separated data.  See example
+## usage in the tests.
+read-0-err() {
+    local ret="$1" eof="" idx=0 last=
+    read -r -- "${ret?}" <<<"0"
+    shift
+    while [ "$1" ]; do
+        last=$idx
+        read -r -d '' -- "$1" || {
+            ## Put this last value in ${!ret}
+            eof="$1"
+            read -r -- "$ret" <<<"${!eof}"
+            break
+        }
+        ((idx++))
+        shift
+    done
+    [ -z "$eof" ] || {
+        if [ "$last" != 0 ]; then
+            ## Uhoh, we have no idea if the errorlevel of the internal
+            ## command was properly delimited with a NUL char, and
+            ## anyway something went really wrong at least about the
+            ## number of fields separated by NUL char and the one
+            ## expected.
+            echo "Error: read-0-err couldn't fill all value $ret = '${!ret}', '$eof', '${!eof}'" >&2
+            read -r -- "$ret" <<<"not-enough-values"
+        else
+            if ! [[ "${!ret}" =~ ^[0-9]+$ && "${!ret}" -ge 0 && "${!ret}" -le 127 ]]; then
+                ## This could happen if you don't use `p-err` wrapper,
+                ## or used stdout in unexpected ways in your inner
+                ## command.
+                echo "Error: last value is not a number, did you finish with an errorlevel ?" >&2
+                read -r -- "$ret" <<<"last-value-not-a-number"
+            fi
+        fi
+        false
+    }
+}
+
+## Simply runs command given as argument and adds errorlevel in the
+## standard output. Is expected to be used in tandem with
+## `read-0-err`.
+p-err() {
+    local exp="$1"
+    "$@"
+    printf "%s" "$?"
+}
+
+wyq-r() {
+    local exp="$1"
+    ./yq e -0 -r=false "$1"
+    printf "%s" "$?"
+}
+
+testBasicUsageRaw() {
+  cat >test.yml <<EOL
+a: foo
+b: bar
+EOL
+
+  printf "foo\0bar\0" > expected.out
+
+  ## We need to compare binary content here. We have to filter the compared
+  ## content through a representation that gets rid of NUL chars but accurately
+  ## transcribe the content.
+  ## Also as it would be nice to have a pretty output in case the test fails,
+  ## we use here 'hd': a widely available shortcut to 'hexdump' that will
+  ## pretty-print any binary to it's hexadecimal representation.
+  ##
+  ## Note that the standard `assertEquals` compare its arguments
+  ## value, but they can't hold NUL characters (this comes from the
+  ## limitation of the C API of `exec*(..)` functions that requires
+  ## `const char *arv[]`). And these are NUL terminated strings.  As a
+  ## consequence, the NUL characters gets removed in bash arguments.
+  assertEquals "$(hd expected.out)" \
+               "$(./yq e -0 '.a, .b' test.yml | hd)"
+
+  rm expected.out
+}
+
+testBasicUsage() {
+  local a b
+  cat >test.yml <<EOL
+a: foo
+b: bar
+EOL
+
+  ## We provide 2 values, and ask to fill 2 variables.
+  read-0 a b < <(./yq e -0 '.a, .b' test.yml)
+  assertEquals "$?" "0"      ## Everything is fine
+  assertEquals "foo" "$a"    ## Values are correctly parsed
+  assertEquals "bar" "$b"
+
+  a=YYY ; b=XXX
+  ## Not enough values provided to fill `a` and `b`.
+  read-0 a b < <(./yq e -0 '.a' test.yml)
+  assertEquals "$?" "1"      ## An error was emitted
+  assertEquals "foo" "$a"    ## First value was correctly parsed
+  assertEquals "" "$b"       ## Second was still reset
+
+  ## Error from inner command are not catchable !. Use
+  ## `read-0-err`/`p-err` for that.
+  read-0 a < <(printf "\0"; ./yq e -0 'xxx' test.yml; )
+  assertEquals "$?" "0"
+
+}
+
+testBasicUsageJson() {
+  cat >test.yml <<EOL
+a:
+  x: foo
+b: bar
+EOL
+
+  read-0 a b < <(./yq e -0 -o=json '.a, .b' test.yml)
+
+  assertEquals '{
+  "x": "foo"
+}' "$a"
+  assertEquals '"bar"' "$b"
+
+}
+
+testFailWithValueContainingNUL() {
+  local a b c
+  ## Note that value of field 'a' actually contains a NUL char !
+  cat >test.yml <<EOL
+a: "foo\u0000bar"
+b: 1
+c: |
+  wiz
+  boom
+EOL
+
+  ## We are looking for trouble with asking to separated fields with NUL
+  ## char and requested value `.a` actually contains itself a NUL char !
+  read-0 a b c < <(./yq e -0 '.a, .b, .c' test.yml)
+  assertNotEquals "0" "$?"   ## read-0 failed to fill all values
+
+  ## But here, we can request for one value, even if `./yq` fails
+  read-0 b < <(./yq e -0 '.b, .a' test.yml)
+  assertEquals "0" "$?"   ## read-0 succeeds at feeding the first value
+  ## Note: to catch the failure of `yq`, see in the next tests the usage
+  ## of `read-0-err`.
+
+  ## using -r=false solves any NUL containing value issues, but keeps
+  ## all in YAML representation:
+  read-0 a b c < <(./yq e -0 -r=false '.a, .b, .c' test.yml)
+  assertEquals "0" "$?"    ## All goes well despite asking for `a` value
+
+  assertEquals '"foo\0bar"' "$a"   ## This is a YAML string representation
+  assertEquals '1' "$b"
+  assertEquals '|
+  wiz
+  boom' "$c"
+}
+
+testStandardLoop() {
+    local E a b res
+
+    ## Here everything is normal: 4 values, that will be paired
+    ## in key/values.
+    cat >test.yml <<EOL
+- yay
+- wiz
+- hop
+- pow
+EOL
+
+    res=""
+    while read-0-err E a b; do
+        res+="$a: $b;"
+    done < <(p-err ./yq -0 '.[]' test.yml)
+
+    assertEquals "0" "$E"                     ## errorlevel of internal command
+    assertEquals "yay: wiz;hop: pow;" "$res"  ## expected result
+}
+
+testStandardLoopWithoutEnoughValues() {
+    local E a b res
+
+    ## Here 5 values, there will be a missing value when reading
+    ## pairs of value.
+    cat >test.yml <<EOL
+- yay
+- wiz
+- hop
+- pow
+- kwak
+EOL
+
+    res=""
+    ## The loop will succeed 2 times then fail
+    while read-0-err E a b; do
+        res+="$a: $b;"
+    done < <(p-err ./yq -0 '.[]' test.yml)
+
+    assertEquals "not-enough-values" "$E"     ## Not enough value error
+    assertEquals "yay: wiz;hop: pow;" "$res"  ## the 2 full key/value pairs
+
+}
+
+testStandardLoopWithInternalCmdError() {
+    local E a b res
+
+    ## Note the third value contains a NUL char !
+    cat >test.yml <<EOL
+- yay
+- wiz
+- "foo\0bar"
+- hop
+- pow
+EOL
+
+    res=""
+    ## It should be only upon the second pass in the loop that
+    ## read-0-err will catch the fact that there is an error !
+    while read-0-err E a b; do
+        res+="$a: $b;"
+    done < <(p-err ./yq -0 '.[]' test.yml)
+    assertEquals "1" "$E"            ## Internal command errorlevel (from `./yq`)
+    assertEquals "yay: wiz;" "$res"  ## first 2 values were ok at least
+
+}
+
+testStandardLoopNotEnoughErrorEatsCmdError() {
+    local E a b res
+
+    ## Because of possible edge cases where the internal errorlevel
+    ## reported by `p-err` in the standard output might be mangled
+    ## with the unfinished record, `read-0-err E ...` will NOT report
+    ## the internal command error in the variable E and instead will
+    ## store the value 'not-enough-values'. In real world, anyway, you
+    ## will want to react the same if the internal command failed
+    ## and/or you didn't get as much values as expected while
+    ## reading. Keep in mind also that standard error is not
+    ## swallowed, so you can read reports from the inner command AND
+    ## from `read-0-err`.
+
+    ## Here, note that the fourth value contains a NUL char !
+    cat >test.yml <<EOL
+- yay
+- wiz
+- hop
+- "foo\0bar"
+- pow
+EOL
+
+    res=""
+    ## It should be only upon the second loop that read-0-err will catch
+    ## the fact that there are not enough data to fill the requested variables
+    while read-0-err E a b; do
+        res+="$a: $b;"
+    done < <(p-err ./yq -0 '.[]' test.yml)
+    assertEquals "not-enough-values" "$E"          ## Not enough values error eats internal error !
+    assertEquals "yay: wiz;" "$res"  ## first 2 values were ok at least
+}
+
+
+source ./scripts/shunit2

acceptance_tests/output-format.sh

@@ -48,6 +48,64 @@ EOM
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
+testOutputYamlRawDefault() {
+  cat >test.yml <<EOL
+a: "cat"
+EOL
+
+  X=$(./yq e  '.a' test.yml)
+  assertEquals "cat" "$X"
+
+  X=$(./yq ea '.a' test.yml)
+  assertEquals "cat" "$X"
+}
+
+testOutputYamlRawOff() {
+  cat >test.yml <<EOL
+a: "cat"
+EOL
+
+  X=$(./yq e -r=false '.a' test.yml)
+  assertEquals "\"cat\"" "$X"
+
+  X=$(./yq ea -r=false '.a' test.yml)
+  assertEquals "\"cat\"" "$X"
+}
+
+testOutputYamlRawOnRoot() {
+  cat >test.yml <<EOL
+'a'
+EOL
+
+  X=$(./yq e -r '.' test.yml)
+  assertEquals "a" "$X"
+}
+
+testOutputJsonRaw() {
+  cat >test.yml <<EOL
+a: cat
+EOL
+
+  X=$(./yq e -r --output-format=json '.a' test.yml)
+  assertEquals "cat" "$X"
+
+  X=$(./yq ea -r --output-format=json '.a' test.yml)
+  assertEquals "cat" "$X"
+}
+
+testOutputJsonDefault() {
+  cat >test.yml <<EOL
+a: cat
+EOL
+
+  X=$(./yq e --output-format=json '.a' test.yml)
+  assertEquals "\"cat\"" "$X"
+
+  X=$(./yq ea --output-format=json '.a' test.yml)
+  assertEquals "\"cat\"" "$X"
+}
+
+
 testOutputJsonShort() {
   cat >test.yml <<EOL
 a: {b: ["cat"]}
@@ -72,11 +130,11 @@ EOM
 
 testOutputProperties() {
   cat >test.yml <<EOL
-a: {b: {c: ["cat"]}}
+a: {b: {c: ["cat cat"]}}
 EOL
 
   read -r -d '' expected << EOM
-a.b.c.0 = cat
+a.b.c.0 = cat cat
 EOM
 
   X=$(./yq e --output-format=props test.yml)
@@ -86,13 +144,30 @@ EOM
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
-testOutputPropertiesShort() {
+testOutputPropertiesDontUnwrap() {
   cat >test.yml <<EOL
-a: {b: {c: ["cat"]}}
+a: {b: {c: ["cat cat"]}}
 EOL
 
   read -r -d '' expected << EOM
-a.b.c.0 = cat
+a.b.c.0 = "cat cat"
+EOM
+
+  X=$(./yq e -r=false --output-format=props test.yml)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+
+  X=$(./yq ea -r=false --output-format=props test.yml)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+}
+
+
+testOutputPropertiesShort() {
+  cat >test.yml <<EOL
+a: {b: {c: ["cat cat"]}}
+EOL
+
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+a.b.c.0 = cat cat
 EOM
 
   X=$(./yq e -o=p test.yml)
@@ -123,6 +198,27 @@ EOM
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
+testOutputCSVCustomSeparator() {
+  cat >test.yml <<EOL
+- fruit: apple
+  yumLevel: 5
+- fruit: banana
+  yumLevel: 4
+EOL
+
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+fruit;yumLevel
+apple;5
+banana;4
+EOM
+
+  X=$(./yq -oc --csv-separator ";" test.yml)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+
+  X=$(./yq ea -o=csv --csv-separator ";" test.yml)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+}
+
 testOutputTSV() {
   cat >test.yml <<EOL
 - fruit: apple
@@ -186,7 +282,7 @@ EOM
 
 testOutputXmComplex() {
   cat >test.yml <<EOL
-a: {b: {c: ["cat", "dog"], +f: meow}}
+a: {b: {c: ["cat", "dog"], +@f: meow}}
 EOL
 
   read -r -d '' expected << EOM
@@ -205,4 +301,43 @@ EOM
   assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
 }
 
-source ./scripts/shunit2
+testLuaOutputPretty() {
+  cat >test.yml <<EOL
+animals:
+  cat: meow
+EOL
+
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+return {
+	["animals"] = {
+		["cat"] = "meow";
+	};
+};
+EOM
+
+  X=$(./yq e --output-format=lua test.yml)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+
+  X=$(./yq e --output-format=lua --prettyPrint test.yml)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+
+}
+
+testLuaOutputSubset() {
+  cat >test.yml <<EOL
+animals:
+  cat: meow
+EOL
+
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+return {
+	["cat"] = "meow";
+};
+EOM
+
+  X=$(./yq e --output-format=lua '.animals' test.yml)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+
+}
+
+source ./scripts/shunit2

acceptance_tests/shebang.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+setUp() {
+  rm test*.yq || true
+  cat >test.yq <<EOL
+#!./yq
+.a.b
+EOL
+chmod +x test.yq
+
+rm test*.yml || true
+  cat >test.yml <<EOL
+a: {b: apple}
+EOL
+}
+
+testCanExecYqFile() {
+  read -r -d '' expected << EOM
+apple
+EOM
+   X=$(./test.yq test.yml)
+  assertEquals "$expected" "$X"
+}
+
+source ./scripts/shunit2
+

acceptance_tests/split-printer.sh

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 setUp() {
   rm test*.yml || true
+  rm -rf test_dir* || true
 }
 
 testBasicSplitWithName() {
@@ -204,4 +205,23 @@ EOM
   assertEquals "$expectedDoc3" "$doc3"
 }
 
-source ./scripts/shunit2
+testSplitWithDirectories() {
+  cat >test.yml <<EOL
+f: test_dir1/test_file1
+---
+f: test_dir2/dir22/test_file2
+---
+f: test_file3
+EOL
+
+  ./yq e --no-doc -s ".f" test.yml
+
+  doc1=$(cat test_dir1/test_file1.yml)
+  assertEquals "f: test_dir1/test_file1" "$doc1"
+  doc2=$(cat test_dir2/dir22/test_file2.yml)
+  assertEquals "f: test_dir2/dir22/test_file2" "$doc2"
+  doc3=$(cat test_file3.yml)
+  assertEquals "f: test_file3" "$doc3"
+}
+
+source ./scripts/shunit2

cmd/completion.go

@@ -7,19 +7,20 @@ import (
 )
 
 var completionCmd = &cobra.Command{
-	Use:   "shell-completion [bash|zsh|fish|powershell]",
-	Short: "Generate completion script",
+	Use:     "completion [bash|zsh|fish|powershell]",
+	Aliases: []string{"shell-completion"},
+	Short:   "Generate the autocompletion script for the specified shell",
 	Long: `To load completions:
 
 Bash:
 
-$ source <(yq shell-completion bash)
+$ source <(yq completion bash)
 
 # To load completions for each session, execute once:
 Linux:
-  $ yq shell-completion bash > /etc/bash_completion.d/yq
+  $ yq completion bash > /etc/bash_completion.d/yq
 MacOS:
-  $ yq shell-completion bash > /usr/local/etc/bash_completion.d/yq
+  $ yq completion bash > /usr/local/etc/bash_completion.d/yq
 
 Zsh:
 
@@ -29,16 +30,16 @@ Zsh:
 $ echo "autoload -U compinit; compinit" >> ~/.zshrc
 
 # To load completions for each session, execute once:
-$ yq shell-completion zsh > "${fpath[1]}/_yq"
+$ yq completion zsh > "${fpath[1]}/_yq"
 
 # You will need to start a new shell for this setup to take effect.
 
 Fish:
 
-$ yq shell-completion fish | source
+$ yq completion fish | source
 
 # To load completions for each session, execute once:
-$ yq shell-completion fish > ~/.config/fish/completions/yq.fish
+$ yq completion fish > ~/.config/fish/completions/yq.fish
 `,
 	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
 	ValidArgs:             []string{"bash", "zsh", "fish", "powershell"},
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ $ yq shell-completion fish > ~/.config/fish/completions/yq.fish
 		var err error = nil
 		switch args[0] {
 		case "bash":
-			err = cmd.Root().GenBashCompletion(os.Stdout)
+			err = cmd.Root().GenBashCompletionV2(os.Stdout, true)
 		case "zsh":
 			err = cmd.Root().GenZshCompletion(os.Stdout)
 		case "fish":

cmd/constant.go

@@ -1,23 +1,31 @@
 package cmd
 
-var unwrapScalar = true
+var unwrapScalarFlag = newUnwrapFlag()
+
+var printNodeInfo = false
+
+var unwrapScalar = false
 
 var writeInplace = false
 var outputToJSON = false
-var outputFormat = "yaml"
-var inputFormat = "yaml"
+
+var outputFormat = ""
+
+var inputFormat = ""
 
 var exitStatus = false
-var forceColor = false
-var forceNoColor = false
-var colorsEnabled = false
 var indent = 2
 var noDocSeparators = false
 var nullInput = false
+var nulSepOutput = false
 var verbose = false
 var version = false
 var prettyPrint = false
 
+var forceColor = false
+var forceNoColor = false
+var colorsEnabled = false
+
 // can be either "" (off), "extract" or "process"
 var frontMatter = ""
 

cmd/evaluate_all_command.go

@@ -12,8 +12,14 @@ func createEvaluateAllCommand() *cobra.Command {
 		Use:     "eval-all [expression] [yaml_file1]...",
 		Aliases: []string{"ea"},
 		Short:   "Loads _all_ yaml documents of _all_ yaml files and runs expression once",
+		ValidArgsFunction: func(_ *cobra.Command, args []string, _ string) ([]string, cobra.ShellCompDirective) {
+			if len(args) == 0 {
+				return nil, cobra.ShellCompDirectiveNoFileComp
+			}
+			return nil, cobra.ShellCompDirectiveDefault
+		},
 		Example: `
-# Merge f2.yml into f1.yml (inplace)
+# Merge f2.yml into f1.yml (in place)
 yq eval-all --inplace 'select(fileIndex == 0) * select(fileIndex == 1)' f1.yml f2.yml
 ## the same command and expression using shortened names:
 yq ea -i 'select(fi == 0) * select(fi == 1)' f1.yml f2.yml
@@ -26,7 +32,7 @@ yq ea '. as $item ireduce ({}; . * $item )' file1.yml file2.yml ...
 ## use '-' as a filename to pipe from STDIN
 cat file2.yml | yq ea '.a.b' file1.yml - file3.yml
 `,
-		Long: `yq is a portable command-line YAML processor (https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/) 
+		Long: `yq is a portable command-line data file processor (https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/) 
 See https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/ for detailed documentation and examples.
 
 ## Evaluate All ##
@@ -70,7 +76,7 @@ func evaluateAll(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (cmdError error) {
 		}()
 	}
 
-	format, err := yqlib.OutputFormatFromString(outputFormat)
+	format, err := yqlib.FormatFromString(outputFormat)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -84,9 +90,15 @@ func evaluateAll(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (cmdError error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	encoder := configureEncoder(format)
+	encoder, err := configureEncoder()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 
 	printer := yqlib.NewPrinter(encoder, printerWriter)
+	if nulSepOutput {
+		printer.SetNulSepOutput(true)
+	}
 
 	if frontMatter != "" {
 		frontMatterHandler := yqlib.NewFrontMatterHandler(args[0])

cmd/evaluate_sequence_command.go

@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@ func createEvaluateSequenceCommand() *cobra.Command {
 		Use:     "eval [expression] [yaml_file1]...",
 		Aliases: []string{"e"},
 		Short:   "(default) Apply the expression to each document in each yaml file in sequence",
+		ValidArgsFunction: func(_ *cobra.Command, args []string, _ string) ([]string, cobra.ShellCompDirective) {
+			if len(args) == 0 {
+				return nil, cobra.ShellCompDirectiveNoFileComp
+			}
+			return nil, cobra.ShellCompDirectiveDefault
+		},
 		Example: `
 # Reads field under the given path for each file
 yq e '.a.b' f1.yml f2.yml 
@@ -28,10 +34,10 @@ cat file2.yml | yq e '.a.b' file1.yml - file3.yml
 ## Note that editing an empty file does not work.
 yq e -n '.a.b.c = "cat"' 
 
-# Update a file inplace
+# Update a file in place
 yq e '.a.b = "cool"' -i file.yaml 
 `,
-		Long: `yq is a portable command-line YAML processor (https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/) 
+		Long: `yq is a portable command-line data file processor (https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/) 
 See https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/ for detailed documentation and examples.
 
 ## Evaluate Sequence ##
@@ -84,7 +90,7 @@ func evaluateSequence(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (cmdError error) {
 		}()
 	}
 
-	format, err := yqlib.OutputFormatFromString(outputFormat)
+	format, err := yqlib.FormatFromString(outputFormat)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -93,10 +99,21 @@ func evaluateSequence(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (cmdError error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	encoder := configureEncoder(format)
+	encoder, err := configureEncoder()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 
 	printer := yqlib.NewPrinter(encoder, printerWriter)
 
+	if printNodeInfo {
+		printer = yqlib.NewNodeInfoPrinter(printerWriter)
+	}
+
+	if nulSepOutput {
+		printer.SetNulSepOutput(true)
+	}
+
 	decoder, err := configureDecoder(false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err

cmd/root.go

@@ -1,21 +1,52 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"os"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/mikefarah/yq/v4/pkg/yqlib"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	logging "gopkg.in/op/go-logging.v1"
 )
 
+type runeValue rune
+
+func newRuneVar(p *rune) *runeValue {
+	return (*runeValue)(p)
+}
+
+func (r *runeValue) String() string {
+	return string(*r)
+}
+
+func (r *runeValue) Set(rawVal string) error {
+	val := strings.ReplaceAll(rawVal, "\\n", "\n")
+	val = strings.ReplaceAll(val, "\\t", "\t")
+	val = strings.ReplaceAll(val, "\\r", "\r")
+	val = strings.ReplaceAll(val, "\\f", "\f")
+	val = strings.ReplaceAll(val, "\\v", "\v")
+	if len(val) != 1 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("[%v] is not a valid character. Must be length 1 was %v", val, len(val))
+	}
+	*r = runeValue(rune(val[0]))
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (r *runeValue) Type() string {
+	return "char"
+}
+
 func New() *cobra.Command {
 	var rootCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "yq",
-		Short: "yq is a lightweight and portable command-line YAML processor.",
-		Long: `yq is a portable command-line YAML processor (https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/) 
+		Short: "yq is a lightweight and portable command-line data file processor.",
+		Long: `yq is a portable command-line data file processor (https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/) 
 See https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/ for detailed documentation and examples.`,
 		Example: `
-# yq defaults to 'eval' command if no command is specified. See "yq eval --help" for more examples.
+# yq tries to auto-detect the file format based off the extension, and defaults to YAML if it's unknown (or piping through STDIN)
+# Use the '-p/--input-format' flag to specify a format type.
+cat file.xml | yq -p xml
 
 # read the "stuff" node from "myfile.yml"
 yq '.stuff' < myfile.yml
@@ -24,7 +55,7 @@ yq '.stuff' < myfile.yml
 yq -i '.stuff = "foo"' myfile.yml
 
 # print contents of sample.json as idiomatic YAML
-yq -P sample.json
+yq -P -oy sample.json
 `,
 
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
@@ -35,39 +66,40 @@ yq -P sample.json
 			return evaluateSequence(cmd, args)
 
 		},
-		PersistentPreRun: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+		PersistentPreRunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
 			cmd.SetOut(cmd.OutOrStdout())
+			level := logging.WARNING
+			stringFormat := `[%{level}] %{color}%{time:15:04:05}%{color:reset} %{message}`
 
-			var format = logging.MustStringFormatter(
-				`%{color}%{time:15:04:05} %{shortfunc} [%{level:.4s}]%{color:reset} %{message}`,
-			)
+			// when NO_COLOR environment variable presents and not an empty string the coloured output should be disabled;
+			// refer to no-color.org
+			forceNoColor = forceNoColor || os.Getenv("NO_COLOR") != ""
+
+			if verbose && forceNoColor {
+				level = logging.DEBUG
+				stringFormat = `[%{level:5.5s}] %{time:15:04:05} %{shortfile:-33s} %{shortfunc:-25s} %{message}`
+			} else if verbose {
+				level = logging.DEBUG
+				stringFormat = `[%{level:5.5s}] %{color}%{time:15:04:05}%{color:bold} %{shortfile:-33s} %{shortfunc:-25s}%{color:reset} %{message}`
+			} else if forceNoColor {
+				stringFormat = `[%{level}] %{time:15:04:05} %{message}`
+			}
+
+			var format = logging.MustStringFormatter(stringFormat)
 			var backend = logging.AddModuleLevel(
 				logging.NewBackendFormatter(logging.NewLogBackend(os.Stderr, "", 0), format))
 
-			if verbose {
-				backend.SetLevel(logging.DEBUG, "")
-			} else {
-				backend.SetLevel(logging.WARNING, "")
-			}
+			backend.SetLevel(level, "")
 
 			logging.SetBackend(backend)
 			yqlib.InitExpressionParser()
-			if (inputFormat == "x" || inputFormat == "xml") &&
-				outputFormat != "x" && outputFormat != "xml" &&
-				yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.AttributePrefix == "+" {
-				yqlib.GetLogger().Warning("The default xml-attribute-prefix will change in the v4.30 to `+@` to avoid " +
-					"naming conflicts with the default content name, directive name and proc inst prefix. If you need to keep " +
-					"`+` please set that value explicityly with --xml-attribute-prefix.")
-			}
 
-			//copy preference form global setting
-			yqlib.ConfiguredYamlPreferences.UnwrapScalar = unwrapScalar
-
-			yqlib.ConfiguredYamlPreferences.PrintDocSeparators = !noDocSeparators
+			return nil
 		},
 	}
 
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&verbose, "verbose", "v", false, "verbose mode")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&printNodeInfo, "debug-node-info", "", false, "debug node info")
 
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&outputToJSON, "tojson", "j", false, "(deprecated) output as json. Set indent to 0 to print json in one line.")
 	err := rootCmd.PersistentFlags().MarkDeprecated("tojson", "please use -o=json instead")
@@ -75,39 +107,111 @@ yq -P sample.json
 		panic(err)
 	}
 
-	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&outputFormat, "output-format", "o", "yaml", "[yaml|y|json|j|props|p|xml|x] output format type.")
-	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&inputFormat, "input-format", "p", "yaml", "[yaml|y|props|p|xml|x] parse format for input. Note that json is a subset of yaml.")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&outputFormat, "output-format", "o", "auto", fmt.Sprintf("[auto|a|%v] output format type.", yqlib.GetAvailableOutputFormatString()))
+	var outputCompletions = []string{"auto"}
+	for _, formats := range yqlib.GetAvailableOutputFormats() {
+		outputCompletions = append(outputCompletions, formats.FormalName)
+	}
 
-	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.AttributePrefix, "xml-attribute-prefix", "+", "prefix for xml attributes")
-	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.ContentName, "xml-content-name", "+content", "name for xml content (if no attribute name is present).")
-	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.StrictMode, "xml-strict-mode", false, "enables strict parsing of XML. See https://pkg.go.dev/encoding/xml for more details.")
-	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.KeepNamespace, "xml-keep-namespace", true, "enables keeping namespace after parsing attributes")
-	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.UseRawToken, "xml-raw-token", true, "enables using RawToken method instead Token. Commonly disables namespace translations. See https://pkg.go.dev/encoding/xml#Decoder.RawToken for details.")
-	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.ProcInstPrefix, "xml-proc-inst-prefix", "+p_", "prefix for xml processing instructions (e.g. <?xml version=\"1\"?>)")
-	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.DirectiveName, "xml-directive-name", "+directive", "name for xml directives (e.g. <!DOCTYPE thing cat>)")
-	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.SkipProcInst, "xml-skip-proc-inst", false, "skip over process instructions (e.g. <?xml version=\"1\"?>)")
-	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.SkipDirectives, "xml-skip-directives", false, "skip over directives (e.g. <!DOCTYPE thing cat>)")
+	if err = rootCmd.RegisterFlagCompletionFunc("output-format", cobra.FixedCompletions(outputCompletions, cobra.ShellCompDirectiveNoFileComp)); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&inputFormat, "input-format", "p", "auto", fmt.Sprintf("[auto|a|%v] parse format for input.", yqlib.GetAvailableInputFormatString()))
+
+	var inputCompletions = []string{"auto"}
+	for _, formats := range yqlib.GetAvailableInputFormats() {
+		inputCompletions = append(inputCompletions, formats.FormalName)
+	}
+
+	if err = rootCmd.RegisterFlagCompletionFunc("input-format", cobra.FixedCompletions(inputCompletions, cobra.ShellCompDirectiveNoFileComp)); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.AttributePrefix, "xml-attribute-prefix", yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.AttributePrefix, "prefix for xml attributes")
+	if err = rootCmd.RegisterFlagCompletionFunc("xml-attribute-prefix", cobra.NoFileCompletions); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.ContentName, "xml-content-name", yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.ContentName, "name for xml content (if no attribute name is present).")
+	if err = rootCmd.RegisterFlagCompletionFunc("xml-content-name", cobra.NoFileCompletions); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.StrictMode, "xml-strict-mode", yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.StrictMode, "enables strict parsing of XML. See https://pkg.go.dev/encoding/xml for more details.")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.KeepNamespace, "xml-keep-namespace", yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.KeepNamespace, "enables keeping namespace after parsing attributes")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.UseRawToken, "xml-raw-token", yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.UseRawToken, "enables using RawToken method instead Token. Commonly disables namespace translations. See https://pkg.go.dev/encoding/xml#Decoder.RawToken for details.")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.ProcInstPrefix, "xml-proc-inst-prefix", yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.ProcInstPrefix, "prefix for xml processing instructions (e.g. <?xml version=\"1\"?>)")
+	if err = rootCmd.RegisterFlagCompletionFunc("xml-proc-inst-prefix", cobra.NoFileCompletions); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.DirectiveName, "xml-directive-name", yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.DirectiveName, "name for xml directives (e.g. <!DOCTYPE thing cat>)")
+	if err = rootCmd.RegisterFlagCompletionFunc("xml-directive-name", cobra.NoFileCompletions); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.SkipProcInst, "xml-skip-proc-inst", yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.SkipProcInst, "skip over process instructions (e.g. <?xml version=\"1\"?>)")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.SkipDirectives, "xml-skip-directives", yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.SkipDirectives, "skip over directives (e.g. <!DOCTYPE thing cat>)")
+
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredCsvPreferences.AutoParse, "csv-auto-parse", yqlib.ConfiguredCsvPreferences.AutoParse, "parse CSV YAML/JSON values")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().Var(newRuneVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredCsvPreferences.Separator), "csv-separator", "CSV Separator character")
+
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredTsvPreferences.AutoParse, "tsv-auto-parse", yqlib.ConfiguredTsvPreferences.AutoParse, "parse TSV YAML/JSON values")
+
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredLuaPreferences.DocPrefix, "lua-prefix", yqlib.ConfiguredLuaPreferences.DocPrefix, "prefix")
+	if err = rootCmd.RegisterFlagCompletionFunc("lua-prefix", cobra.NoFileCompletions); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredLuaPreferences.DocSuffix, "lua-suffix", yqlib.ConfiguredLuaPreferences.DocSuffix, "suffix")
+	if err = rootCmd.RegisterFlagCompletionFunc("lua-suffix", cobra.NoFileCompletions); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredLuaPreferences.UnquotedKeys, "lua-unquoted", yqlib.ConfiguredLuaPreferences.UnquotedKeys, "output unquoted string keys (e.g. {foo=\"bar\"})")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredLuaPreferences.Globals, "lua-globals", yqlib.ConfiguredLuaPreferences.Globals, "output keys as top-level global variables")
+
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredPropertiesPreferences.KeyValueSeparator, "properties-separator", yqlib.ConfiguredPropertiesPreferences.KeyValueSeparator, "separator to use between keys and values")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&yqlib.ConfiguredPropertiesPreferences.UseArrayBrackets, "properties-array-brackets", yqlib.ConfiguredPropertiesPreferences.UseArrayBrackets, "use [x] in array paths (e.g. for SpringBoot)")
+
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVar(&yqlib.StringInterpolationEnabled, "string-interpolation", yqlib.StringInterpolationEnabled, "Toggles strings interpolation of \\(exp)")
 
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&nullInput, "null-input", "n", false, "Don't read input, simply evaluate the expression given. Useful for creating docs from scratch.")
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&noDocSeparators, "no-doc", "N", false, "Don't print document separators (---)")
 
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().IntVarP(&indent, "indent", "I", 2, "sets indent level for output")
+	if err = rootCmd.RegisterFlagCompletionFunc("indent", cobra.NoFileCompletions); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
 	rootCmd.Flags().BoolVarP(&version, "version", "V", false, "Print version information and quit")
-	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&writeInplace, "inplace", "i", false, "update the file inplace of first file given.")
-	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&unwrapScalar, "unwrapScalar", "r", true, "unwrap scalar, print the value with no quotes, colors or comments")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&writeInplace, "inplace", "i", false, "update the file in place of first file given.")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().VarP(unwrapScalarFlag, "unwrapScalar", "r", "unwrap scalar, print the value with no quotes, colors or comments. Defaults to true for yaml")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().Lookup("unwrapScalar").NoOptDefVal = "true"
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&nulSepOutput, "nul-output", "0", false, "Use NUL char to separate values. If unwrap scalar is also set, fail if unwrapped scalar contains NUL char.")
+
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&prettyPrint, "prettyPrint", "P", false, "pretty print, shorthand for '... style = \"\"'")
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&exitStatus, "exit-status", "e", false, "set exit status if there are no matches or null or false is returned")
 
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&forceColor, "colors", "C", false, "force print with colors")
-	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&forceNoColor, "no-colors", "M", false, "force print with no colors")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&forceNoColor, "no-colors", "M", forceNoColor, "force print with no colors")
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&frontMatter, "front-matter", "f", "", "(extract|process) first input as yaml front-matter. Extract will pull out the yaml content, process will run the expression against the yaml content, leaving the remaining data intact")
+	if err = rootCmd.RegisterFlagCompletionFunc("front-matter", cobra.FixedCompletions([]string{"extract", "process"}, cobra.ShellCompDirectiveNoFileComp)); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&forceExpression, "expression", "", "", "forcibly set the expression argument. Useful when yq argument detection thinks your expression is a file.")
+	if err = rootCmd.RegisterFlagCompletionFunc("expression", cobra.NoFileCompletions); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&yqlib.ConfiguredYamlPreferences.LeadingContentPreProcessing, "header-preprocess", "", true, "Slurp any header comments and separators before processing expression.")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&yqlib.ConfiguredYamlPreferences.FixMergeAnchorToSpec, "yaml-fix-merge-anchor-to-spec", "", false, "Fix merge anchor to match YAML spec. Will default to true in late 2025")
 
-	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&splitFileExp, "split-exp", "s", "", "print each result (or doc) into a file named (exp). [exp] argument must return a string. You can use $index in the expression as the result counter.")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&splitFileExp, "split-exp", "s", "", "print each result (or doc) into a file named (exp). [exp] argument must return a string. You can use $index in the expression as the result counter. The necessary directories will be created.")
+	if err = rootCmd.RegisterFlagCompletionFunc("split-exp", cobra.NoFileCompletions); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&splitFileExpFile, "split-exp-file", "", "", "Use a file to specify the split-exp expression.")
+	if err = rootCmd.MarkPersistentFlagFilename("split-exp-file"); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
 
 	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&expressionFile, "from-file", "", "", "Load expression from specified file.")
+	if err = rootCmd.MarkPersistentFlagFilename("from-file"); err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
 
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(
 		createEvaluateSequenceCommand(),

cmd/unwrap_flag.go

@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	"strconv"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/pflag"
+)
+
+type boolFlag interface {
+	pflag.Value
+	IsExplicitlySet() bool
+	IsSet() bool
+}
+
+type unwrapScalarFlagStrc struct {
+	explicitlySet bool
+	value         bool
+}
+
+func newUnwrapFlag() boolFlag {
+	return &unwrapScalarFlagStrc{value: true}
+}
+
+func (f *unwrapScalarFlagStrc) IsExplicitlySet() bool {
+	return f.explicitlySet
+}
+
+func (f *unwrapScalarFlagStrc) IsSet() bool {
+	return f.value
+}
+
+func (f *unwrapScalarFlagStrc) String() string {
+	return strconv.FormatBool(f.value)
+}
+
+func (f *unwrapScalarFlagStrc) Set(value string) error {
+
+	v, err := strconv.ParseBool(value)
+	f.value = v
+	f.explicitlySet = true
+	return err
+}
+
+func (*unwrapScalarFlagStrc) Type() string {
+	return "bool"
+}

cmd/utils.go

@@ -4,81 +4,176 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/mikefarah/yq/v4/pkg/yqlib"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"gopkg.in/op/go-logging.v1"
 )
 
+func isAutomaticOutputFormat() bool {
+	return outputFormat == "" || outputFormat == "auto" || outputFormat == "a"
+}
+
 func initCommand(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (string, []string, error) {
 	cmd.SilenceUsage = true
 
-	fileInfo, _ := os.Stdout.Stat()
-
-	if forceColor || (!forceNoColor && (fileInfo.Mode()&os.ModeCharDevice) != 0) {
-		colorsEnabled = true
-	}
+	setupColors()
 
 	expression, args, err := processArgs(args)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", nil, err
 	}
 
-	if splitFileExpFile != "" {
-		splitExpressionBytes, err := os.ReadFile(splitFileExpFile)
-		if err != nil {
-			return "", nil, err
-		}
-		splitFileExp = string(splitExpressionBytes)
+	if err := loadSplitFileExpression(); err != nil {
+		return "", nil, err
 	}
 
-	// backwards compatibility
-	if outputToJSON {
-		outputFormat = "json"
+	handleBackwardsCompatibility()
+
+	if err := validateCommandFlags(args); err != nil {
+		return "", nil, err
 	}
 
-	if writeInplace && (len(args) == 0 || args[0] == "-") {
-		return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("write inplace flag only applicable when giving an expression and at least one file")
+	if err := configureFormats(args); err != nil {
+		return "", nil, err
 	}
 
-	if frontMatter != "" && len(args) == 0 {
-		return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("front matter flag only applicable when giving an expression and at least one file")
-	}
-
-	if writeInplace && splitFileExp != "" {
-		return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("write inplace cannot be used with split file")
-	}
-
-	if nullInput && len(args) > 0 {
-		return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot pass files in when using null-input flag")
-	}
+	configureUnwrapScalar()
 
 	return expression, args, nil
 }
 
+func setupColors() {
+	fileInfo, _ := os.Stdout.Stat()
+
+	if forceColor || (!forceNoColor && (fileInfo.Mode()&os.ModeCharDevice) != 0) {
+		colorsEnabled = true
+	}
+}
+
+func loadSplitFileExpression() error {
+	if splitFileExpFile != "" {
+		splitExpressionBytes, err := os.ReadFile(splitFileExpFile)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		splitFileExp = string(splitExpressionBytes)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func handleBackwardsCompatibility() {
+	// backwards compatibility
+	if outputToJSON {
+		outputFormat = "json"
+	}
+}
+
+func validateCommandFlags(args []string) error {
+	if writeInplace && (len(args) == 0 || args[0] == "-") {
+		return fmt.Errorf("write in place flag only applicable when giving an expression and at least one file")
+	}
+
+	if frontMatter != "" && len(args) == 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("front matter flag only applicable when giving an expression and at least one file")
+	}
+
+	if writeInplace && splitFileExp != "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("write in place cannot be used with split file")
+	}
+
+	if nullInput && len(args) > 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cannot pass files in when using null-input flag")
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func configureFormats(args []string) error {
+	inputFilename := ""
+	if len(args) > 0 {
+		inputFilename = args[0]
+	}
+
+	if err := configureInputFormat(inputFilename); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if err := configureOutputFormat(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	yqlib.GetLogger().Debug("Using input format %v", inputFormat)
+	yqlib.GetLogger().Debug("Using output format %v", outputFormat)
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func configureInputFormat(inputFilename string) error {
+	if inputFormat == "" || inputFormat == "auto" || inputFormat == "a" {
+		inputFormat = yqlib.FormatStringFromFilename(inputFilename)
+
+		_, err := yqlib.FormatFromString(inputFormat)
+		if err != nil {
+			// unknown file type, default to yaml
+			yqlib.GetLogger().Debug("Unknown file format extension '%v', defaulting to yaml", inputFormat)
+			inputFormat = "yaml"
+			if isAutomaticOutputFormat() {
+				outputFormat = "yaml"
+			}
+		} else if isAutomaticOutputFormat() {
+			outputFormat = inputFormat
+		}
+	} else if isAutomaticOutputFormat() {
+		// backwards compatibility -
+		// before this was introduced, `yq -pcsv things.csv`
+		// would produce *yaml* output.
+		//
+		outputFormat = yqlib.FormatStringFromFilename(inputFilename)
+		if inputFilename != "-" {
+			yqlib.GetLogger().Warning("yq default output is now 'auto' (based on the filename extension). Normally yq would output '%v', but for backwards compatibility 'yaml' has been set. Please use -oy to specify yaml, or drop the -p flag.", outputFormat)
+		}
+		outputFormat = "yaml"
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func configureOutputFormat() error {
+	outputFormatType, err := yqlib.FormatFromString(outputFormat)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if outputFormatType == yqlib.YamlFormat ||
+		outputFormatType == yqlib.PropertiesFormat {
+		unwrapScalar = true
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func configureUnwrapScalar() {
+	if unwrapScalarFlag.IsExplicitlySet() {
+		unwrapScalar = unwrapScalarFlag.IsSet()
+	}
+}
+
 func configureDecoder(evaluateTogether bool) (yqlib.Decoder, error) {
-	yqlibInputFormat, err := yqlib.InputFormatFromString(inputFormat)
+	format, err := yqlib.FormatFromString(inputFormat)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	switch yqlibInputFormat {
-	case yqlib.XMLInputFormat:
-		return yqlib.NewXMLDecoder(yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences), nil
-	case yqlib.PropertiesInputFormat:
-		return yqlib.NewPropertiesDecoder(), nil
-	case yqlib.JsonInputFormat:
-		return yqlib.NewJSONDecoder(), nil
-	case yqlib.CSVObjectInputFormat:
-		return yqlib.NewCSVObjectDecoder(','), nil
-	case yqlib.TSVObjectInputFormat:
-		return yqlib.NewCSVObjectDecoder('\t'), nil
+	yqlib.ConfiguredYamlPreferences.EvaluateTogether = evaluateTogether
+
+	yqlibDecoder := format.DecoderFactory()
+	if yqlibDecoder == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no support for %s input format", inputFormat)
 	}
-	prefs := yqlib.ConfiguredYamlPreferences
-	prefs.EvaluateTogether = evaluateTogether
-	return yqlib.NewYamlDecoder(prefs), nil
+	return yqlibDecoder, nil
 }
 
-func configurePrinterWriter(format yqlib.PrinterOutputFormat, out io.Writer) (yqlib.PrinterWriter, error) {
+func configurePrinterWriter(format *yqlib.Format, out io.Writer) (yqlib.PrinterWriter, error) {
 
 	var printerWriter yqlib.PrinterWriter
 
@@ -95,22 +190,30 @@ func configurePrinterWriter(format yqlib.PrinterOutputFormat, out io.Writer) (yq
 	return printerWriter, nil
 }
 
-func configureEncoder(format yqlib.PrinterOutputFormat) yqlib.Encoder {
-	switch format {
-	case yqlib.JSONOutputFormat:
-		return yqlib.NewJSONEncoder(indent, colorsEnabled)
-	case yqlib.PropsOutputFormat:
-		return yqlib.NewPropertiesEncoder(unwrapScalar)
-	case yqlib.CSVOutputFormat:
-		return yqlib.NewCsvEncoder(',')
-	case yqlib.TSVOutputFormat:
-		return yqlib.NewCsvEncoder('\t')
-	case yqlib.YamlOutputFormat:
-		return yqlib.NewYamlEncoder(indent, colorsEnabled, yqlib.ConfiguredYamlPreferences)
-	case yqlib.XMLOutputFormat:
-		return yqlib.NewXMLEncoder(indent, yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences)
+func configureEncoder() (yqlib.Encoder, error) {
+	yqlibOutputFormat, err := yqlib.FormatFromString(outputFormat)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
-	panic("invalid encoder")
+	yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences.Indent = indent
+	yqlib.ConfiguredYamlPreferences.Indent = indent
+	yqlib.ConfiguredJSONPreferences.Indent = indent
+
+	yqlib.ConfiguredYamlPreferences.UnwrapScalar = unwrapScalar
+	yqlib.ConfiguredPropertiesPreferences.UnwrapScalar = unwrapScalar
+	yqlib.ConfiguredJSONPreferences.UnwrapScalar = unwrapScalar
+
+	yqlib.ConfiguredYamlPreferences.ColorsEnabled = colorsEnabled
+	yqlib.ConfiguredJSONPreferences.ColorsEnabled = colorsEnabled
+
+	yqlib.ConfiguredYamlPreferences.PrintDocSeparators = !noDocSeparators
+
+	encoder := yqlibOutputFormat.EncoderFactory()
+
+	if encoder == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no support for %s output format", outputFormat)
+	}
+	return encoder, err
 }
 
 // this is a hack to enable backwards compatibility with githubactions (which pipe /dev/null into everything)
@@ -134,8 +237,11 @@ func maybeFile(str string) bool {
 }
 
 func processStdInArgs(args []string) []string {
-	stat, _ := os.Stdin.Stat()
-	pipingStdin := (stat.Mode() & os.ModeCharDevice) == 0
+	stat, err := os.Stdin.Stat()
+	if err != nil {
+		yqlib.GetLogger().Debugf("error getting stdin: %v", err)
+	}
+	pipingStdin := stat != nil && (stat.Mode()&os.ModeCharDevice) == 0
 
 	// if we've been given a file, don't automatically
 	// read from stdin.
@@ -159,15 +265,25 @@ func processStdInArgs(args []string) []string {
 
 func processArgs(originalArgs []string) (string, []string, error) {
 	expression := forceExpression
+	args := processStdInArgs(originalArgs)
+	maybeFirstArgIsAFile := len(args) > 0 && maybeFile(args[0])
+
+	if expressionFile == "" && maybeFirstArgIsAFile && strings.HasSuffix(args[0], ".yq") {
+		// lets check if an expression file was given
+		yqlib.GetLogger().Debug("Assuming arg %v is an expression file", args[0])
+		expressionFile = args[0]
+		args = args[1:]
+	}
+
 	if expressionFile != "" {
 		expressionBytes, err := os.ReadFile(expressionFile)
 		if err != nil {
 			return "", nil, err
 		}
-		expression = string(expressionBytes)
+		//replace \r\n (windows) with good ol' unix file endings.
+		expression = strings.ReplaceAll(string(expressionBytes), "\r\n", "\n")
 	}
 
-	args := processStdInArgs(originalArgs)
 	yqlib.GetLogger().Debugf("processed args: %v", args)
 	if expression == "" && len(args) > 0 && args[0] != "-" && !maybeFile(args[0]) {
 		yqlib.GetLogger().Debug("assuming expression is '%v'", args[0])

cmd/version.go

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ var (
 	GitDescribe string
 
 	// Version is main version number that is being run at the moment.
-	Version = "4.28.2"
+	Version = "v4.46.1"
 
 	// VersionPrerelease is a pre-release marker for the version. If this is "" (empty string)
 	// then it means that it is a final release. Otherwise, this is a pre-release
@@ -45,5 +45,5 @@ func getHumanVersion() string {
 	}
 
 	// Strip off any single quotes added by the git information.
-	return strings.Replace(version, "'", "", -1)
+	return strings.ReplaceAll(version, "'", "")
 }

cspell.config.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+---
+$schema: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/streetsidesoftware/cspell/main/cspell.schema.json
+version: '0.2'
+language: en-GB
+dictionaryDefinitions:
+  - name: project-words
+    path: './project-words.txt'
+    addWords: true
+dictionaries:
+  - project-words
+ignorePaths:
+  - 'vendor'
+  - 'bin'
+  - '/project-words.txt'

debian/changelog

@@ -1,210 +0,0 @@
-yq (4.16.2) focal; urgency=medium
-
-  * Fixed with semicolon space issue
-  * Updating with documentation
-  * Added STDIN example to the top
-  * minor readme cleanup
-  * Help text tweak
-  * Fixed docker timeout - simplify docker builds
-  * New release with docker build fixes
-  * Updating to go 1.17 to fix CVE #944
-  * Fix a typo in root.go
-  * Skip the tests if the nocheck Debian build option is specified
-  * Fixed select bug (#958)
-  * Sped up explode operator
-  * Slight performance improvement to context.ChildContext
-  * Speed up multiply
-  * Update README with recently added / changed options
-  * Make deepMatch report in linear time
-  * Removed leadingContentPreProcessing flag - header preprocessing is stable
-  * Revert "Removed leadingContentPreProcessing flag - header preprocessing is stable"
-  * Keep flag, it is needed in corner cases
-  * Updated Readme
-  * Man page
-  * Fixed expression parsing bug #970
-  * Bumping go-lang, docker versions
-  * Added test release flow
-  * Updated github action release to generate man page
-  * Bumping version
-  * Removing no longer needed github action
-  * Added decoder op
-  * Fixed newline handling when decoding/encoding
-  * Fixed newline handling in encoder/decoder
-  * Can specify indent in encode ops
-  * Added group_by operator
-  * Added flatten operator
-  * Fixed flatten error message
-  * Improving docs
-  * Split printer
-  * Refactored command logic
-  * Fix JSON encoding removing null #985
-  * Fixed acceptance tests
-  * gitbook
-  * Update document generation script
-  * Updating README
-  * Updating release instructions
-  * github action no longer uses data1.yml
-  * Create dependabot.yml
-  * Bump actions/create-release from 1.0.0 to 1.1.4
-  * Bump actions/setup-go from 1 to 2.1.4
-  * Bump github.com/goccy/go-yaml from 1.8.9 to 1.9.4
-  * Bump github.com/jinzhu/copier from 0.2.8 to 0.3.2
-  * Bump github.com/fatih/color from 1.10.0 to 1.13.0
-  * Bump github.com/spf13/cobra from 1.1.3 to 1.2.1
-  * Update dependabot.yml
-  * Update go.yml
-  * add build check to PRs
-  * Include secure as part of build process
-  * Fixing bad label in github action
-  * fixed printer test
-  * remove leading content indicator
-  * Fixed header preprocessing!
-  * lint : define golangci configuration file
-  * Update check.sh
-  * Load file acceptance test
-  * Minor improvement on handling front matter
-  * Improved load doc
-  * feature: detect MANPATh and install there
-  * Update install-man-page.sh
-  * simplify prod stage, move version label to action
-  * add labels, quote some values
-  * enable errorlint linter
-  * Added errorlint to devtools
-  * Added key operator
-  * Added more tests
-  * Fixing comments
-  * Attempt to fix golint problem
-  * Include version query for tools
-  * Clean up errored file?
-  * enable misspell linter
-  * updated readme
-  * update Golangci version to v1.43.0
-  * gci linter
-  * Better merge array by key example
-  * Added credit for merge by array example
-  * Better formatting of merge arrays example
-  * Better merge example
-  * Add accessor for the yq logger instance (#1013)
-  * Fixed collect op when working with multiple nodes
-  * Added map, map_values
-  * Add support for Podman as well as Docker (#1026)
-  * Bump github.com/jinzhu/copier from 0.3.2 to 0.3.4 (#1027)
-  * Added csv, tsv output formats
-  * Added encoder tests
-  * Cleanup test
-  * Fixed docker permission issue #1014
-  * Recording release notes for next release
-  * Assignment op no longer clobbers anchor (#1029)
-  * Added sort_by operator
-  * Improved error message
-  * Improved tips and tricks
-  * Report while filename failed to parse #1030
-  * Added script for extracting checksums
-  * Improved extract-checksum.sh
-  * Bump github.com/spf13/cobra from 1.2.1 to 1.3.0 (#1039)
-  * enable more linters (#1043)
-  * Bump golang compiler #1037
-
- -- Roberto Mier Escandon <rmescandon@gmail.com>  Tue, 21 Dec 2021 09:41:44 +0000
-
-yq (4.13.0) focal; urgency=medium
-
-  * New `with` operator for making multiple changes to a given path
-  * New `contains` operator, works like the `jq` equivalent
-  * Subtract operator now supports subtracting elements from arrays!
-  * Fixed Swapping values using variables #934
-  * Github Action now properly supports multiline output #936, thanks @pjxiao
-  * Fixed missing closing bracket validation #932
-  * Fix processing of hex numbers #929
-  * Fixed alternative and union operator issues #930
-  * Can now convert yaml to properties properties format (`-o=props`), See [docs](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/v/v4.x/usage/properties) for more info.
-  * Fixed document header/footer comment handling when merging (https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/issues/919)
-  * pretty print yaml 1.1 compatibility  (https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/issues/914)
-
- -- Roberto Mier Escandon <rmescandon@gmail.com>  Thu, 16 Sep 2021 20:58:30 +0200
-
-yq (4.9.6) focal; urgency=medium
-
-  * Added darwin/arm64 build, thanks @alecthomas
-  * Incremented docker alpine base version, thanks @da6d6i7-bronga
-  * Bug fix: multine expression
-  * Bug fix: special character
-
- -- Roberto Mier Escandon <rmescandon@gmail.com>  Tue, 29 Jun 2021 21:32:14 +0200
-
-yq (3.3.2) focal; urgency=medium
-
-  * Bug fix: existStatus bug (#459)
-  * Automatically makes a os temp directory if it does not exist (#461)
-
- -- Roberto Mier Escandon <rmescandon@gmail.com>  Fri, 07 Aug 2020 18:53:01 +0200
-
-yq (3.3-0) focal; urgency=medium
-
-  * You can control string styles (quotes) using the new --style flag
-  * String values now always have quotes when outputting to json
-  * Negative array indices now traverse the array backwards
-  * Added a --stripComments flag to print yaml without any comments
-  * Bumped go to version 1.14
-
- -- Roberto Mier Escandon <rmescandon@gmail.com>  Thu, 30 Apr 2020 20:45:44 +0200
-
-yq (3.1-2) eoan; urgency=medium
-
-  * Bug fix: yq 3 was removing empty inline-style objects and arrays (#355)
-  * Bug fix: Merge option returned different output when switching order of 
-    merging files(#347)
-  * Bug fix: Add new object to existing array object was failing in 3.1.1 (#361)
-  * Bug fix: yq 3 empty keys did not allow merging of values (#356)
-  * Bug fix: keys quoted during merge (#363)
-  * Bug fix: Correct length with wc -l (#362)
-  * Bug fix: Write to empty document removed path (#359)
-
- -- Roberto Mier Escandon <rmescandon@gmail.com>  Mon, 24 Feb 2020 20:31:58 +0100
-
-yq (3.1-1) eoan; urgency=medium
-
-  * Keeps yaml comments and formatting, can specify yaml tags when updating.
-  * Handles anchors
-  * Can print out matching paths and values when splatting
-  * JSON output works for all commands
-  * Yaml files with multiple documents are printed out as one JSON 
-    document per line.
-  * Deep splat (**) to match arbitrary paths
-  * Update scripts file format has changed to be more powerful
-  * Reading and splatting, matching results are printed once per line
-  * Bugfixing
-
- -- Roberto Mier Escandon <rmescandon@gmail.com>  Tue, 11 Feb 2020 22:18:24 +0100
-
-yq (2.2-1) bionic; urgency=medium
-
-  * Added Windows support for the "--inplace" command flag
-  * Prefix now supports arrays
-  * Add prefix command
-  * Bump Alpine version to 3.8
-  * Improved docker build process
-  * Lint fixes
-  * Build support for all linux architectures supported by gox
-
- -- Roberto Mier Escandon <rmescandon@gmail.com>  Sat, 19 Jan 2019 15:50:47 +0100
-
-yq (2.1-0) bionic; urgency=medium
-
-  * Ability to read multiple documents in a single file
-  * Ability to append list items instead of overwriting
-
- -- Roberto Mier Escandón <rmescandon@gmail.com>  Tue, 10 Jul 2018 14:02:42 +0200
-
-yq (2.0-0) bionic; urgency=medium
-
-  * Release 2.0.0
-
- -- Roberto Mier Escandón <rmescandon@gmail.com>  Wed, 20 Jun 2018 10:29:53 +0200
-
-yq (1.15-0) bionic; urgency=medium
-
-  * Release 1.15
-
- -- Roberto Mier Escandón <rmescandon@gmail.com>  Wed, 06 Jun 2018 11:32:03 +0200
-

debian/compat

@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-10

debian/control

@@ -1,22 +0,0 @@
-Source: yq
-Section: devel
-Priority: optional
-Maintainer: Roberto Mier Escandón <rmescandon@gmail.com>
-Build-Depends: debhelper (>=10),
-               golang-1.17-go,
-               pandoc,
-               rsync
-Standards-Version: 4.1.4
-Homepage: https://github.com/mikefarah/yq.git
-Vcs-Browser: https://github.com/mikefarah/yq.git
-Vcs-Git: https://github.com/mikefarah/yq.git
-XS-Go-Import-Path: github.com/mikefarah/yq
-XSBC-Original-Maintainer: Roberto Mier Escandón <rmescandon@gmail.com>
-
-Package: yq
-Architecture: any
-Depends: ${shlibs:Depends}, ${misc:Depends}
-Description: lightweight and portable command-line YAML processor
- .
- The aim of the project is to be the 
- [jq](https://github.com/stedolan/jq) or sed of yaml files.

debian/copyright

@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-Format: http://www.debian.org/doc/packaging-manuals/copyright-format/1.0/
-Upstream-Name: yq
-Source: https://github.com/mikefarah/yq.git
-
-Files: *
-Copyright: 2017 Mike Farah
-License: Expat
-    Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
-    of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
-    in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
-    to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
-    copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
-    furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
-    .
-    The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
-    copies or substantial portions of the Software.
-    .
-    THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
-    IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
-    FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
-    AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
-    LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
-    OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
-    SOFTWARE.

debian/gbp.conf

@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-[DEFAULT]
-pristine-tar = True

debian/rules

@@ -1,74 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/make -f
-#
-# Copyright (C) 2018-2021 Roberto Mier Escandón <rmescandon@gmail.com>
-#
-# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
-# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License version 3 as
-# published by the Free Software Foundation.
-#
-# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
-# GNU General Public License for more details.
-#
-# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
-# along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-
-PROJECT := yq
-OWNER := mikefarah
-REPO := github.com
-
-export DH_OPTIONS
-export DH_GOPKG := ${REPO}/${OWNER}/${PROJECT}
-export GOROOT := /usr/local/go
-export GOPATH := ${CURDIR}/_build
-export GOBIN := ${GOPATH}/bin
-export PATH := ${GOROOT}/bin:${GOBIN}:${PATH}
-export GOCACHE := /tmp/gocache
-export GOFLAGS := -mod=vendor
-export GO111MODULE := on
-
-SRCDIR := ${GOPATH}/src/${DH_GOPKG}
-DESTDIR := ${CURDIR}/debian/${PROJECT}
-BINDIR := /usr/bin
-MANDIR := /usr/share/man/man1/
-ASSETSDIR := /usr/share/${PROJECT}
-
-%:
-	dh $@
-
-override_dh_auto_build:
-	mkdir -p ${SRCDIR}
-	mkdir -p ${GOBIN}
-	# copy project to local srcdir to build from there
-	rsync -avz --progress --exclude=_build --exclude=debian --exclude=tmp. --exclude=go.mod --exclude=docs . $(SRCDIR)
-	# build go code
-	( \
-		cd ${SRCDIR} && \
-		go install -buildmode=pie ./... \
-	)
-
-	# build man page
-	( \
-		cd ${SRCDIR} && \
-		./scripts/generate-man-page-md.sh && \
-		./scripts/generate-man-page.sh \
-	)
-	
-override_dh_auto_test:
-ifeq (,$(filter nocheck,$(DEB_BUILD_OPTIONS)))
-	(cd ${SRCDIR} && go test -v ./...)
-endif
-
-override_dh_auto_install:
-	cp ${GOBIN}/yq ${DESTDIR}/${BINDIR}
-	cp -f ${SRCDIR}/LICENSE ${DESTDIR}/${ASSETSDIR}
-	chmod a+x ${DESTDIR}/${BINDIR}/yq
-
-	# man
-	mkdir -p "${DESTDIR}"/"${MANDIR}"
-	cp "${SRCDIR}"/yq.1 "${DESTDIR}"/"${MANDIR}" \
-
-override_dh_auto_clean:
-	dh_clean
-	rm -rf ${CURDIR}/_build

debian/source/format

@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-3.0 (native)

debian/yq.dirs

@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-usr/bin
-usr/share/yq
-usr/share/man/man1

examples/array.yaml

@@ -1,11 +1,2 @@
----
-- become: true
-  gather_facts: false
-  hosts: lalaland
-  name: "Apply smth"
-  roles:
-    - lala
-    - land
-  serial: 1
-- become: false
-  gather_facts: true
+- [cat, dog, frog, cow]
+- [apple, banana, grape, mango]

examples/data.lua

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+return {
+	["country"] = "Australia"; -- this place
+	["cities"] = {
+		"Sydney",
+		"Melbourne",
+		"Brisbane",
+		"Perth",
+	};
+};

examples/data1.yaml

@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
-volumes:
-  beehive-conf:
-    driver: local
-services:
-  - beehive
+# 001
+---
+abc:  # 001
+- 1   # one
+- 2   # two
+
+---
+def   # 002

examples/environment.yq

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#! yq
+.[] |(
+    ( select(kind == "scalar") | key + "='" + . + "'"),
+    ( select(kind == "seq") | key + "=(" + (map("'" + . + "'") | join(",")) + ")")
+)

examples/front-matter.yaml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 a: apple
-b: bannana
+b: banana
 ---
 hello there
 apples: great

examples/mike.xml

@@ -1,7 +1 @@
-<?xml version="1.0"?>
-<!DOCTYPE config SYSTEM "/etc/iwatch/iwatch.dtd" >
-<apple>
-<?coolioo version="1.0"?>
-<!DOCTYPE config SYSTEM "/etc/iwatch/iwatch.dtd" >
-<b>things</b>
-</apple>
+<zoo><thing><frog>boing</frog></thing></zoo>

examples/sample.ini

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+
+; This is a INI document
+
+[owner]
+name = "Tom Preston-Werner"
+dob = 1979-05-27T07:32:00-08:00
+
+[database]
+db_host = "localhost"
+db_port = 5432
+db_user = "postgres"
+db_password = ""
+db_name = "postgres"
+

examples/sample.toml

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+
+
+# This is a TOML document
+
+title = "TOML Example"
+
+[owner]
+name = "Tom Preston-Werner"
+dob = 1979-05-27T07:32:00-08:00
+
+[database]
+enabled = true
+ports = [ 8000, 8001, 8002 ]
+data = [ ["delta", "phi"], [3.14] ]
+temp_targets = { cpu = 79.5, case = 72.0 }
+
+[servers]
+
+[servers.alpha]
+ip = "10.0.0.1"
+role = "frontend"
+
+[servers.beta]
+ip = "10.0.0.2"
+role = "backend"
+

examples/sample.yaml

@@ -1,11 +1,2 @@
-# Some doc
-
-a: true
-b:
-  c: 2
-  d: [3, 4, 5]
-  e:
-    - name: fred
-      value: 3
-    - name: sam
-      value: 4
+ # things
+a: apple

examples/sample_no_sections.ini

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+
+; This is a INI document
+name = "Tom Preston-Werner"
+dob = 1979-05-27T07:32:00-08:00
+enabled = true
+ip = "10.0.0.1"
+role = "frontend"
+treads = 4

examples/sample_objects.csv

@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 name,numberOfCats,likesApples,height
-Gary,1,true,168.8
+,1,true,168.8
 Samantha's Rabbit,2,false,-188.8

examples/small.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+---
+# comment
+# about things
+a: cat

go.mod

@@ -1,31 +1,35 @@
 module github.com/mikefarah/yq/v4
 
 require (
-	github.com/a8m/envsubst v1.3.0
-	github.com/alecthomas/participle/v2 v2.0.0-beta.5
-	github.com/alecthomas/repr v0.1.1
+	github.com/a8m/envsubst v1.4.3
+	github.com/alecthomas/participle/v2 v2.1.4
+	github.com/alecthomas/repr v0.4.0
 	github.com/dimchansky/utfbom v1.1.1
-	github.com/elliotchance/orderedmap v1.5.0
-	github.com/fatih/color v1.13.0
-	github.com/goccy/go-json v0.9.11
-	github.com/goccy/go-yaml v1.9.6
-	github.com/jinzhu/copier v0.3.5
-	github.com/magiconair/properties v1.8.6
+	github.com/elliotchance/orderedmap v1.8.0
+	github.com/fatih/color v1.18.0
+	github.com/go-ini/ini v1.67.0
+	github.com/goccy/go-json v0.10.5
+	github.com/goccy/go-yaml v1.18.0
+	github.com/jinzhu/copier v0.4.0
+	github.com/magiconair/properties v1.8.10
+	github.com/pelletier/go-toml/v2 v2.2.4
 	github.com/pkg/diff v0.0.0-20210226163009-20ebb0f2a09e
-	github.com/spf13/cobra v1.6.1
-	golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20220708220712-1185a9018129
+	github.com/spf13/cobra v1.9.1
+	github.com/spf13/pflag v1.0.6
+	github.com/yuin/gopher-lua v1.1.1
+	go.yaml.in/yaml/v3 v3.0.4
+	golang.org/x/net v0.41.0
+	golang.org/x/text v0.27.0
 	gopkg.in/op/go-logging.v1 v1.0.0-20160211212156-b2cb9fa56473
-	gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1
 )
 
 require (
-	github.com/inconshreveable/mousetrap v1.0.1 // indirect
-	github.com/mattn/go-colorable v0.1.12 // indirect
-	github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.14 // indirect
-	github.com/spf13/pflag v1.0.5 // indirect
-	golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20220712014510-0a85c31ab51e // indirect
-	golang.org/x/text v0.3.7 // indirect
-	golang.org/x/xerrors v0.0.0-20220609144429-65e65417b02f // indirect
+	github.com/inconshreveable/mousetrap v1.1.0 // indirect
+	github.com/mattn/go-colorable v0.1.14 // indirect
+	github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.20 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/sys v0.33.0 // indirect
 )
 
-go 1.19
+go 1.24
+
+toolchain go1.24.1

go.sum

@@ -1,83 +1,67 @@
-github.com/a8m/envsubst v1.3.0 h1:GmXKmVssap0YtlU3E230W98RWtWCyIZzjtf1apWWyAg=
-github.com/a8m/envsubst v1.3.0/go.mod h1:MVUTQNGQ3tsjOOtKCNd+fl8RzhsXcDvvAEzkhGtlsbY=
-github.com/alecthomas/assert/v2 v2.0.3 h1:WKqJODfOiQG0nEJKFKzDIG3E29CN2/4zR9XGJzKIkbg=
-github.com/alecthomas/participle/v2 v2.0.0-beta.5 h1:y6dsSYVb1G5eK6mgmy+BgI3Mw35a3WghArZ/Hbebrjo=
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 github.com/stretchr/testify v1.7.0 h1:nwc3DEeHmmLAfoZucVR881uASk0Mfjw8xYJ99tb5CcY=
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-golang.org/x/crypto v0.0.0-20190308221718-c2843e01d9a2/go.mod h1:djNgcEr1/C05ACkg1iLfiJU5Ep61QUkGW8qpdssI0+w=
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-golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20190215142949-d0b11bdaac8a/go.mod h1:STP8DvDyc/dI5b8T5hshtkjS+E42TnysNCUPdjciGhY=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20190412213103-97732733099d/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20200116001909-b77594299b42/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20200223170610-d5e6a3e2c0ae/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210630005230-0f9fa26af87c/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210927094055-39ccf1dd6fa6/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20220406163625-3f8b81556e12/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20220712014510-0a85c31ab51e h1:NHvCuwuS43lGnYhten69ZWqi2QOj/CiDNcKbVqwVoew=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20220712014510-0a85c31ab51e/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
-golang.org/x/text v0.3.0/go.mod h1:NqM8EUOU14njkJ3fqMW+pc6Ldnwhi/IjpwHt7yyuwOQ=
-golang.org/x/text v0.3.2/go.mod h1:bEr9sfX3Q8Zfm5fL9x+3itogRgK3+ptLWKqgva+5dAk=
-golang.org/x/text v0.3.7 h1:olpwvP2KacW1ZWvsR7uQhoyTYvKAupfQrRGBFM352Gk=
-golang.org/x/text v0.3.7/go.mod h1:u+2+/6zg+i71rQMx5EYifcz6MCKuco9NR6JIITiCfzQ=
-golang.org/x/tools v0.0.0-20180917221912-90fa682c2a6e/go.mod h1:n7NCudcB/nEzxVGmLbDWY5pfWTLqBcC2KZ6jyYvM4mQ=
-golang.org/x/xerrors v0.0.0-20200804184101-5ec99f83aff1/go.mod h1:I/5z698sn9Ka8TeJc9MKroUUfqBBauWjQqLJ2OPfmY0=
-golang.org/x/xerrors v0.0.0-20220609144429-65e65417b02f h1:uF6paiQQebLeSXkrTqHqz0MXhXXS1KgF41eUdBNvxK0=
-golang.org/x/xerrors v0.0.0-20220609144429-65e65417b02f/go.mod h1:K8+ghG5WaK9qNqU5K3HdILfMLy1f3aNYFI/wnl100a8=
+github.com/yuin/gopher-lua v1.1.1 h1:kYKnWBjvbNP4XLT3+bPEwAXJx262OhaHDWDVOPjL46M=
+github.com/yuin/gopher-lua v1.1.1/go.mod h1:GBR0iDaNXjAgGg9zfCvksxSRnQx76gclCIb7kdAd1Pw=
+go.yaml.in/yaml/v3 v3.0.4 h1:tfq32ie2Jv2UxXFdLJdh3jXuOzWiL1fo0bu/FbuKpbc=
+go.yaml.in/yaml/v3 v3.0.4/go.mod h1:DhzuOOF2ATzADvBadXxruRBLzYTpT36CKvDb3+aBEFg=
+golang.org/x/net v0.41.0 h1:vBTly1HeNPEn3wtREYfy4GZ/NECgw2Cnl+nK6Nz3uvw=
+golang.org/x/net v0.41.0/go.mod h1:B/K4NNqkfmg07DQYrbwvSluqCJOOXwUjeb/5lOisjbA=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.6.0/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.33.0 h1:q3i8TbbEz+JRD9ywIRlyRAQbM0qF7hu24q3teo2hbuw=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.33.0/go.mod h1:BJP2sWEmIv4KK5OTEluFJCKSidICx8ciO85XgH3Ak8k=
+golang.org/x/text v0.27.0 h1:4fGWRpyh641NLlecmyl4LOe6yDdfaYNrGb2zdfo4JV4=
+golang.org/x/text v0.27.0/go.mod h1:1D28KMCvyooCX9hBiosv5Tz/+YLxj0j7XhWjpSUF7CU=
 gopkg.in/check.v1 v0.0.0-20161208181325-20d25e280405 h1:yhCVgyC4o1eVCa2tZl7eS0r+SDo693bJlVdllGtEeKM=
 gopkg.in/check.v1 v0.0.0-20161208181325-20d25e280405/go.mod h1:Co6ibVJAznAaIkqp8huTwlJQCZ016jof/cbN4VW5Yz0=
 gopkg.in/op/go-logging.v1 v1.0.0-20160211212156-b2cb9fa56473 h1:6D+BvnJ/j6e222UW8s2qTSe3wGBtvo0MbVQG/c5k8RE=
 gopkg.in/op/go-logging.v1 v1.0.0-20160211212156-b2cb9fa56473/go.mod h1:N1eN2tsCx0Ydtgjl4cqmbRCsY4/+z4cYDeqwZTk6zog=
-gopkg.in/yaml.v2 v2.2.2/go.mod h1:hI93XBmqTisBFMUTm0b8Fm+jr3Dg1NNxqwp+5A1VGuI=
 gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.0-20200313102051-9f266ea9e77c/go.mod h1:K4uyk7z7BCEPqu6E+C64Yfv1cQ7kz7rIZviUmN+EgEM=
 gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1 h1:fxVm/GzAzEWqLHuvctI91KS9hhNmmWOoWu0XTYJS7CA=
 gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.1/go.mod h1:K4uyk7z7BCEPqu6E+C64Yfv1cQ7kz7rIZviUmN+EgEM=

how-it-works.md

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ It pipes the current, lets call it 'root' context through the `lhs` expression o
 cat
 ```
 
-Sidenote: this node holds not only its value 'cat', but comments and metadata too, including path and parent information.
+Side note: this node holds not only its value 'cat', but comments and metadata too, including path and parent information.
 
 The `=` operator then pipes the 'root' context through the `rhs` expression of `.b` to return the node
 

pkg/yqlib/all_at_once_evaluator.go

@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@ package yqlib
 
 import (
 	"container/list"
-
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 // A yaml expression evaluator that runs the expression once against all files/nodes in memory.
@@ -11,7 +9,7 @@ type Evaluator interface {
 	EvaluateFiles(expression string, filenames []string, printer Printer, decoder Decoder) error
 
 	// EvaluateNodes takes an expression and one or more yaml nodes, returning a list of matching candidate nodes
-	EvaluateNodes(expression string, nodes ...*yaml.Node) (*list.List, error)
+	EvaluateNodes(expression string, nodes ...*CandidateNode) (*list.List, error)
 
 	// EvaluateCandidateNodes takes an expression and list of candidate nodes, returning a list of matching candidate nodes
 	EvaluateCandidateNodes(expression string, inputCandidateNodes *list.List) (*list.List, error)
@@ -26,10 +24,10 @@ func NewAllAtOnceEvaluator() Evaluator {
 	return &allAtOnceEvaluator{treeNavigator: NewDataTreeNavigator()}
 }
 
-func (e *allAtOnceEvaluator) EvaluateNodes(expression string, nodes ...*yaml.Node) (*list.List, error) {
+func (e *allAtOnceEvaluator) EvaluateNodes(expression string, nodes ...*CandidateNode) (*list.List, error) {
 	inputCandidates := list.New()
 	for _, node := range nodes {
-		inputCandidates.PushBack(&CandidateNode{Node: node})
+		inputCandidates.PushBack(node)
 	}
 	return e.EvaluateCandidateNodes(expression, inputCandidates)
 }
@@ -65,13 +63,7 @@ func (e *allAtOnceEvaluator) EvaluateFiles(expression string, filenames []string
 	}
 
 	if allDocuments.Len() == 0 {
-		candidateNode := &CandidateNode{
-			Document:       0,
-			Filename:       "",
-			Node:           &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.DocumentNode, Content: []*yaml.Node{{Tag: "!!null", Kind: yaml.ScalarNode}}},
-			FileIndex:      0,
-			LeadingContent: "",
-		}
+		candidateNode := createScalarNode(nil, "")
 		allDocuments.PushBack(candidateNode)
 	}
 

pkg/yqlib/all_at_once_evaluator_test.go

@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package yqlib
 
 import (
+	"bufio"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/mikefarah/yq/v4/test"
@@ -18,7 +20,7 @@ var evaluateNodesScenario = []expressionScenario{
 		document:   `a: hello`,
 		expression: `.`,
 		expected: []string{
-			"D0, P[], (doc)::a: hello\n",
+			"D0, P[], (!!map)::a: hello\n",
 		},
 	},
 	{
@@ -32,9 +34,23 @@ var evaluateNodesScenario = []expressionScenario{
 
 func TestAllAtOnceEvaluateNodes(t *testing.T) {
 	var evaluator = NewAllAtOnceEvaluator()
+	// logging.SetLevel(logging.DEBUG, "")
 	for _, tt := range evaluateNodesScenario {
-		node := test.ParseData(tt.document)
-		list, _ := evaluator.EvaluateNodes(tt.expression, &node)
+		decoder := NewYamlDecoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences)
+		reader := bufio.NewReader(strings.NewReader(tt.document))
+		err := decoder.Init(reader)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Error(err)
+			return
+		}
+		candidateNode, errorReading := decoder.Decode()
+
+		if errorReading != nil {
+			t.Error(errorReading)
+			return
+		}
+
+		list, _ := evaluator.EvaluateNodes(tt.expression, candidateNode)
 		test.AssertResultComplex(t, tt.expected, resultsToString(t, list))
 	}
 }

pkg/yqlib/candidate_node.go

@@ -3,51 +3,215 @@ package yqlib
 import (
 	"container/list"
 	"fmt"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
-
-	"github.com/jinzhu/copier"
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
+type Kind uint32
+
+const (
+	SequenceNode Kind = 1 << iota
+	MappingNode
+	ScalarNode
+	AliasNode
+)
+
+type Style uint32
+
+const (
+	TaggedStyle Style = 1 << iota
+	DoubleQuotedStyle
+	SingleQuotedStyle
+	LiteralStyle
+	FoldedStyle
+	FlowStyle
+)
+
+func createStringScalarNode(stringValue string) *CandidateNode {
+	var node = &CandidateNode{Kind: ScalarNode}
+	node.Value = stringValue
+	node.Tag = "!!str"
+	return node
+}
+
+func createScalarNode(value interface{}, stringValue string) *CandidateNode {
+	var node = &CandidateNode{Kind: ScalarNode}
+	node.Value = stringValue
+
+	switch value.(type) {
+	case float32, float64:
+		node.Tag = "!!float"
+	case int, int64, int32:
+		node.Tag = "!!int"
+	case bool:
+		node.Tag = "!!bool"
+	case string:
+		node.Tag = "!!str"
+	case nil:
+		node.Tag = "!!null"
+	}
+	return node
+}
+
+type NodeInfo struct {
+	Kind        string      `yaml:"kind"`
+	Style       string      `yaml:"style,omitempty"`
+	Anchor      string      `yaml:"anchor,omitempty"`
+	Tag         string      `yaml:"tag,omitempty"`
+	HeadComment string      `yaml:"headComment,omitempty"`
+	LineComment string      `yaml:"lineComment,omitempty"`
+	FootComment string      `yaml:"footComment,omitempty"`
+	Value       string      `yaml:"value,omitempty"`
+	Line        int         `yaml:"line,omitempty"`
+	Column      int         `yaml:"column,omitempty"`
+	Content     []*NodeInfo `yaml:"content,omitempty"`
+}
+
 type CandidateNode struct {
-	Node   *yaml.Node     // the actual node
+	Kind  Kind
+	Style Style
+
+	Tag     string
+	Value   string
+	Anchor  string
+	Alias   *CandidateNode
+	Content []*CandidateNode
+
+	HeadComment string
+	LineComment string
+	FootComment string
+
 	Parent *CandidateNode // parent node
-	Key    *yaml.Node     // node key, if this is a value from a map (or index in an array)
+	Key    *CandidateNode // node key, if this is a value from a map (or index in an array)
 
-	LeadingContent  string
-	TrailingContent string
+	LeadingContent string
 
-	Path      []interface{} /// the path we took to get to this node
-	Document  uint          // the document index of this node
-	Filename  string
-	FileIndex int
+	document uint // the document index of this node
+	filename string
+
+	Line   int
+	Column int
+
+	fileIndex int
 	// when performing op against all nodes given, this will treat all the nodes as one
 	// (e.g. top level cross document merge). This property does not propagate to child nodes.
 	EvaluateTogether bool
 	IsMapKey         bool
 }
 
+func (n *CandidateNode) CreateChild() *CandidateNode {
+	return &CandidateNode{
+		Parent: n,
+	}
+}
+
+func (n *CandidateNode) SetDocument(idx uint) {
+	n.document = idx
+}
+
+func (n *CandidateNode) GetDocument() uint {
+	// defer to parent
+	if n.Parent != nil {
+		return n.Parent.GetDocument()
+	}
+	return n.document
+}
+
+func (n *CandidateNode) SetFilename(name string) {
+	n.filename = name
+}
+
+func (n *CandidateNode) GetFilename() string {
+	if n.Parent != nil {
+		return n.Parent.GetFilename()
+	}
+	return n.filename
+}
+
+func (n *CandidateNode) SetFileIndex(idx int) {
+	n.fileIndex = idx
+}
+
+func (n *CandidateNode) GetFileIndex() int {
+	if n.Parent != nil {
+		return n.Parent.GetFileIndex()
+	}
+	return n.fileIndex
+}
+
 func (n *CandidateNode) GetKey() string {
 	keyPrefix := ""
 	if n.IsMapKey {
-		keyPrefix = "key-"
+		keyPrefix = fmt.Sprintf("key-%v-", n.Value)
 	}
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%v%v - %v", keyPrefix, n.Document, n.Path)
+	key := ""
+	if n.Key != nil {
+		key = n.Key.Value
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%v%v - %v", keyPrefix, n.GetDocument(), key)
 }
 
-func (n *CandidateNode) GetNiceTag() string {
-	return unwrapDoc(n.Node).Tag
+func (n *CandidateNode) getParsedKey() interface{} {
+	if n.IsMapKey {
+		return n.Value
+	}
+	if n.Key == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	if n.Key.Tag == "!!str" {
+		return n.Key.Value
+	}
+	index, err := parseInt(n.Key.Value)
+	if err != nil {
+		return n.Key.Value
+	}
+	return index
+
+}
+
+func (n *CandidateNode) FilterMapContentByKey(keyPredicate func(*CandidateNode) bool) []*CandidateNode {
+	var result []*CandidateNode
+	for index := 0; index < len(n.Content); index = index + 2 {
+		keyNode := n.Content[index]
+		valueNode := n.Content[index+1]
+		if keyPredicate(keyNode) {
+			result = append(result, keyNode, valueNode)
+		}
+	}
+	return result
+}
+
+func (n *CandidateNode) GetPath() []interface{} {
+	key := n.getParsedKey()
+	if n.Parent != nil && key != nil {
+		return append(n.Parent.GetPath(), key)
+	}
+
+	if key != nil {
+		return []interface{}{key}
+	}
+	return make([]interface{}, 0)
 }
 
 func (n *CandidateNode) GetNicePath() string {
-	if n.Path != nil && len(n.Path) >= 0 {
-		pathStr := make([]string, len(n.Path))
-		for i, v := range n.Path {
-			pathStr[i] = fmt.Sprintf("%v", v)
+	var sb strings.Builder
+	path := n.GetPath()
+	for i, element := range path {
+		elementStr := fmt.Sprintf("%v", element)
+		switch element.(type) {
+		case int:
+			sb.WriteString("[" + elementStr + "]")
+		default:
+			if i == 0 {
+				sb.WriteString(elementStr)
+			} else if strings.ContainsRune(elementStr, '.') {
+				sb.WriteString("[" + elementStr + "]")
+			} else {
+				sb.WriteString("." + elementStr)
+			}
 		}
-		return strings.Join(pathStr, ".")
 	}
-	return ""
+	return sb.String()
 }
 
 func (n *CandidateNode) AsList() *list.List {
@@ -56,134 +220,321 @@ func (n *CandidateNode) AsList() *list.List {
 	return elMap
 }
 
-func (n *CandidateNode) CreateChildInMap(key *yaml.Node, node *yaml.Node) *CandidateNode {
-	var value interface{}
-	if key != nil {
-		value = key.Value
+func (n *CandidateNode) SetParent(parent *CandidateNode) {
+	n.Parent = parent
+}
+
+type ValueVisitor func(*CandidateNode) error
+
+func (n *CandidateNode) VisitValues(visitor ValueVisitor) error {
+	switch n.Kind {
+	case MappingNode:
+		for i := 1; i < len(n.Content); i = i + 2 {
+			if err := visitor(n.Content[i]); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+	case SequenceNode:
+		for i := 0; i < len(n.Content); i = i + 1 {
+			if err := visitor(n.Content[i]); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
 	}
-	return &CandidateNode{
-		Node:      node,
-		Path:      n.createChildPath(value),
-		Parent:    n,
-		Key:       key,
-		Document:  n.Document,
-		Filename:  n.Filename,
-		FileIndex: n.FileIndex,
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (n *CandidateNode) CanVisitValues() bool {
+	return n.Kind == MappingNode || n.Kind == SequenceNode
+}
+
+func (n *CandidateNode) AddKeyValueChild(rawKey *CandidateNode, rawValue *CandidateNode) (*CandidateNode, *CandidateNode) {
+	key := rawKey.Copy()
+	key.SetParent(n)
+	key.IsMapKey = true
+
+	value := rawValue.Copy()
+	value.SetParent(n)
+	value.IsMapKey = false // force this, incase we are creating a value from a key
+	value.Key = key
+
+	n.Content = append(n.Content, key, value)
+	return key, value
+}
+
+func (n *CandidateNode) AddChild(rawChild *CandidateNode) {
+	value := rawChild.Copy()
+	value.SetParent(n)
+	value.IsMapKey = false
+
+	index := len(n.Content)
+	keyNode := createScalarNode(index, fmt.Sprintf("%v", index))
+	keyNode.SetParent(n)
+	value.Key = keyNode
+
+	n.Content = append(n.Content, value)
+}
+
+func (n *CandidateNode) AddChildren(children []*CandidateNode) {
+	if n.Kind == MappingNode {
+		for i := 0; i < len(children); i += 2 {
+			key := children[i]
+			value := children[i+1]
+			n.AddKeyValueChild(key, value)
+		}
+
+	} else {
+		for _, rawChild := range children {
+			n.AddChild(rawChild)
+		}
 	}
 }
 
-func (n *CandidateNode) CreateChildInArray(index int, node *yaml.Node) *CandidateNode {
-	return &CandidateNode{
-		Node:      node,
-		Path:      n.createChildPath(index),
-		Parent:    n,
-		Key:       &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.ScalarNode, Value: fmt.Sprintf("%v", index), Tag: "!!int"},
-		Document:  n.Document,
-		Filename:  n.Filename,
-		FileIndex: n.FileIndex,
+func (n *CandidateNode) GetValueRep() (interface{}, error) {
+	log.Debugf("GetValueRep for %v value: %v", n.GetNicePath(), n.Value)
+	realTag := n.guessTagFromCustomType()
+
+	switch realTag {
+	case "!!int":
+		_, val, err := parseInt64(n.Value)
+		return val, err
+	case "!!float":
+		// need to test this
+		return strconv.ParseFloat(n.Value, 64)
+	case "!!bool":
+		return isTruthyNode(n), nil
+	case "!!null":
+		return nil, nil
 	}
+
+	return n.Value, nil
 }
 
-func (n *CandidateNode) CreateReplacement(node *yaml.Node) *CandidateNode {
-	return &CandidateNode{
-		Node:      node,
-		Path:      n.createChildPath(nil),
-		Parent:    n.Parent,
-		Key:       n.Key,
-		IsMapKey:  n.IsMapKey,
-		Document:  n.Document,
-		Filename:  n.Filename,
-		FileIndex: n.FileIndex,
+func (n *CandidateNode) guessTagFromCustomType() string {
+	if strings.HasPrefix(n.Tag, "!!") {
+		return n.Tag
+	} else if n.Value == "" {
+		log.Debug("guessTagFromCustomType: node has no value to guess the type with")
+		return n.Tag
 	}
+	dataBucket, errorReading := parseSnippet(n.Value)
+
+	if errorReading != nil {
+		log.Debug("guessTagFromCustomType: could not guess underlying tag type %v", errorReading)
+		return n.Tag
+	}
+	guessedTag := dataBucket.Tag
+	log.Info("im guessing the tag %v is a %v", n.Tag, guessedTag)
+	return guessedTag
 }
 
-func (n *CandidateNode) CreateReplacementWithDocWrappers(node *yaml.Node) *CandidateNode {
-	replacement := n.CreateReplacement(node)
+func (n *CandidateNode) CreateReplacement(kind Kind, tag string, value string) *CandidateNode {
+	node := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind:  kind,
+		Tag:   tag,
+		Value: value,
+	}
+	return n.CopyAsReplacement(node)
+}
+
+func (n *CandidateNode) CopyAsReplacement(replacement *CandidateNode) *CandidateNode {
+	newCopy := replacement.Copy()
+	newCopy.Parent = n.Parent
+
+	if n.IsMapKey {
+		newCopy.Key = n
+	} else {
+		newCopy.Key = n.Key
+	}
+
+	return newCopy
+}
+
+func (n *CandidateNode) CreateReplacementWithComments(kind Kind, tag string, style Style) *CandidateNode {
+	replacement := n.CreateReplacement(kind, tag, "")
 	replacement.LeadingContent = n.LeadingContent
-	replacement.TrailingContent = n.TrailingContent
+	replacement.HeadComment = n.HeadComment
+	replacement.LineComment = n.LineComment
+	replacement.FootComment = n.FootComment
+	replacement.Style = style
 	return replacement
 }
 
-func (n *CandidateNode) createChildPath(path interface{}) []interface{} {
-	if path == nil {
-		newPath := make([]interface{}, len(n.Path))
-		copy(newPath, n.Path)
-		return newPath
-	}
-
-	//don't use append as they may actually modify the path of the orignal node!
-	newPath := make([]interface{}, len(n.Path)+1)
-	copy(newPath, n.Path)
-	newPath[len(n.Path)] = path
-	return newPath
+func (n *CandidateNode) Copy() *CandidateNode {
+	return n.doCopy(true)
 }
 
-func (n *CandidateNode) Copy() (*CandidateNode, error) {
-	clone := &CandidateNode{}
-	err := copier.Copy(clone, n)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+func (n *CandidateNode) CopyWithoutContent() *CandidateNode {
+	return n.doCopy(false)
+}
+
+func (n *CandidateNode) doCopy(cloneContent bool) *CandidateNode {
+	var content []*CandidateNode
+
+	var copyKey *CandidateNode
+	if n.Key != nil {
+		copyKey = n.Key.Copy()
 	}
-	clone.Node = deepClone(n.Node)
-	return clone, nil
+
+	clone := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind:  n.Kind,
+		Style: n.Style,
+
+		Tag:    n.Tag,
+		Value:  n.Value,
+		Anchor: n.Anchor,
+
+		// ok not to clone this,
+		// as its a reference to somewhere else.
+		Alias:   n.Alias,
+		Content: content,
+
+		HeadComment: n.HeadComment,
+		LineComment: n.LineComment,
+		FootComment: n.FootComment,
+
+		Parent: n.Parent,
+		Key:    copyKey,
+
+		LeadingContent: n.LeadingContent,
+
+		document:  n.document,
+		filename:  n.filename,
+		fileIndex: n.fileIndex,
+
+		Line:   n.Line,
+		Column: n.Column,
+
+		EvaluateTogether: n.EvaluateTogether,
+		IsMapKey:         n.IsMapKey,
+	}
+
+	if cloneContent {
+		clone.AddChildren(n.Content)
+	}
+
+	return clone
 }
 
 // updates this candidate from the given candidate node
 func (n *CandidateNode) UpdateFrom(other *CandidateNode, prefs assignPreferences) {
-
+	if n == other {
+		log.Debugf("UpdateFrom, no need to update from myself.")
+		return
+	}
 	// if this is an empty map or empty array, use the style of other node.
-	if (n.Node.Kind != yaml.ScalarNode && len(n.Node.Content) == 0) ||
+	if (n.Kind != ScalarNode && len(n.Content) == 0) ||
 		// if the tag has changed (e.g. from str to bool)
-		(guessTagFromCustomType(n.Node) != guessTagFromCustomType(other.Node)) {
-		n.Node.Style = other.Node.Style
+		(n.guessTagFromCustomType() != other.guessTagFromCustomType()) {
+		n.Style = other.Style
 	}
 
-	n.Node.Content = deepCloneContent(other.Node.Content)
-	n.Node.Kind = other.Node.Kind
-	n.Node.Value = other.Node.Value
+	n.Content = make([]*CandidateNode, 0)
+	n.Kind = other.Kind
+	n.AddChildren(other.Content)
+
+	n.Value = other.Value
 
 	n.UpdateAttributesFrom(other, prefs)
 
 }
 
 func (n *CandidateNode) UpdateAttributesFrom(other *CandidateNode, prefs assignPreferences) {
-	log.Debug("UpdateAttributesFrom: n: %v other: %v", n.GetKey(), other.GetKey())
-	if n.Node.Kind != other.Node.Kind {
+	log.Debug("UpdateAttributesFrom: n: %v other: %v", NodeToString(n), NodeToString(other))
+	if n.Kind != other.Kind {
 		// clear out the contents when switching to a different type
 		// e.g. map to array
-		n.Node.Content = make([]*yaml.Node, 0)
-		n.Node.Value = ""
+		n.Content = make([]*CandidateNode, 0)
+		n.Value = ""
 	}
-	n.Node.Kind = other.Node.Kind
+	n.Kind = other.Kind
 
 	// don't clobber custom tags...
-	if prefs.ClobberCustomTags || strings.HasPrefix(n.Node.Tag, "!!") || n.Node.Tag == "" {
-		n.Node.Tag = other.Node.Tag
+	if prefs.ClobberCustomTags || strings.HasPrefix(n.Tag, "!!") || n.Tag == "" {
+		n.Tag = other.Tag
 	}
 
-	n.Node.Alias = other.Node.Alias
+	n.Alias = other.Alias
 
 	if !prefs.DontOverWriteAnchor {
-		n.Node.Anchor = other.Node.Anchor
+		n.Anchor = other.Anchor
 	}
 
 	// merge will pickup the style of the new thing
 	// when autocreating nodes
 
-	if n.Node.Style == 0 {
-		n.Node.Style = other.Node.Style
+	if n.Style == 0 {
+		n.Style = other.Style
 	}
 
-	if other.Node.FootComment != "" {
-		n.Node.FootComment = other.Node.FootComment
+	if other.FootComment != "" {
+		n.FootComment = other.FootComment
 	}
-	if other.TrailingContent != "" {
-		n.TrailingContent = other.TrailingContent
+	if other.HeadComment != "" {
+		n.HeadComment = other.HeadComment
 	}
-	if other.Node.HeadComment != "" {
-		n.Node.HeadComment = other.Node.HeadComment
-	}
-	if other.Node.LineComment != "" {
-		n.Node.LineComment = other.Node.LineComment
+	if other.LineComment != "" {
+		n.LineComment = other.LineComment
 	}
 }
+
+func (n *CandidateNode) ConvertToNodeInfo() *NodeInfo {
+	info := &NodeInfo{
+		Kind:        kindToString(n.Kind),
+		Style:       styleToString(n.Style),
+		Anchor:      n.Anchor,
+		Tag:         n.Tag,
+		HeadComment: n.HeadComment,
+		LineComment: n.LineComment,
+		FootComment: n.FootComment,
+		Value:       n.Value,
+		Line:        n.Line,
+		Column:      n.Column,
+	}
+	if len(n.Content) > 0 {
+		info.Content = make([]*NodeInfo, len(n.Content))
+		for i, child := range n.Content {
+			info.Content[i] = child.ConvertToNodeInfo()
+		}
+	}
+	return info
+}
+
+// Helper functions to convert Kind and Style to string for NodeInfo
+func kindToString(k Kind) string {
+	switch k {
+	case SequenceNode:
+		return "SequenceNode"
+	case MappingNode:
+		return "MappingNode"
+	case ScalarNode:
+		return "ScalarNode"
+	case AliasNode:
+		return "AliasNode"
+	default:
+		return "Unknown"
+	}
+}
+
+func styleToString(s Style) string {
+	var styles []string
+	if s&TaggedStyle != 0 {
+		styles = append(styles, "TaggedStyle")
+	}
+	if s&DoubleQuotedStyle != 0 {
+		styles = append(styles, "DoubleQuotedStyle")
+	}
+	if s&SingleQuotedStyle != 0 {
+		styles = append(styles, "SingleQuotedStyle")
+	}
+	if s&LiteralStyle != 0 {
+		styles = append(styles, "LiteralStyle")
+	}
+	if s&FoldedStyle != 0 {
+		styles = append(styles, "FoldedStyle")
+	}
+	if s&FlowStyle != 0 {
+		styles = append(styles, "FlowStyle")
+	}
+	return strings.Join(styles, ",")
+}

pkg/yqlib/candidate_node_goccy_yaml.go

@@ -0,0 +1,210 @@
+package yqlib
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+
+	yaml "github.com/goccy/go-yaml"
+	"github.com/goccy/go-yaml/ast"
+	goccyToken "github.com/goccy/go-yaml/token"
+)
+
+func (o *CandidateNode) goccyDecodeIntoChild(childNode ast.Node, cm yaml.CommentMap, anchorMap map[string]*CandidateNode) (*CandidateNode, error) {
+	newChild := o.CreateChild()
+
+	err := newChild.UnmarshalGoccyYAML(childNode, cm, anchorMap)
+	return newChild, err
+}
+
+func (o *CandidateNode) UnmarshalGoccyYAML(node ast.Node, cm yaml.CommentMap, anchorMap map[string]*CandidateNode) error {
+	log.Debugf("UnmarshalYAML %v", node)
+	log.Debugf("UnmarshalYAML %v", node.Type().String())
+	log.Debugf("UnmarshalYAML Node Value: %v", node.String())
+	log.Debugf("UnmarshalYAML Node GetComment: %v", node.GetComment())
+
+	if node.GetComment() != nil {
+		commentMapComments := cm[node.GetPath()]
+		for _, comment := range node.GetComment().Comments {
+			// need to use the comment map to find the position :/
+			log.Debugf("%v has a comment of [%v]", node.GetPath(), comment.Token.Value)
+			for _, commentMapComment := range commentMapComments {
+				commentMapValue := strings.Join(commentMapComment.Texts, "\n")
+				if commentMapValue == comment.Token.Value {
+					log.Debug("found a matching entry in comment map")
+					// we found the comment in the comment map,
+					// now we can process the position
+					switch commentMapComment.Position {
+					case yaml.CommentHeadPosition:
+						o.HeadComment = comment.String()
+						log.Debug("its a head comment %v", comment.String())
+					case yaml.CommentLinePosition:
+						o.LineComment = comment.String()
+						log.Debug("its a line comment %v", comment.String())
+					case yaml.CommentFootPosition:
+						o.FootComment = comment.String()
+						log.Debug("its a foot comment %v", comment.String())
+					}
+				}
+			}
+
+		}
+	}
+
+	o.Value = node.String()
+	o.Line = node.GetToken().Position.Line
+	o.Column = node.GetToken().Position.Column
+
+	switch node.Type() {
+	case ast.IntegerType:
+		o.Kind = ScalarNode
+		o.Tag = "!!int"
+	case ast.FloatType:
+		o.Kind = ScalarNode
+		o.Tag = "!!float"
+	case ast.BoolType:
+		o.Kind = ScalarNode
+		o.Tag = "!!bool"
+	case ast.NullType:
+		log.Debugf("its a null type with value %v", node.GetToken().Value)
+		o.Kind = ScalarNode
+		o.Tag = "!!null"
+		o.Value = node.GetToken().Value
+		if node.GetToken().Type == goccyToken.ImplicitNullType {
+			o.Value = ""
+		}
+	case ast.StringType:
+		o.Kind = ScalarNode
+		o.Tag = "!!str"
+		switch node.GetToken().Type {
+		case goccyToken.SingleQuoteType:
+			o.Style = SingleQuotedStyle
+		case goccyToken.DoubleQuoteType:
+			o.Style = DoubleQuotedStyle
+		}
+		o.Value = node.(*ast.StringNode).Value
+		log.Debugf("string value %v", node.(*ast.StringNode).Value)
+	case ast.LiteralType:
+		o.Kind = ScalarNode
+		o.Tag = "!!str"
+		o.Style = LiteralStyle
+		astLiteral := node.(*ast.LiteralNode)
+		log.Debugf("astLiteral.Start.Type %v", astLiteral.Start.Type)
+		if astLiteral.Start.Type == goccyToken.FoldedType {
+			log.Debugf("folded Type %v", astLiteral.Start.Type)
+			o.Style = FoldedStyle
+		}
+		log.Debug("start value: %v ", node.(*ast.LiteralNode).Start.Value)
+		log.Debug("start value: %v ", node.(*ast.LiteralNode).Start.Type)
+		// TODO: here I could put the original value with line breaks
+		// to solve the multiline > problem
+		o.Value = astLiteral.Value.Value
+	case ast.TagType:
+		if err := o.UnmarshalGoccyYAML(node.(*ast.TagNode).Value, cm, anchorMap); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		o.Tag = node.(*ast.TagNode).Start.Value
+	case ast.MappingType:
+		log.Debugf("UnmarshalYAML -  a mapping node")
+		o.Kind = MappingNode
+		o.Tag = "!!map"
+
+		mappingNode := node.(*ast.MappingNode)
+		if mappingNode.IsFlowStyle {
+			o.Style = FlowStyle
+		}
+		for _, mappingValueNode := range mappingNode.Values {
+			err := o.goccyProcessMappingValueNode(mappingValueNode, cm, anchorMap)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+		if mappingNode.FootComment != nil {
+			log.Debugf("mapping node has a foot comment of: %v", mappingNode.FootComment)
+			o.FootComment = mappingNode.FootComment.String()
+		}
+	case ast.MappingValueType:
+		log.Debugf("UnmarshalYAML -  a mapping node")
+		o.Kind = MappingNode
+		o.Tag = "!!map"
+		mappingValueNode := node.(*ast.MappingValueNode)
+		err := o.goccyProcessMappingValueNode(mappingValueNode, cm, anchorMap)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	case ast.SequenceType:
+		log.Debugf("UnmarshalYAML -  a sequence node")
+		o.Kind = SequenceNode
+		o.Tag = "!!seq"
+		sequenceNode := node.(*ast.SequenceNode)
+		if sequenceNode.IsFlowStyle {
+			o.Style = FlowStyle
+		}
+		astSeq := sequenceNode.Values
+		o.Content = make([]*CandidateNode, len(astSeq))
+		for i := 0; i < len(astSeq); i++ {
+			keyNode := o.CreateChild()
+			keyNode.IsMapKey = true
+			keyNode.Tag = "!!int"
+			keyNode.Kind = ScalarNode
+			keyNode.Value = fmt.Sprintf("%v", i)
+
+			valueNode, err := o.goccyDecodeIntoChild(astSeq[i], cm, anchorMap)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			valueNode.Key = keyNode
+			o.Content[i] = valueNode
+		}
+	case ast.AnchorType:
+		log.Debugf("UnmarshalYAML -  an anchor node")
+		anchorNode := node.(*ast.AnchorNode)
+		err := o.UnmarshalGoccyYAML(anchorNode.Value, cm, anchorMap)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		o.Anchor = anchorNode.Name.String()
+		anchorMap[o.Anchor] = o
+
+	case ast.AliasType:
+		log.Debugf("UnmarshalYAML -  an alias node")
+		aliasNode := node.(*ast.AliasNode)
+		o.Kind = AliasNode
+		o.Value = aliasNode.Value.String()
+		o.Alias = anchorMap[o.Value]
+
+	case ast.MergeKeyType:
+		log.Debugf("UnmarshalYAML -  a merge key")
+		o.Kind = ScalarNode
+		o.Tag = "!!merge" // note - I should be able to get rid of this.
+		o.Value = "<<"
+
+	default:
+		log.Debugf("UnmarshalYAML -  no idea of the type!!\n%v: %v", node.Type(), node.String())
+	}
+	log.Debugf("KIND: %v", o.Kind)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (o *CandidateNode) goccyProcessMappingValueNode(mappingEntry *ast.MappingValueNode, cm yaml.CommentMap, anchorMap map[string]*CandidateNode) error {
+	log.Debug("UnmarshalYAML MAP KEY entry %v", mappingEntry.Key)
+
+	// AddKeyValueFirst because it clones the nodes, and we want to have the real refs when Unmarshalling
+	// particularly for the anchorMap
+	keyNode, valueNode := o.AddKeyValueChild(&CandidateNode{}, &CandidateNode{})
+
+	if err := keyNode.UnmarshalGoccyYAML(mappingEntry.Key, cm, anchorMap); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	log.Debug("UnmarshalYAML MAP VALUE entry %v", mappingEntry.Value)
+	if err := valueNode.UnmarshalGoccyYAML(mappingEntry.Value, cm, anchorMap); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if mappingEntry.FootComment != nil {
+		valueNode.FootComment = mappingEntry.FootComment.String()
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}

pkg/yqlib/candidate_node_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,206 @@
+package yqlib
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/mikefarah/yq/v4/test"
+)
+
+type valueRepScenario struct {
+	input    string
+	tag      string
+	expected interface{}
+}
+
+var valueRepScenarios = []valueRepScenario{
+	{
+		input:    `"cat"`,
+		expected: `"cat"`,
+	},
+	{
+		input:    `3`,
+		expected: int64(3),
+	},
+	{
+		input:    `3.1`,
+		expected: float64(3.1),
+	},
+	{
+		input:    `true`,
+		expected: true,
+	},
+	{
+		input:    `y`,
+		tag:      "!!bool",
+		expected: true,
+	},
+	{
+		tag:      "!!null",
+		expected: nil,
+	},
+}
+
+func TestCandidateNodeGetValueRepScenarios(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, tt := range valueRepScenarios {
+		node := CandidateNode{Value: tt.input, Tag: tt.tag}
+		actual, err := node.GetValueRep()
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Error(err)
+			return
+		}
+		test.AssertResult(t, tt.expected, actual)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestCandidateNodeChildWhenParentUpdated(t *testing.T) {
+	parent := CandidateNode{}
+	child := parent.CreateChild()
+	parent.SetDocument(1)
+	parent.SetFileIndex(2)
+	parent.SetFilename("meow")
+	test.AssertResultWithContext(t, "meow", child.GetFilename(), "filename")
+	test.AssertResultWithContext(t, 2, child.GetFileIndex(), "file index")
+	test.AssertResultWithContext(t, uint(1), child.GetDocument(), "document index")
+}
+
+type createScalarNodeScenario struct {
+	value       interface{}
+	stringValue string
+	expectedTag string
+}
+
+var createScalarScenarios = []createScalarNodeScenario{
+	{
+		value:       "mike",
+		stringValue: "mike",
+		expectedTag: "!!str",
+	},
+	{
+		value:       3,
+		stringValue: "3",
+		expectedTag: "!!int",
+	},
+	{
+		value:       3.1,
+		stringValue: "3.1",
+		expectedTag: "!!float",
+	},
+	{
+		value:       true,
+		stringValue: "true",
+		expectedTag: "!!bool",
+	},
+	{
+		value:       nil,
+		stringValue: "~",
+		expectedTag: "!!null",
+	},
+}
+
+func TestCreateScalarNodeScenarios(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, tt := range createScalarScenarios {
+		actual := createScalarNode(tt.value, tt.stringValue)
+		test.AssertResultWithContext(t, tt.stringValue, actual.Value, fmt.Sprintf("Value for: Value: [%v], String: %v", tt.value, tt.stringValue))
+		test.AssertResultWithContext(t, tt.expectedTag, actual.Tag, fmt.Sprintf("Value for: Value: [%v], String: %v", tt.value, tt.stringValue))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestGetKeyForMapValue(t *testing.T) {
+	key := createStringScalarNode("yourKey")
+	n := CandidateNode{Key: key, Value: "meow", document: 3}
+	test.AssertResult(t, "3 - yourKey", n.GetKey())
+}
+
+func TestGetKeyForMapKey(t *testing.T) {
+	key := createStringScalarNode("yourKey")
+	key.IsMapKey = true
+	key.document = 3
+	test.AssertResult(t, "key-yourKey-3 - ", key.GetKey())
+}
+
+func TestGetKeyForValue(t *testing.T) {
+	n := CandidateNode{Value: "meow", document: 3}
+	test.AssertResult(t, "3 - ", n.GetKey())
+}
+
+func TestGetParsedKeyForMapKey(t *testing.T) {
+	key := createStringScalarNode("yourKey")
+	key.IsMapKey = true
+	key.document = 3
+	test.AssertResult(t, "yourKey", key.getParsedKey())
+}
+
+func TestGetParsedKeyForLooseValue(t *testing.T) {
+	n := CandidateNode{Value: "meow", document: 3}
+	test.AssertResult(t, nil, n.getParsedKey())
+}
+
+func TestGetParsedKeyForMapValue(t *testing.T) {
+	key := createStringScalarNode("yourKey")
+	n := CandidateNode{Key: key, Value: "meow", document: 3}
+	test.AssertResult(t, "yourKey", n.getParsedKey())
+}
+
+func TestGetParsedKeyForArrayValue(t *testing.T) {
+	key := createScalarNode(4, "4")
+	n := CandidateNode{Key: key, Value: "meow", document: 3}
+	test.AssertResult(t, 4, n.getParsedKey())
+}
+
+func TestCandidateNodeAddKeyValueChild(t *testing.T) {
+	key := CandidateNode{Value: "cool", IsMapKey: true}
+	node := CandidateNode{}
+
+	// if we use a key in a new node as a value, it should no longer be marked as a key
+
+	_, keyIsValueNow := node.AddKeyValueChild(&CandidateNode{Value: "newKey"}, &key)
+
+	test.AssertResult(t, keyIsValueNow.IsMapKey, false)
+	test.AssertResult(t, key.IsMapKey, true)
+
+}
+
+func TestConvertToNodeInfo(t *testing.T) {
+	child := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind:   ScalarNode,
+		Style:  DoubleQuotedStyle,
+		Tag:    "!!str",
+		Value:  "childValue",
+		Line:   2,
+		Column: 3,
+	}
+	parent := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind:        MappingNode,
+		Style:       TaggedStyle,
+		Tag:         "!!map",
+		Value:       "",
+		Line:        1,
+		Column:      1,
+		Content:     []*CandidateNode{child},
+		HeadComment: "head",
+		LineComment: "line",
+		FootComment: "foot",
+		Anchor:      "anchor",
+	}
+	info := parent.ConvertToNodeInfo()
+	test.AssertResult(t, "MappingNode", info.Kind)
+	test.AssertResult(t, "TaggedStyle", info.Style)
+	test.AssertResult(t, "!!map", info.Tag)
+	test.AssertResult(t, "head", info.HeadComment)
+	test.AssertResult(t, "line", info.LineComment)
+	test.AssertResult(t, "foot", info.FootComment)
+	test.AssertResult(t, "anchor", info.Anchor)
+	test.AssertResult(t, 1, info.Line)
+	test.AssertResult(t, 1, info.Column)
+	if len(info.Content) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("Expected 1 child, got %d", len(info.Content))
+	}
+	childInfo := info.Content[0]
+	test.AssertResult(t, "ScalarNode", childInfo.Kind)
+	test.AssertResult(t, "DoubleQuotedStyle", childInfo.Style)
+	test.AssertResult(t, "!!str", childInfo.Tag)
+	test.AssertResult(t, "childValue", childInfo.Value)
+	test.AssertResult(t, 2, childInfo.Line)
+	test.AssertResult(t, 3, childInfo.Column)
+}

pkg/yqlib/candidate_node_yaml.go

@@ -0,0 +1,215 @@
+package yqlib
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	yaml "go.yaml.in/yaml/v3"
+)
+
+func MapYamlStyle(original yaml.Style) Style {
+	switch original {
+	case yaml.TaggedStyle:
+		return TaggedStyle
+	case yaml.DoubleQuotedStyle:
+		return DoubleQuotedStyle
+	case yaml.SingleQuotedStyle:
+		return SingleQuotedStyle
+	case yaml.LiteralStyle:
+		return LiteralStyle
+	case yaml.FoldedStyle:
+		return FoldedStyle
+	case yaml.FlowStyle:
+		return FlowStyle
+	case 0:
+		return 0
+	}
+	return Style(original)
+}
+
+func MapToYamlStyle(original Style) yaml.Style {
+	switch original {
+	case TaggedStyle:
+		return yaml.TaggedStyle
+	case DoubleQuotedStyle:
+		return yaml.DoubleQuotedStyle
+	case SingleQuotedStyle:
+		return yaml.SingleQuotedStyle
+	case LiteralStyle:
+		return yaml.LiteralStyle
+	case FoldedStyle:
+		return yaml.FoldedStyle
+	case FlowStyle:
+		return yaml.FlowStyle
+	case 0:
+		return 0
+	}
+	return yaml.Style(original)
+}
+
+func (o *CandidateNode) copyFromYamlNode(node *yaml.Node, anchorMap map[string]*CandidateNode) {
+	o.Style = MapYamlStyle(node.Style)
+
+	o.Tag = node.Tag
+	o.Value = node.Value
+	o.Anchor = node.Anchor
+
+	if o.Anchor != "" {
+		anchorMap[o.Anchor] = o
+		log.Debug("set anchor %v to %v", o.Anchor, NodeToString(o))
+	}
+
+	// its a single alias
+	if node.Alias != nil && node.Alias.Anchor != "" {
+		o.Alias = anchorMap[node.Alias.Anchor]
+		log.Debug("set alias to %v", NodeToString(anchorMap[node.Alias.Anchor]))
+	}
+	o.HeadComment = node.HeadComment
+	o.LineComment = node.LineComment
+	o.FootComment = node.FootComment
+
+	o.Line = node.Line
+	o.Column = node.Column
+}
+
+func (o *CandidateNode) copyToYamlNode(node *yaml.Node) {
+	node.Style = MapToYamlStyle(o.Style)
+
+	node.Tag = o.Tag
+	node.Value = o.Value
+	node.Anchor = o.Anchor
+
+	node.HeadComment = o.HeadComment
+
+	node.LineComment = o.LineComment
+	node.FootComment = o.FootComment
+
+	node.Line = o.Line
+	node.Column = o.Column
+}
+
+func (o *CandidateNode) decodeIntoChild(childNode *yaml.Node, anchorMap map[string]*CandidateNode) (*CandidateNode, error) {
+	newChild := o.CreateChild()
+
+	// null yaml.Nodes to not end up calling UnmarshalYAML
+	// so we call it explicitly
+	if childNode.Tag == "!!null" {
+		newChild.Kind = ScalarNode
+		newChild.copyFromYamlNode(childNode, anchorMap)
+		return newChild, nil
+	}
+
+	err := newChild.UnmarshalYAML(childNode, anchorMap)
+	return newChild, err
+}
+
+func (o *CandidateNode) UnmarshalYAML(node *yaml.Node, anchorMap map[string]*CandidateNode) error {
+	log.Debugf("UnmarshalYAML %v", node.Tag)
+	switch node.Kind {
+	case yaml.AliasNode:
+		log.Debug("UnmarshalYAML - alias from yaml: %v", o.Tag)
+		o.Kind = AliasNode
+		o.copyFromYamlNode(node, anchorMap)
+		return nil
+	case yaml.ScalarNode:
+		log.Debugf("UnmarshalYAML -  a scalar")
+		o.Kind = ScalarNode
+		o.copyFromYamlNode(node, anchorMap)
+		return nil
+	case yaml.MappingNode:
+		log.Debugf("UnmarshalYAML -  a mapping node")
+		o.Kind = MappingNode
+		o.copyFromYamlNode(node, anchorMap)
+		o.Content = make([]*CandidateNode, len(node.Content))
+		for i := 0; i < len(node.Content); i += 2 {
+
+			keyNode, err := o.decodeIntoChild(node.Content[i], anchorMap)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			keyNode.IsMapKey = true
+
+			valueNode, err := o.decodeIntoChild(node.Content[i+1], anchorMap)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			valueNode.Key = keyNode
+
+			o.Content[i] = keyNode
+			o.Content[i+1] = valueNode
+		}
+		log.Debugf("UnmarshalYAML -  finished mapping node")
+		return nil
+	case yaml.SequenceNode:
+		log.Debugf("UnmarshalYAML -  a sequence: %v", len(node.Content))
+		o.Kind = SequenceNode
+
+		o.copyFromYamlNode(node, anchorMap)
+		log.Debugf("node Style: %v", node.Style)
+		log.Debugf("o Style: %v", o.Style)
+		o.Content = make([]*CandidateNode, len(node.Content))
+		for i := 0; i < len(node.Content); i++ {
+			keyNode := o.CreateChild()
+			keyNode.IsMapKey = true
+			keyNode.Tag = "!!int"
+			keyNode.Kind = ScalarNode
+			keyNode.Value = fmt.Sprintf("%v", i)
+
+			valueNode, err := o.decodeIntoChild(node.Content[i], anchorMap)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			valueNode.Key = keyNode
+			o.Content[i] = valueNode
+		}
+		return nil
+	case 0:
+		// not sure when this happens
+		o.copyFromYamlNode(node, anchorMap)
+		log.Debugf("UnmarshalYAML -  err.. %v", NodeToString(o))
+		return nil
+	default:
+		return fmt.Errorf("orderedMap: invalid yaml node")
+	}
+}
+
+func (o *CandidateNode) MarshalYAML() (*yaml.Node, error) {
+	log.Debug("MarshalYAML to yaml: %v", o.Tag)
+	switch o.Kind {
+	case AliasNode:
+		log.Debug("MarshalYAML - alias to yaml: %v", o.Tag)
+		target := &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.AliasNode}
+		o.copyToYamlNode(target)
+		return target, nil
+	case ScalarNode:
+		log.Debug("MarshalYAML - scalar: %v", o.Value)
+		target := &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.ScalarNode}
+		o.copyToYamlNode(target)
+		return target, nil
+	case MappingNode, SequenceNode:
+		targetKind := yaml.MappingNode
+		if o.Kind == SequenceNode {
+			targetKind = yaml.SequenceNode
+		}
+		target := &yaml.Node{Kind: targetKind}
+		o.copyToYamlNode(target)
+		log.Debugf("original style: %v", o.Style)
+		log.Debugf("original: %v, tag: %v, style: %v, kind: %v", NodeToString(o), target.Tag, target.Style, target.Kind == yaml.SequenceNode)
+		target.Content = make([]*yaml.Node, len(o.Content))
+		for i := 0; i < len(o.Content); i++ {
+
+			child, err := o.Content[i].MarshalYAML()
+
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			target.Content[i] = child
+		}
+		return target, nil
+	}
+	target := &yaml.Node{}
+	o.copyToYamlNode(target)
+	return target, nil
+}

pkg/yqlib/candidiate_node_json.go

@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+//go:build !yq_nojson
+
+package yqlib
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+
+	"github.com/goccy/go-json"
+)
+
+func (o *CandidateNode) setScalarFromJson(value interface{}) error {
+	o.Kind = ScalarNode
+	switch rawData := value.(type) {
+	case nil:
+		o.Tag = "!!null"
+		o.Value = "null"
+	case float64, float32:
+		o.Value = fmt.Sprintf("%v", value)
+		o.Tag = "!!float"
+		// json decoder returns ints as float.
+		if value == float64(int64(rawData.(float64))) {
+			// aha it's an int disguised as a float
+			o.Tag = "!!int"
+			o.Value = fmt.Sprintf("%v", int64(value.(float64)))
+		}
+	case int, int64, int32:
+		o.Value = fmt.Sprintf("%v", value)
+		o.Tag = "!!int"
+	case bool:
+		o.Value = fmt.Sprintf("%v", value)
+		o.Tag = "!!bool"
+	case string:
+		o.Value = rawData
+		o.Tag = "!!str"
+	default:
+		return fmt.Errorf("unrecognised type :( %v", rawData)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (o *CandidateNode) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) error {
+	log.Debug("UnmarshalJSON")
+	switch data[0] {
+	case '{':
+		log.Debug("UnmarshalJSON -  its a map!")
+		// its a map
+		o.Kind = MappingNode
+		o.Tag = "!!map"
+
+		dec := json.NewDecoder(bytes.NewReader(data))
+		_, err := dec.Token() // open object
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		// cycle through k/v
+		var tok json.Token
+		for tok, err = dec.Token(); err == nil; tok, err = dec.Token() {
+			// we can expect two types: string or Delim. Delim automatically means
+			// that it is the closing bracket of the object, whereas string means
+			// that there is another key.
+			if _, ok := tok.(json.Delim); ok {
+				break
+			}
+
+			childKey := o.CreateChild()
+			childKey.IsMapKey = true
+			childKey.Value = tok.(string)
+			childKey.Kind = ScalarNode
+			childKey.Tag = "!!str"
+
+			childValue := o.CreateChild()
+			childValue.Key = childKey
+
+			if err := dec.Decode(childValue); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			o.Content = append(o.Content, childKey, childValue)
+		}
+		// unexpected error
+		if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, io.EOF) {
+			return err
+		}
+		return nil
+	case '[':
+		o.Kind = SequenceNode
+		o.Tag = "!!seq"
+		log.Debug("UnmarshalJSON -  its an array!")
+		var children []*CandidateNode
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &children); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		// now we put the children into the content, and set a key value for them
+		for i, child := range children {
+
+			if child == nil {
+				// need to represent it as a null scalar
+				child = createScalarNode(nil, "null")
+			}
+			childKey := o.CreateChild()
+			childKey.Kind = ScalarNode
+			childKey.Tag = "!!int"
+			childKey.Value = fmt.Sprintf("%v", i)
+			childKey.IsMapKey = true
+
+			child.Parent = o
+			child.Key = childKey
+			o.Content = append(o.Content, child)
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+	log.Debug("UnmarshalJSON -  its a scalar!")
+	// otherwise, must be a scalar
+	var scalar interface{}
+	err := json.Unmarshal(data, &scalar)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	log.Debug("UnmarshalJSON -  scalar is %v", scalar)
+
+	return o.setScalarFromJson(scalar)
+
+}
+
+func (o *CandidateNode) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
+	log.Debugf("MarshalJSON %v", NodeToString(o))
+	buf := new(bytes.Buffer)
+	enc := json.NewEncoder(buf)
+	enc.SetIndent("", " ")
+	enc.SetEscapeHTML(false) // do not escape html chars e.g. &, <, >
+
+	switch o.Kind {
+	case AliasNode:
+		log.Debugf("MarshalJSON AliasNode")
+		err := enc.Encode(o.Alias)
+		return buf.Bytes(), err
+	case ScalarNode:
+		log.Debugf("MarshalJSON ScalarNode")
+		value, err := o.GetValueRep()
+		if err != nil {
+			return buf.Bytes(), err
+		}
+		err = enc.Encode(value)
+		return buf.Bytes(), err
+	case MappingNode:
+		log.Debugf("MarshalJSON MappingNode")
+		buf.WriteByte('{')
+		for i := 0; i < len(o.Content); i += 2 {
+			if err := enc.Encode(o.Content[i].Value); err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			buf.WriteByte(':')
+			if err := enc.Encode(o.Content[i+1]); err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			if i != len(o.Content)-2 {
+				buf.WriteByte(',')
+			}
+		}
+		buf.WriteByte('}')
+		return buf.Bytes(), nil
+	case SequenceNode:
+		log.Debugf("MarshalJSON SequenceNode, %v, len: %v", o.Content, len(o.Content))
+		var err error
+		if len(o.Content) == 0 {
+			buf.WriteString("[]")
+		} else {
+			err = enc.Encode(o.Content)
+		}
+		return buf.Bytes(), err
+	default:
+		err := enc.Encode(nil)
+		return buf.Bytes(), err
+	}
+}

pkg/yqlib/chown_linux.go

@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+//go:build linux
+
+package yqlib
+
+import (
+	"io/fs"
+	"os"
+	"syscall"
+)
+
+func changeOwner(info fs.FileInfo, file *os.File) error {
+	if stat, ok := info.Sys().(*syscall.Stat_t); ok {
+		uid := int(stat.Uid)
+		gid := int(stat.Gid)
+
+		err := os.Chown(file.Name(), uid, gid)
+		if err != nil {
+			// this happens with snap confinement
+			// not really a big issue as users can chown
+			// the file themselves if required.
+			log.Info("Skipping chown: %v", err)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}

pkg/yqlib/chown_not_linux_os.go

@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+//go:build !linux
+
+package yqlib
+
+import (
+	"io/fs"
+	"os"
+)
+
+func changeOwner(_ fs.FileInfo, _ *os.File) error {
+	return nil
+}

pkg/yqlib/color_print.go

@@ -56,6 +56,12 @@ func colorizeAndPrint(yamlBytes []byte, writer io.Writer) error {
 			Suffix: format(color.Reset),
 		}
 	}
+	p.Comment = func() *printer.Property {
+		return &printer.Property{
+			Prefix: format(color.FgHiBlack),
+			Suffix: format(color.Reset),
+		}
+	}
 	_, err := writer.Write([]byte(p.PrintTokens(tokens) + "\n"))
 	return err
 }

pkg/yqlib/context.go

@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/jinzhu/copier"
 	logging "gopkg.in/op/go-logging.v1"
 )
 
@@ -58,13 +57,19 @@ func (n *Context) SetVariable(name string, value *list.List) {
 func (n *Context) ChildContext(results *list.List) Context {
 	clone := Context{DontAutoCreate: n.DontAutoCreate, datetimeLayout: n.datetimeLayout}
 	clone.Variables = make(map[string]*list.List)
-	if len(n.Variables) > 0 {
-		err := copier.Copy(&clone.Variables, n.Variables)
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Error("Error cloning context :(")
-			panic(err)
+	for variableKey, originalValueList := range n.Variables {
+
+		variableCopyList := list.New()
+		for el := originalValueList.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
+			// note that we dont make a copy of the candidate node
+			// this is so the 'ref' operator can work correctly.
+			clonedNode := el.Value.(*CandidateNode)
+			variableCopyList.PushBack(clonedNode)
 		}
+
+		clone.Variables[variableKey] = variableCopyList
 	}
+
 	clone.MatchingNodes = results
 	return clone
 }
@@ -78,35 +83,18 @@ func (n *Context) ToString() string {
 }
 
 func (n *Context) DeepClone() Context {
-	clone := Context{}
-	err := copier.Copy(&clone, n)
-	// copier doesn't do lists properly for some reason
-	clone.MatchingNodes = list.New()
+
+	clonedContent := list.New()
 	for el := n.MatchingNodes.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
-		clonedNode, err := el.Value.(*CandidateNode).Copy()
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Error("Error cloning context :(")
-			panic(err)
-		}
-		clone.MatchingNodes.PushBack(clonedNode)
+		clonedNode := el.Value.(*CandidateNode).Copy()
+		clonedContent.PushBack(clonedNode)
 	}
 
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Error("Error cloning context :(")
-		panic(err)
-	}
-	return clone
+	return n.ChildContext(clonedContent)
 }
 
 func (n *Context) Clone() Context {
-	clone := Context{}
-	err := copier.Copy(&clone, n)
-
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Error("Error cloning context :(")
-		panic(err)
-	}
-	return clone
+	return n.ChildContext(n.MatchingNodes)
 }
 
 func (n *Context) ReadOnlyClone() Context {

pkg/yqlib/context_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,261 @@
+package yqlib
+
+import (
+	"container/list"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/mikefarah/yq/v4/test"
+	logging "gopkg.in/op/go-logging.v1"
+)
+
+func TestChildContext(t *testing.T) {
+
+	expectedOriginal := make(map[string]*list.List)
+	expectedOriginal["dog"] = list.New()
+	expectedOriginal["dog"].PushBack(&CandidateNode{Value: "woof"})
+
+	originalVariables := make(map[string]*list.List)
+	originalVariables["dog"] = list.New()
+	originalVariables["dog"].PushBack(&CandidateNode{Value: "woof"})
+
+	original := Context{
+		DontAutoCreate: true,
+		datetimeLayout: "cat",
+		Variables:      originalVariables,
+	}
+
+	newResults := list.New()
+	newResults.PushBack(&CandidateNode{Value: "bar"})
+
+	clone := original.ChildContext(newResults)
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, originalVariables, clone.Variables)
+
+	clone.Variables["dog"].PushBack("bark")
+	// ensure this is a separate copy
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, 1, originalVariables["dog"].Len())
+
+}
+
+func TestChildContextNoVariables(t *testing.T) {
+
+	original := Context{
+		DontAutoCreate: true,
+		datetimeLayout: "cat",
+	}
+
+	newResults := list.New()
+	newResults.PushBack(&CandidateNode{Value: "bar"})
+
+	clone := original.ChildContext(newResults)
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, make(map[string]*list.List), clone.Variables)
+
+}
+
+func TestSingleReadonlyChildContext(t *testing.T) {
+	original := Context{
+		DontAutoCreate: false,
+		datetimeLayout: "2006-01-02",
+	}
+
+	candidate := &CandidateNode{Value: "test"}
+	clone := original.SingleReadonlyChildContext(candidate)
+
+	// Should have DontAutoCreate set to true
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, true, clone.DontAutoCreate)
+
+	// Should have the candidate node in MatchingNodes
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, 1, clone.MatchingNodes.Len())
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, candidate, clone.MatchingNodes.Front().Value)
+}
+
+func TestSingleChildContext(t *testing.T) {
+	original := Context{
+		DontAutoCreate: true,
+		datetimeLayout: "2006-01-02",
+	}
+
+	candidate := &CandidateNode{Value: "test"}
+	clone := original.SingleChildContext(candidate)
+
+	// Should preserve DontAutoCreate
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, true, clone.DontAutoCreate)
+
+	// Should have the candidate node in MatchingNodes
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, 1, clone.MatchingNodes.Len())
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, candidate, clone.MatchingNodes.Front().Value)
+}
+
+func TestSetDateTimeLayout(t *testing.T) {
+	context := Context{}
+
+	// Test setting datetime layout
+	context.SetDateTimeLayout("2006-01-02T15:04:05Z07:00")
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, "2006-01-02T15:04:05Z07:00", context.datetimeLayout)
+}
+
+func TestGetDateTimeLayout(t *testing.T) {
+	// Test with custom layout
+	context := Context{datetimeLayout: "2006-01-02"}
+	result := context.GetDateTimeLayout()
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, "2006-01-02", result)
+
+	// Test with empty layout (should return default)
+	context = Context{}
+	result = context.GetDateTimeLayout()
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, "2006-01-02T15:04:05Z07:00", result)
+}
+
+func TestGetVariable(t *testing.T) {
+	// Test with nil Variables
+	context := Context{}
+	result := context.GetVariable("nonexistent")
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, (*list.List)(nil), result)
+
+	// Test with existing variable
+	variables := make(map[string]*list.List)
+	variables["test"] = list.New()
+	variables["test"].PushBack(&CandidateNode{Value: "value"})
+
+	context = Context{Variables: variables}
+	result = context.GetVariable("test")
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, variables["test"], result)
+
+	// Test with non-existent variable
+	result = context.GetVariable("nonexistent")
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, (*list.List)(nil), result)
+}
+
+func TestSetVariable(t *testing.T) {
+	// Test setting variable when Variables is nil
+	context := Context{}
+	value := list.New()
+	value.PushBack(&CandidateNode{Value: "test"})
+
+	context.SetVariable("key", value)
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, value, context.Variables["key"])
+
+	// Test setting variable when Variables already exists
+	context.SetVariable("key2", value)
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, value, context.Variables["key2"])
+}
+
+func TestToString(t *testing.T) {
+	context := Context{
+		DontAutoCreate: true,
+		MatchingNodes:  list.New(),
+	}
+
+	// Add a node to test the full string representation
+	node := &CandidateNode{Value: "test"}
+	context.MatchingNodes.PushBack(node)
+
+	// Test with debug logging disabled (default)
+	result := context.ToString()
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, "", result)
+
+	// Test with debug logging enabled
+	logging.SetLevel(logging.DEBUG, "")
+	defer logging.SetLevel(logging.INFO, "") // Reset to default
+
+	result2 := context.ToString()
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, true, len(result2) > 0)
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, true, strings.Contains(result2, "Context"))
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, true, strings.Contains(result2, "DontAutoCreate: true"))
+}
+
+func TestDeepClone(t *testing.T) {
+	// Create original context with variables and matching nodes
+	originalVariables := make(map[string]*list.List)
+	originalVariables["test"] = list.New()
+	originalVariables["test"].PushBack(&CandidateNode{Value: "original"})
+
+	original := Context{
+		DontAutoCreate: true,
+		datetimeLayout: "2006-01-02",
+		Variables:      originalVariables,
+		MatchingNodes:  list.New(),
+	}
+
+	// Add a node to MatchingNodes
+	node := &CandidateNode{Value: "test"}
+	original.MatchingNodes.PushBack(node)
+
+	clone := original.DeepClone()
+
+	// Should preserve DontAutoCreate and datetimeLayout
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, original.DontAutoCreate, clone.DontAutoCreate)
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, original.datetimeLayout, clone.datetimeLayout)
+
+	// Should have copied variables
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, 1, len(clone.Variables))
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, "original", clone.Variables["test"].Front().Value.(*CandidateNode).Value)
+
+	// Should have deep copied MatchingNodes
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, 1, clone.MatchingNodes.Len())
+
+	// Verify it's a deep copy by modifying the original
+	original.MatchingNodes.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode).Value = "modified"
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, "test", clone.MatchingNodes.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode).Value)
+}
+
+func TestClone(t *testing.T) {
+	// Create original context
+	original := Context{
+		DontAutoCreate: true,
+		datetimeLayout: "2006-01-02",
+		MatchingNodes:  list.New(),
+	}
+
+	node := &CandidateNode{Value: "test"}
+	original.MatchingNodes.PushBack(node)
+
+	clone := original.Clone()
+
+	// Should preserve DontAutoCreate and datetimeLayout
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, original.DontAutoCreate, clone.DontAutoCreate)
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, original.datetimeLayout, clone.datetimeLayout)
+
+	// Should have the same MatchingNodes reference
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, original.MatchingNodes, clone.MatchingNodes)
+}
+
+func TestReadOnlyClone(t *testing.T) {
+	original := Context{
+		DontAutoCreate: false,
+		datetimeLayout: "2006-01-02",
+		MatchingNodes:  list.New(),
+	}
+
+	node := &CandidateNode{Value: "test"}
+	original.MatchingNodes.PushBack(node)
+
+	clone := original.ReadOnlyClone()
+
+	// Should set DontAutoCreate to true
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, true, clone.DontAutoCreate)
+
+	// Should preserve other fields
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, original.datetimeLayout, clone.datetimeLayout)
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, original.MatchingNodes, clone.MatchingNodes)
+}
+
+func TestWritableClone(t *testing.T) {
+	original := Context{
+		DontAutoCreate: true,
+		datetimeLayout: "2006-01-02",
+		MatchingNodes:  list.New(),
+	}
+
+	node := &CandidateNode{Value: "test"}
+	original.MatchingNodes.PushBack(node)
+
+	clone := original.WritableClone()
+
+	// Should set DontAutoCreate to false
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, false, clone.DontAutoCreate)
+
+	// Should preserve other fields
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, original.datetimeLayout, clone.datetimeLayout)
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, original.MatchingNodes, clone.MatchingNodes)
+}

pkg/yqlib/csv.go

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+package yqlib
+
+type CsvPreferences struct {
+	Separator rune
+	AutoParse bool
+}
+
+func NewDefaultCsvPreferences() CsvPreferences {
+	return CsvPreferences{
+		Separator: ',',
+		AutoParse: true,
+	}
+}
+
+func NewDefaultTsvPreferences() CsvPreferences {
+	return CsvPreferences{
+		Separator: '\t',
+		AutoParse: true,
+	}
+}
+
+var ConfiguredCsvPreferences = NewDefaultCsvPreferences()
+var ConfiguredTsvPreferences = NewDefaultTsvPreferences()

pkg/yqlib/csv_test.go

@@ -13,6 +13,13 @@ Gary,1,true,168.8
 Samantha's Rabbit,2,false,-188.8
 `
 
+const csvSimpleWithObject = `name,numberOfCats,likesApples,height,facts
+Gary,1,true,168.8,cool: true
+Samantha's Rabbit,2,false,-188.8,tall: indeed
+`
+const csvMissing = `name,numberOfCats,likesApples,height
+,null,,168.8
+`
 const expectedUpdatedSimpleCsv = `name,numberOfCats,likesApples,height
 Gary,3,true,168.8
 Samantha's Rabbit,2,false,-188.8
@@ -37,6 +44,31 @@ const expectedYamlFromCSV = `- name: Gary
   likesApples: false
   height: -188.8
 `
+const expectedYamlFromCSVWithObject = `- name: Gary
+  numberOfCats: 1
+  likesApples: true
+  height: 168.8
+  facts:
+    cool: true
+- name: Samantha's Rabbit
+  numberOfCats: 2
+  likesApples: false
+  height: -188.8
+  facts:
+    tall: indeed
+`
+
+const expectedYamlFromCSVNoParsing = `- name: Gary
+  numberOfCats: 1
+  likesApples: true
+  height: 168.8
+  facts: 'cool: true'
+- name: Samantha's Rabbit
+  numberOfCats: 2
+  likesApples: false
+  height: -188.8
+  facts: 'tall: indeed'
+`
 
 const expectedYamlFromCSVMissingData = `- name: Gary
   numberOfCats: 1
@@ -110,12 +142,71 @@ var csvScenarios = []formatScenario{
 		expected:       csvSimpleMissingData,
 		scenarioType:   "encode-csv",
 	},
+	{
+		description:  "decode csv missing",
+		skipDoc:      true,
+		input:        csvMissing,
+		expected:     csvMissing,
+		scenarioType: "roundtrip-csv",
+	},
+	{
+		description:  "decode csv key",
+		skipDoc:      true,
+		input:        csvSimple,
+		expression:   ".[0].name | key",
+		expected:     "name\n",
+		scenarioType: "decode-csv",
+	},
+	{
+		description:  "decode csv parent",
+		skipDoc:      true,
+		input:        csvSimple,
+		expression:   ".[0].name | parent | .height",
+		expected:     "168.8\n",
+		scenarioType: "decode-csv",
+	},
 	{
 		description:    "Parse CSV into an array of objects",
-		subdescription: "First row is assumed to be the header row.",
-		input:          csvSimple,
-		expected:       expectedYamlFromCSV,
-		scenarioType:   "decode-csv-object",
+		subdescription: "First row is assumed to be the header row. By default, entries with YAML/JSON formatting will be parsed!",
+		input:          csvSimpleWithObject,
+		expected:       expectedYamlFromCSVWithObject,
+		scenarioType:   "decode-csv",
+	},
+	{
+		description:  "Decode CSV line breaks",
+		skipDoc:      true,
+		input:        "heading1\n\"some data\nwith a line break\"\n",
+		expected:     "- heading1: |-\n    some data\n    with a line break\n",
+		scenarioType: "decode-csv",
+	},
+	{
+		description:    "Parse CSV into an array of objects, no auto-parsing",
+		subdescription: "First row is assumed to be the header row. Entries with YAML/JSON will be left as strings.",
+		input:          csvSimpleWithObject,
+		expected:       expectedYamlFromCSVNoParsing,
+		scenarioType:   "decode-csv-no-auto",
+	},
+	{
+		description:  "values starting with #, no auto parse",
+		skipDoc:      true,
+		input:        "value\n#ffff",
+		expected:     "- value: '#ffff'\n",
+		scenarioType: "decode-csv-no-auto",
+	},
+	{
+		description:  "values starting with #",
+		skipDoc:      true,
+		input:        "value\n#ffff",
+		expected:     "- value: #ffff\n",
+		scenarioType: "decode-csv",
+	},
+	{
+		description:  "Scalar roundtrip",
+		skipDoc:      true,
+		input:        "mike\ncat",
+		expression:   ".[0].mike",
+		expected:     "cat\n",
+		scenarioType: "roundtrip-csv",
 	},
 	{
 		description:    "Parse TSV into an array of objects",
@@ -136,15 +227,17 @@ var csvScenarios = []formatScenario{
 func testCSVScenario(t *testing.T, s formatScenario) {
 	switch s.scenarioType {
 	case "encode-csv":
-		test.AssertResultWithContext(t, s.expected, processFormatScenario(s, NewYamlDecoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences), NewCsvEncoder(',')), s.description)
+		test.AssertResultWithContext(t, s.expected, mustProcessFormatScenario(s, NewYamlDecoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences), NewCsvEncoder(ConfiguredCsvPreferences)), s.description)
 	case "encode-tsv":
-		test.AssertResultWithContext(t, s.expected, processFormatScenario(s, NewYamlDecoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences), NewCsvEncoder('\t')), s.description)
-	case "decode-csv-object":
-		test.AssertResultWithContext(t, s.expected, processFormatScenario(s, NewCSVObjectDecoder(','), NewYamlEncoder(2, false, ConfiguredYamlPreferences)), s.description)
+		test.AssertResultWithContext(t, s.expected, mustProcessFormatScenario(s, NewYamlDecoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences), NewCsvEncoder(ConfiguredTsvPreferences)), s.description)
+	case "decode-csv":
+		test.AssertResultWithContext(t, s.expected, mustProcessFormatScenario(s, NewCSVObjectDecoder(ConfiguredCsvPreferences), NewYamlEncoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences)), s.description)
+	case "decode-csv-no-auto":
+		test.AssertResultWithContext(t, s.expected, mustProcessFormatScenario(s, NewCSVObjectDecoder(CsvPreferences{Separator: ',', AutoParse: false}), NewYamlEncoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences)), s.description)
 	case "decode-tsv-object":
-		test.AssertResultWithContext(t, s.expected, processFormatScenario(s, NewCSVObjectDecoder('\t'), NewYamlEncoder(2, false, ConfiguredYamlPreferences)), s.description)
+		test.AssertResultWithContext(t, s.expected, mustProcessFormatScenario(s, NewCSVObjectDecoder(ConfiguredTsvPreferences), NewYamlEncoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences)), s.description)
 	case "roundtrip-csv":
-		test.AssertResultWithContext(t, s.expected, processFormatScenario(s, NewCSVObjectDecoder(','), NewCsvEncoder(',')), s.description)
+		test.AssertResultWithContext(t, s.expected, mustProcessFormatScenario(s, NewCSVObjectDecoder(ConfiguredCsvPreferences), NewCsvEncoder(ConfiguredCsvPreferences)), s.description)
 	default:
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf("unhandled scenario type %q", s.scenarioType))
 	}
@@ -171,7 +264,32 @@ func documentCSVDecodeObjectScenario(w *bufio.Writer, s formatScenario, formatTy
 	}
 
 	writeOrPanic(w, fmt.Sprintf("```yaml\n%v```\n\n",
-		processFormatScenario(s, NewCSVObjectDecoder(separator), NewYamlEncoder(s.indent, false, ConfiguredYamlPreferences))),
+		mustProcessFormatScenario(s, NewCSVObjectDecoder(CsvPreferences{Separator: separator, AutoParse: true}), NewYamlEncoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences))),
+	)
+}
+
+func documentCSVDecodeObjectNoAutoScenario(w *bufio.Writer, s formatScenario, formatType string) {
+	writeOrPanic(w, fmt.Sprintf("## %v\n", s.description))
+
+	if s.subdescription != "" {
+		writeOrPanic(w, s.subdescription)
+		writeOrPanic(w, "\n\n")
+	}
+
+	writeOrPanic(w, fmt.Sprintf("Given a sample.%v file of:\n", formatType))
+	writeOrPanic(w, fmt.Sprintf("```%v\n%v\n```\n", formatType, s.input))
+
+	writeOrPanic(w, "then\n")
+	writeOrPanic(w, fmt.Sprintf("```bash\nyq -p=%v --csv-auto-parse=f sample.%v\n```\n", formatType, formatType))
+	writeOrPanic(w, "will output\n")
+
+	separator := ','
+	if formatType == "tsv" {
+		separator = '\t'
+	}
+
+	writeOrPanic(w, fmt.Sprintf("```yaml\n%v```\n\n",
+		mustProcessFormatScenario(s, NewCSVObjectDecoder(CsvPreferences{Separator: separator, AutoParse: false}), NewYamlEncoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences))),
 	)
 }
 
@@ -201,9 +319,10 @@ func documentCSVEncodeScenario(w *bufio.Writer, s formatScenario, formatType str
 	if formatType == "tsv" {
 		separator = '\t'
 	}
-
+	csvPrefs := NewDefaultCsvPreferences()
+	csvPrefs.Separator = separator
 	writeOrPanic(w, fmt.Sprintf("```%v\n%v```\n\n", formatType,
-		processFormatScenario(s, NewYamlDecoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences), NewCsvEncoder(separator))),
+		mustProcessFormatScenario(s, NewYamlDecoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences), NewCsvEncoder(csvPrefs))),
 	)
 }
 
@@ -234,12 +353,15 @@ func documentCSVRoundTripScenario(w *bufio.Writer, s formatScenario, formatType
 		separator = '\t'
 	}
 
+	csvPrefs := NewDefaultCsvPreferences()
+	csvPrefs.Separator = separator
+
 	writeOrPanic(w, fmt.Sprintf("```%v\n%v```\n\n", formatType,
-		processFormatScenario(s, NewCSVObjectDecoder(separator), NewCsvEncoder(separator))),
+		mustProcessFormatScenario(s, NewCSVObjectDecoder(CsvPreferences{Separator: separator, AutoParse: true}), NewCsvEncoder(csvPrefs))),
 	)
 }
 
-func documentCSVScenario(t *testing.T, w *bufio.Writer, i interface{}) {
+func documentCSVScenario(_ *testing.T, w *bufio.Writer, i interface{}) {
 	s := i.(formatScenario)
 	if s.skipDoc {
 		return
@@ -249,8 +371,10 @@ func documentCSVScenario(t *testing.T, w *bufio.Writer, i interface{}) {
 		documentCSVEncodeScenario(w, s, "csv")
 	case "encode-tsv":
 		documentCSVEncodeScenario(w, s, "tsv")
-	case "decode-csv-object":
+	case "decode-csv":
 		documentCSVDecodeObjectScenario(w, s, "csv")
+	case "decode-csv-no-auto":
+		documentCSVDecodeObjectNoAutoScenario(w, s, "csv")
 	case "decode-tsv-object":
 		documentCSVDecodeObjectScenario(w, s, "tsv")
 	case "roundtrip-csv":

pkg/yqlib/data_tree_navigator.go

@@ -7,10 +7,12 @@ import (
 )
 
 type DataTreeNavigator interface {
-	// given the context and a expressionNode,
+	// given the context and an expressionNode,
 	// this will process the against the given expressionNode and return
 	// a new context of matching candidates
 	GetMatchingNodes(context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error)
+
+	DeeplyAssign(context Context, path []interface{}, rhsNode *CandidateNode) error
 }
 
 type dataTreeNavigator struct {
@@ -20,6 +22,33 @@ func NewDataTreeNavigator() DataTreeNavigator {
 	return &dataTreeNavigator{}
 }
 
+func (d *dataTreeNavigator) DeeplyAssign(context Context, path []interface{}, rhsCandidateNode *CandidateNode) error {
+
+	assignmentOp := &Operation{OperationType: assignOpType, Preferences: assignPreferences{}}
+
+	if rhsCandidateNode.Kind == MappingNode {
+		log.Debug("DeeplyAssign: deeply merging object")
+		// if the rhs is a map, we need to deeply merge it in.
+		// otherwise we'll clobber any existing fields
+		assignmentOp = &Operation{OperationType: multiplyAssignOpType, Preferences: multiplyPreferences{
+			AppendArrays:  true,
+			TraversePrefs: traversePreferences{DontFollowAlias: true},
+			AssignPrefs:   assignPreferences{},
+		}}
+	}
+
+	rhsOp := &Operation{OperationType: valueOpType, CandidateNode: rhsCandidateNode}
+
+	assignmentOpNode := &ExpressionNode{
+		Operation: assignmentOp,
+		LHS:       createTraversalTree(path, traversePreferences{}, false),
+		RHS:       &ExpressionNode{Operation: rhsOp},
+	}
+
+	_, err := d.GetMatchingNodes(context, assignmentOpNode)
+	return err
+}
+
 func (d *dataTreeNavigator) GetMatchingNodes(context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
 	if expressionNode == nil {
 		log.Debugf("getMatchingNodes - nothing to do")
@@ -31,11 +60,10 @@ func (d *dataTreeNavigator) GetMatchingNodes(context Context, expressionNode *Ex
 			log.Debug(NodeToString(el.Value.(*CandidateNode)))
 		}
 	}
-	log.Debug(">>")
 	handler := expressionNode.Operation.OperationType.Handler
 	if handler != nil {
 		return handler(d, context, expressionNode)
 	}
-	return Context{}, fmt.Errorf("Unknown operator %v", expressionNode.Operation.OperationType)
+	return Context{}, fmt.Errorf("unknown operator %v", expressionNode.Operation.OperationType.Type)
 
 }

pkg/yqlib/data_tree_navigator_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,437 @@
+package yqlib
+
+import (
+	"container/list"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/mikefarah/yq/v4/test"
+)
+
+func TestGetMatchingNodes_NilExpressionNode(t *testing.T) {
+	navigator := NewDataTreeNavigator()
+	context := Context{
+		MatchingNodes: list.New(),
+	}
+
+	result, err := navigator.GetMatchingNodes(context, nil)
+
+	test.AssertResult(t, nil, err)
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, context, result)
+}
+
+func TestGetMatchingNodes_UnknownOperator(t *testing.T) {
+	navigator := NewDataTreeNavigator()
+	context := Context{
+		MatchingNodes: list.New(),
+	}
+
+	// Create an expression node with an unknown operation type
+	unknownOpType := &operationType{Type: "UNKNOWN", Handler: nil}
+	expressionNode := &ExpressionNode{
+		Operation: &Operation{OperationType: unknownOpType},
+	}
+
+	result, err := navigator.GetMatchingNodes(context, expressionNode)
+
+	test.AssertResult(t, "unknown operator UNKNOWN", err.Error())
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, Context{}, result)
+}
+
+func TestGetMatchingNodes_ValidOperator(t *testing.T) {
+	navigator := NewDataTreeNavigator()
+
+	// Create a simple context with a scalar node
+	scalarNode := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind:  ScalarNode,
+		Tag:   "!!str",
+		Value: "test",
+	}
+	context := Context{
+		MatchingNodes: list.New(),
+	}
+	context.MatchingNodes.PushBack(scalarNode)
+
+	// Create an expression node with a valid operation (self reference)
+	expressionNode := &ExpressionNode{
+		Operation: &Operation{OperationType: selfReferenceOpType},
+	}
+
+	result, err := navigator.GetMatchingNodes(context, expressionNode)
+
+	test.AssertResult(t, nil, err)
+	test.AssertResult(t, 1, result.MatchingNodes.Len())
+
+	// Verify the result contains the same node
+	resultNode := result.MatchingNodes.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode)
+	test.AssertResult(t, scalarNode, resultNode)
+}
+
+func TestDeeplyAssign_ScalarNode(t *testing.T) {
+	navigator := NewDataTreeNavigator()
+
+	// Create a context with a root mapping node
+	rootNode := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind: MappingNode,
+		Tag:  "!!map",
+		Content: []*CandidateNode{
+			{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: "existing", IsMapKey: true},
+			{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: "old_value"},
+		},
+	}
+	context := Context{
+		MatchingNodes: list.New(),
+	}
+	context.MatchingNodes.PushBack(rootNode)
+
+	// Create a scalar node to assign
+	scalarNode := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind:  ScalarNode,
+		Tag:   "!!str",
+		Value: "new_value",
+	}
+
+	// Assign to path ["new_key"]
+	path := []interface{}{"new_key"}
+	err := navigator.DeeplyAssign(context, path, scalarNode)
+
+	test.AssertResult(t, nil, err)
+
+	// Verify the assignment was made
+	// The root node should now have the new key-value pair
+	test.AssertResult(t, 4, len(rootNode.Content)) // 2 original + 2 new
+
+	// Find the new key-value pair
+	found := false
+	for i := 0; i < len(rootNode.Content)-1; i += 2 {
+		key := rootNode.Content[i]
+		value := rootNode.Content[i+1]
+		if key.Value == "new_key" && value.Value == "new_value" {
+			found = true
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	test.AssertResult(t, true, found)
+}
+
+func TestDeeplyAssign_MappingNode(t *testing.T) {
+	navigator := NewDataTreeNavigator()
+
+	// Create a context with a root mapping node
+	rootNode := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind: MappingNode,
+		Tag:  "!!map",
+		Content: []*CandidateNode{
+			{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: "existing", IsMapKey: true},
+			{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: "old_value"},
+		},
+	}
+	context := Context{
+		MatchingNodes: list.New(),
+	}
+	context.MatchingNodes.PushBack(rootNode)
+
+	// Create a mapping node to assign (this should trigger deep merge)
+	mappingNode := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind: MappingNode,
+		Tag:  "!!map",
+		Content: []*CandidateNode{
+			{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: "nested_key", IsMapKey: true},
+			{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: "nested_value"},
+		},
+	}
+
+	// Assign to path ["new_map"]
+	path := []interface{}{"new_map"}
+	err := navigator.DeeplyAssign(context, path, mappingNode)
+
+	test.AssertResult(t, nil, err)
+
+	// Verify the assignment was made
+	// The root node should now have the new mapping
+	test.AssertResult(t, 4, len(rootNode.Content)) // 2 original + 2 new
+
+	// Find the new mapping
+	found := false
+	for i := 0; i < len(rootNode.Content); i += 2 {
+		if i+1 < len(rootNode.Content) {
+			key := rootNode.Content[i]
+			value := rootNode.Content[i+1]
+			if key.Value == "new_map" && value.Kind == MappingNode {
+				found = true
+				// Verify the nested content
+				test.AssertResult(t, 2, len(value.Content))
+				test.AssertResult(t, "nested_key", value.Content[0].Value)
+				test.AssertResult(t, "nested_value", value.Content[1].Value)
+				break
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	test.AssertResult(t, true, found)
+}
+
+func TestDeeplyAssign_DeepPath(t *testing.T) {
+	navigator := NewDataTreeNavigator()
+
+	// Create a context with a root mapping node
+	rootNode := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind: MappingNode,
+		Tag:  "!!map",
+		Content: []*CandidateNode{
+			{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: "level1", IsMapKey: true},
+			{Kind: MappingNode, Tag: "!!map", Content: []*CandidateNode{}},
+		},
+	}
+	context := Context{
+		MatchingNodes: list.New(),
+	}
+	context.MatchingNodes.PushBack(rootNode)
+
+	// Create a scalar node to assign
+	scalarNode := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind:  ScalarNode,
+		Tag:   "!!str",
+		Value: "deep_value",
+	}
+
+	// Assign to deep path ["level1", "level2", "level3"]
+	path := []interface{}{"level1", "level2", "level3"}
+	err := navigator.DeeplyAssign(context, path, scalarNode)
+
+	test.AssertResult(t, nil, err)
+
+	// Verify the deep assignment was made
+	level1Node := rootNode.Content[1]                // The mapping node
+	test.AssertResult(t, 2, len(level1Node.Content)) // Should have level2 key-value
+
+	level2Key := level1Node.Content[0]
+	level2Value := level1Node.Content[1]
+	test.AssertResult(t, "level2", level2Key.Value)
+	test.AssertResult(t, MappingNode, level2Value.Kind)
+
+	level3Key := level2Value.Content[0]
+	level3Value := level2Value.Content[1]
+	test.AssertResult(t, "level3", level3Key.Value)
+	test.AssertResult(t, "deep_value", level3Value.Value)
+}
+
+func TestDeeplyAssign_ArrayPath(t *testing.T) {
+	navigator := NewDataTreeNavigator()
+
+	// Create a context with a root mapping node containing an array
+	rootNode := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind: MappingNode,
+		Tag:  "!!map",
+		Content: []*CandidateNode{
+			{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: "array", IsMapKey: true},
+			{Kind: SequenceNode, Tag: "!!seq", Content: []*CandidateNode{}},
+		},
+	}
+	context := Context{
+		MatchingNodes: list.New(),
+	}
+	context.MatchingNodes.PushBack(rootNode)
+
+	// Create a scalar node to assign
+	scalarNode := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind:  ScalarNode,
+		Tag:   "!!str",
+		Value: "array_value",
+	}
+
+	// Assign to array path ["array", 0]
+	path := []interface{}{"array", 0}
+	err := navigator.DeeplyAssign(context, path, scalarNode)
+
+	test.AssertResult(t, nil, err)
+
+	// Verify the array assignment was made
+	arrayNode := rootNode.Content[1]                // The sequence node
+	test.AssertResult(t, 1, len(arrayNode.Content)) // Should have one element
+
+	arrayElement := arrayNode.Content[0]
+	test.AssertResult(t, "array_value", arrayElement.Value)
+}
+
+func TestDeeplyAssign_OverwriteExisting(t *testing.T) {
+	navigator := NewDataTreeNavigator()
+
+	// Create a context with a root mapping node
+	rootNode := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind: MappingNode,
+		Tag:  "!!map",
+		Content: []*CandidateNode{
+			{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: "key", IsMapKey: true},
+			{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: "old_value"},
+		},
+	}
+	context := Context{
+		MatchingNodes: list.New(),
+	}
+	context.MatchingNodes.PushBack(rootNode)
+
+	// Create a scalar node to assign
+	scalarNode := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind:  ScalarNode,
+		Tag:   "!!str",
+		Value: "new_value",
+	}
+
+	// Assign to existing path ["key"]
+	path := []interface{}{"key"}
+	err := navigator.DeeplyAssign(context, path, scalarNode)
+
+	test.AssertResult(t, nil, err)
+
+	// Verify the value was overwritten
+	test.AssertResult(t, 2, len(rootNode.Content)) // Should still have 2 elements
+
+	key := rootNode.Content[0]
+	value := rootNode.Content[1]
+	test.AssertResult(t, "key", key.Value)
+	test.AssertResult(t, "new_value", value.Value) // Should be overwritten
+}
+
+func TestDeeplyAssign_ErrorHandling(t *testing.T) {
+	navigator := NewDataTreeNavigator()
+
+	// Create a context with a scalar node (not a mapping)
+	scalarNode := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind:  ScalarNode,
+		Tag:   "!!str",
+		Value: "not_a_map",
+	}
+	context := Context{
+		MatchingNodes: list.New(),
+	}
+	context.MatchingNodes.PushBack(scalarNode)
+
+	// Create a scalar node to assign
+	assignNode := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind:  ScalarNode,
+		Tag:   "!!str",
+		Value: "value",
+	}
+
+	// Try to assign to a path on a scalar (should fail)
+	path := []interface{}{"key"}
+	err := navigator.DeeplyAssign(context, path, assignNode)
+
+	// Print the actual error for debugging
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Logf("Actual error: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// This should fail because we can't assign to a scalar
+	test.AssertResult(t, nil, err)
+}
+
+func TestGetMatchingNodes_WithVariables(t *testing.T) {
+	navigator := NewDataTreeNavigator()
+
+	// Create a context with variables
+	variables := make(map[string]*list.List)
+	varList := list.New()
+	varList.PushBack(&CandidateNode{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: "var_value"})
+	variables["test_var"] = varList
+
+	context := Context{
+		MatchingNodes: list.New(),
+		Variables:     variables,
+	}
+
+	// Create an expression node that gets a variable
+	expressionNode := &ExpressionNode{
+		Operation: &Operation{OperationType: getVariableOpType, StringValue: "test_var"},
+	}
+
+	result, err := navigator.GetMatchingNodes(context, expressionNode)
+
+	test.AssertResult(t, nil, err)
+	test.AssertResult(t, 1, result.MatchingNodes.Len())
+
+	// Verify the variable was retrieved
+	resultNode := result.MatchingNodes.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode)
+	test.AssertResult(t, "var_value", resultNode.Value)
+}
+
+func TestGetMatchingNodes_EmptyContext(t *testing.T) {
+	navigator := NewDataTreeNavigator()
+
+	// Create an empty context
+	context := Context{
+		MatchingNodes: list.New(),
+	}
+
+	// Create an expression node with self reference
+	expressionNode := &ExpressionNode{
+		Operation: &Operation{OperationType: selfReferenceOpType},
+	}
+
+	result, err := navigator.GetMatchingNodes(context, expressionNode)
+
+	test.AssertResult(t, nil, err)
+	test.AssertResult(t, 0, result.MatchingNodes.Len())
+}
+
+func TestDeeplyAssign_ComplexMappingMerge(t *testing.T) {
+	navigator := NewDataTreeNavigator()
+
+	// Create a context with a root mapping node containing nested data
+	rootNode := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind: MappingNode,
+		Tag:  "!!map",
+		Content: []*CandidateNode{
+			{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: "config", IsMapKey: true},
+			{Kind: MappingNode, Tag: "!!map", Content: []*CandidateNode{
+				{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: "existing_key", IsMapKey: true},
+				{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: "existing_value"},
+			}},
+		},
+	}
+	context := Context{
+		MatchingNodes: list.New(),
+	}
+	context.MatchingNodes.PushBack(rootNode)
+
+	// Create a mapping node to merge
+	mappingNode := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind: MappingNode,
+		Tag:  "!!map",
+		Content: []*CandidateNode{
+			{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: "new_key", IsMapKey: true},
+			{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: "new_value"},
+			{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: "existing_key", IsMapKey: true},
+			{Kind: ScalarNode, Tag: "!!str", Value: "updated_value"},
+		},
+	}
+
+	// Assign to path ["config"] (should merge with existing mapping)
+	path := []interface{}{"config"}
+	err := navigator.DeeplyAssign(context, path, mappingNode)
+
+	test.AssertResult(t, nil, err)
+
+	// Verify the merge was successful
+	configNode := rootNode.Content[1]                // The config mapping node
+	test.AssertResult(t, 4, len(configNode.Content)) // Should have 2 key-value pairs
+
+	// Check that both existing and new keys are present
+	foundExisting := false
+	foundNew := false
+	for i := 0; i < len(configNode.Content); i += 2 {
+		if i+1 < len(configNode.Content) {
+			key := configNode.Content[i]
+			value := configNode.Content[i+1]
+			switch key.Value {
+			case "existing_key":
+				foundExisting = true
+				test.AssertResult(t, "updated_value", value.Value) // Should be updated
+			case "new_key":
+				foundNew = true
+				test.AssertResult(t, "new_value", value.Value)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	test.AssertResult(t, true, foundExisting)
+	test.AssertResult(t, true, foundNew)
+}

pkg/yqlib/decoder.go

@@ -1,42 +1,10 @@
 package yqlib
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"io"
 )
 
-type InputFormat uint
-
-const (
-	YamlInputFormat = 1 << iota
-	XMLInputFormat
-	PropertiesInputFormat
-	Base64InputFormat
-	JsonInputFormat
-	CSVObjectInputFormat
-	TSVObjectInputFormat
-)
-
 type Decoder interface {
 	Init(reader io.Reader) error
 	Decode() (*CandidateNode, error)
 }
-
-func InputFormatFromString(format string) (InputFormat, error) {
-	switch format {
-	case "yaml", "y":
-		return YamlInputFormat, nil
-	case "xml", "x":
-		return XMLInputFormat, nil
-	case "props", "p":
-		return PropertiesInputFormat, nil
-	case "json", "ndjson", "j":
-		return JsonInputFormat, nil
-	case "csv", "c":
-		return CSVObjectInputFormat, nil
-	case "tsv", "t":
-		return TSVObjectInputFormat, nil
-	default:
-		return 0, fmt.Errorf("unknown format '%v' please use [yaml|xml|props]", format)
-	}
-}

pkg/yqlib/decoder_base64.go

@@ -1,13 +1,36 @@
+//go:build !yq_nobase64
+
 package yqlib
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"encoding/base64"
 	"io"
-
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
+	"strings"
 )
 
+type base64Padder struct {
+	count int
+	io.Reader
+}
+
+func (c *base64Padder) pad(buf []byte) (int, error) {
+	pad := strings.Repeat("=", (4 - c.count%4))
+	n, err := strings.NewReader(pad).Read(buf)
+	c.count += n
+	return n, err
+}
+
+func (c *base64Padder) Read(buf []byte) (int, error) {
+	n, err := c.Reader.Read(buf)
+	c.count += n
+
+	if err == io.EOF && c.count%4 != 0 {
+		return c.pad(buf)
+	}
+	return n, err
+}
+
 type base64Decoder struct {
 	reader       io.Reader
 	finished     bool
@@ -20,7 +43,7 @@ func NewBase64Decoder() Decoder {
 }
 
 func (dec *base64Decoder) Init(reader io.Reader) error {
-	dec.reader = reader
+	dec.reader = &base64Padder{Reader: reader}
 	dec.readAnything = false
 	dec.finished = false
 	return nil
@@ -47,11 +70,5 @@ func (dec *base64Decoder) Decode() (*CandidateNode, error) {
 		}
 	}
 	dec.readAnything = true
-	return &CandidateNode{
-		Node: &yaml.Node{
-			Kind:  yaml.ScalarNode,
-			Tag:   "!!str",
-			Value: buf.String(),
-		},
-	}, nil
+	return createStringScalarNode(buf.String()), nil
 }

pkg/yqlib/decoder_csv_object.go

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+//go:build !yq_nocsv
+
 package yqlib
 
 import (
@@ -6,44 +8,42 @@ import (
 	"io"
 
 	"github.com/dimchansky/utfbom"
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 type csvObjectDecoder struct {
-	separator rune
-	reader    csv.Reader
-	finished  bool
+	prefs    CsvPreferences
+	reader   csv.Reader
+	finished bool
 }
 
-func NewCSVObjectDecoder(separator rune) Decoder {
-	return &csvObjectDecoder{separator: separator}
+func NewCSVObjectDecoder(prefs CsvPreferences) Decoder {
+	return &csvObjectDecoder{prefs: prefs}
 }
 
 func (dec *csvObjectDecoder) Init(reader io.Reader) error {
 	cleanReader, enc := utfbom.Skip(reader)
 	log.Debugf("Detected encoding: %s\n", enc)
 	dec.reader = *csv.NewReader(cleanReader)
-	dec.reader.Comma = dec.separator
+	dec.reader.Comma = dec.prefs.Separator
 	dec.finished = false
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (dec *csvObjectDecoder) convertToYamlNode(content string) *yaml.Node {
+func (dec *csvObjectDecoder) convertToNode(content string) *CandidateNode {
 	node, err := parseSnippet(content)
-	if err != nil {
+	// if we're not auto-parsing, then we wont put in parsed objects or arrays
+	// but we still parse scalars
+	if err != nil || (!dec.prefs.AutoParse && (node.Kind != ScalarNode || node.Value != content)) {
 		return createScalarNode(content, content)
 	}
 	return node
 }
 
-func (dec *csvObjectDecoder) createObject(headerRow []string, contentRow []string) *yaml.Node {
-	objectNode := &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.MappingNode, Tag: "!!map"}
+func (dec *csvObjectDecoder) createObject(headerRow []string, contentRow []string) *CandidateNode {
+	objectNode := &CandidateNode{Kind: MappingNode, Tag: "!!map"}
 
 	for i, header := range headerRow {
-		objectNode.Content = append(
-			objectNode.Content,
-			createScalarNode(header, header),
-			dec.convertToYamlNode(contentRow[i]))
+		objectNode.AddKeyValueChild(createScalarNode(header, header), dec.convertToNode(contentRow[i]))
 	}
 	return objectNode
 }
@@ -58,13 +58,13 @@ func (dec *csvObjectDecoder) Decode() (*CandidateNode, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	rootArray := &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.SequenceNode, Tag: "!!seq"}
+	rootArray := &CandidateNode{Kind: SequenceNode, Tag: "!!seq"}
 
 	contentRow, err := dec.reader.Read()
 
 	for err == nil && len(contentRow) > 0 {
 		log.Debugf("Adding contentRow: %v", contentRow)
-		rootArray.Content = append(rootArray.Content, dec.createObject(headerRow, contentRow))
+		rootArray.AddChild(dec.createObject(headerRow, contentRow))
 		contentRow, err = dec.reader.Read()
 		log.Debugf("Read next contentRow: %v, %v", contentRow, err)
 	}
@@ -72,10 +72,5 @@ func (dec *csvObjectDecoder) Decode() (*CandidateNode, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	return &CandidateNode{
-		Node: &yaml.Node{
-			Kind:    yaml.DocumentNode,
-			Content: []*yaml.Node{rootArray},
-		},
-	}, nil
+	return rootArray, nil
 }

pkg/yqlib/decoder_goccy_yaml.go

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+//go:build !yq_noyaml
+
+//
+// NOTE this is still a WIP - not yet ready.
+//
+
+package yqlib
+
+import (
+	"io"
+
+	yaml "github.com/goccy/go-yaml"
+	"github.com/goccy/go-yaml/ast"
+)
+
+type goccyYamlDecoder struct {
+	decoder yaml.Decoder
+	cm      yaml.CommentMap
+	// anchor map persists over multiple documents for convenience.
+	anchorMap map[string]*CandidateNode
+}
+
+func NewGoccyYAMLDecoder() Decoder {
+	return &goccyYamlDecoder{}
+}
+
+func (dec *goccyYamlDecoder) Init(reader io.Reader) error {
+	dec.cm = yaml.CommentMap{}
+	dec.decoder = *yaml.NewDecoder(reader, yaml.CommentToMap(dec.cm), yaml.UseOrderedMap())
+	dec.anchorMap = make(map[string]*CandidateNode)
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (dec *goccyYamlDecoder) Decode() (*CandidateNode, error) {
+
+	var ast ast.Node
+
+	err := dec.decoder.Decode(&ast)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	candidateNode := &CandidateNode{}
+	if err := candidateNode.UnmarshalGoccyYAML(ast, dec.cm, dec.anchorMap); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return candidateNode, nil
+}

pkg/yqlib/decoder_ini.go

@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+//go:build !yq_noini
+
+package yqlib
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+
+	"github.com/go-ini/ini"
+)
+
+type iniDecoder struct {
+	reader   io.Reader
+	finished bool // Flag to signal completion of processing
+}
+
+func NewINIDecoder() Decoder {
+	return &iniDecoder{
+		finished: false, // Initialize the flag as false
+	}
+}
+
+func (dec *iniDecoder) Init(reader io.Reader) error {
+	// Store the reader for use in Decode
+	dec.reader = reader
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (dec *iniDecoder) Decode() (*CandidateNode, error) {
+	// If processing is already finished, return io.EOF
+	if dec.finished {
+		return nil, io.EOF
+	}
+
+	// Read all content from the stored reader
+	content, err := io.ReadAll(dec.reader)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to read INI content: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Parse the INI content
+	cfg, err := ini.Load(content)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to parse INI content: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Create a root CandidateNode as a MappingNode (since INI is key-value based)
+	root := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind:  MappingNode,
+		Tag:   "!!map",
+		Value: "",
+	}
+
+	// Process each section in the INI file
+	for _, section := range cfg.Sections() {
+		sectionName := section.Name()
+
+		if sectionName == ini.DefaultSection {
+			// For the default section, add key-value pairs directly to the root node
+			for _, key := range section.Keys() {
+				keyName := key.Name()
+				keyValue := key.String()
+
+				// Create a key node (scalar for the key name)
+				keyNode := createStringScalarNode(keyName)
+				// Create a value node (scalar for the value)
+				valueNode := createStringScalarNode(keyValue)
+
+				// Add key-value pair to the root node
+				root.AddKeyValueChild(keyNode, valueNode)
+			}
+		} else {
+			// For named sections, create a nested map
+			sectionNode := &CandidateNode{
+				Kind:  MappingNode,
+				Tag:   "!!map",
+				Value: "",
+			}
+
+			// Add key-value pairs to the section node
+			for _, key := range section.Keys() {
+				keyName := key.Name()
+				keyValue := key.String()
+
+				// Create a key node (scalar for the key name)
+				keyNode := createStringScalarNode(keyName)
+				// Create a value node (scalar for the value)
+				valueNode := createStringScalarNode(keyValue)
+
+				// Add key-value pair to the section node
+				sectionNode.AddKeyValueChild(keyNode, valueNode)
+			}
+
+			// Create a key node for the section name
+			sectionKeyNode := createStringScalarNode(sectionName)
+			// Add the section as a nested map to the root node
+			root.AddKeyValueChild(sectionKeyNode, sectionNode)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Set the finished flag to true to prevent further Decode calls
+	dec.finished = true
+
+	// Return the root node
+	return root, nil
+}

pkg/yqlib/decoder_json.go

@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
+//go:build !yq_nojson
+
 package yqlib
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"io"
 
 	"github.com/goccy/go-json"
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 type jsonDecoder struct {
@@ -23,65 +23,11 @@ func (dec *jsonDecoder) Init(reader io.Reader) error {
 
 func (dec *jsonDecoder) Decode() (*CandidateNode, error) {
 
-	var dataBucket orderedMap
-	log.Debug("going to decode")
+	var dataBucket CandidateNode
 	err := dec.decoder.Decode(&dataBucket)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	node, err := dec.convertToYamlNode(&dataBucket)
 
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	return &CandidateNode{
-		Node: &yaml.Node{
-			Kind:    yaml.DocumentNode,
-			Content: []*yaml.Node{node},
-		},
-	}, nil
-}
-
-func (dec *jsonDecoder) convertToYamlNode(data *orderedMap) (*yaml.Node, error) {
-	if data.kv == nil {
-		switch rawData := data.altVal.(type) {
-		case nil:
-			return createScalarNode(nil, "null"), nil
-		case float64, float32:
-			// json decoder returns ints as float.
-			return parseSnippet(fmt.Sprintf("%v", rawData))
-		case int, int64, int32, string, bool:
-			return createScalarNode(rawData, fmt.Sprintf("%v", rawData)), nil
-		case []*orderedMap:
-			return dec.parseArray(rawData)
-		default:
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("unrecognised type :( %v", rawData)
-		}
-	}
-
-	var yamlMap = &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.MappingNode}
-	for _, keyValuePair := range data.kv {
-		yamlValue, err := dec.convertToYamlNode(&keyValuePair.V)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		yamlMap.Content = append(yamlMap.Content, createScalarNode(keyValuePair.K, keyValuePair.K), yamlValue)
-	}
-	return yamlMap, nil
-
-}
-
-func (dec *jsonDecoder) parseArray(dataArray []*orderedMap) (*yaml.Node, error) {
-
-	var yamlMap = &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.SequenceNode}
-
-	for _, value := range dataArray {
-		yamlValue, err := dec.convertToYamlNode(value)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		yamlMap.Content = append(yamlMap.Content, yamlValue)
-	}
-	return yamlMap, nil
+	return &dataBucket, nil
 }

pkg/yqlib/decoder_lua.go

@@ -0,0 +1,165 @@
+//go:build !yq_nolua
+
+package yqlib
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"math"
+
+	lua "github.com/yuin/gopher-lua"
+)
+
+type luaDecoder struct {
+	reader   io.Reader
+	finished bool
+	prefs    LuaPreferences
+}
+
+func NewLuaDecoder(prefs LuaPreferences) Decoder {
+	return &luaDecoder{
+		prefs: prefs,
+	}
+}
+
+func (dec *luaDecoder) Init(reader io.Reader) error {
+	dec.reader = reader
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (dec *luaDecoder) convertToYamlNode(ls *lua.LState, lv lua.LValue) *CandidateNode {
+	switch lv.Type() {
+	case lua.LTNil:
+		return &CandidateNode{
+			Kind:  ScalarNode,
+			Tag:   "!!null",
+			Value: "",
+		}
+	case lua.LTBool:
+		return &CandidateNode{
+			Kind:  ScalarNode,
+			Tag:   "!!bool",
+			Value: lv.String(),
+		}
+	case lua.LTNumber:
+		n := float64(lua.LVAsNumber(lv))
+		// various special case floats
+		if math.IsNaN(n) {
+			return &CandidateNode{
+				Kind:  ScalarNode,
+				Tag:   "!!float",
+				Value: ".nan",
+			}
+		}
+		if math.IsInf(n, 1) {
+			return &CandidateNode{
+				Kind:  ScalarNode,
+				Tag:   "!!float",
+				Value: ".inf",
+			}
+		}
+		if math.IsInf(n, -1) {
+			return &CandidateNode{
+				Kind:  ScalarNode,
+				Tag:   "!!float",
+				Value: "-.inf",
+			}
+		}
+
+		// does it look like an integer?
+		if n == float64(int(n)) {
+			return &CandidateNode{
+				Kind:  ScalarNode,
+				Tag:   "!!int",
+				Value: lv.String(),
+			}
+		}
+
+		return &CandidateNode{
+			Kind:  ScalarNode,
+			Tag:   "!!float",
+			Value: lv.String(),
+		}
+	case lua.LTString:
+		return &CandidateNode{
+			Kind:  ScalarNode,
+			Tag:   "!!str",
+			Value: lv.String(),
+		}
+	case lua.LTFunction:
+		return &CandidateNode{
+			Kind:  ScalarNode,
+			Tag:   "tag:lua.org,2006,function",
+			Value: lv.String(),
+		}
+	case lua.LTTable:
+		// Simultaneously create a sequence and a map, pick which one to return
+		// based on whether all keys were consecutive integers
+		i := 1
+		yaml_sequence := &CandidateNode{
+			Kind: SequenceNode,
+			Tag:  "!!seq",
+		}
+		yaml_map := &CandidateNode{
+			Kind: MappingNode,
+			Tag:  "!!map",
+		}
+		t := lv.(*lua.LTable)
+		k, v := ls.Next(t, lua.LNil)
+		for k != lua.LNil {
+			if ki, ok := k.(lua.LNumber); i != 0 && ok && math.Mod(float64(ki), 1) == 0 && int(ki) == i {
+				i++
+			} else {
+				i = 0
+			}
+			newKey := dec.convertToYamlNode(ls, k)
+
+			yv := dec.convertToYamlNode(ls, v)
+			yaml_map.AddKeyValueChild(newKey, yv)
+
+			if i != 0 {
+				yaml_sequence.AddChild(yv)
+			}
+			k, v = ls.Next(t, k)
+		}
+		if i != 0 {
+			return yaml_sequence
+		}
+		return yaml_map
+	default:
+		return &CandidateNode{
+			Kind:        ScalarNode,
+			LineComment: fmt.Sprintf("Unhandled Lua type: %s", lv.Type().String()),
+			Tag:         "!!null",
+			Value:       lv.String(),
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (dec *luaDecoder) decideTopLevelNode(ls *lua.LState) *CandidateNode {
+	if ls.GetTop() == 0 {
+		// no items were explicitly returned, encode the globals table instead
+		return dec.convertToYamlNode(ls, ls.Get(lua.GlobalsIndex))
+	}
+	return dec.convertToYamlNode(ls, ls.Get(1))
+}
+
+func (dec *luaDecoder) Decode() (*CandidateNode, error) {
+	if dec.finished {
+		return nil, io.EOF
+	}
+	ls := lua.NewState(lua.Options{SkipOpenLibs: true})
+	defer ls.Close()
+	fn, err := ls.Load(dec.reader, "@input")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	ls.Push(fn)
+	err = ls.PCall(0, lua.MultRet, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	firstNode := dec.decideTopLevelNode(ls)
+	dec.finished = true
+	return firstNode, nil
+}

pkg/yqlib/decoder_properties.go

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+//go:build !yq_noprops
+
 package yqlib
 
 import (
@@ -8,7 +10,6 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/magiconair/properties"
-	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 type propertiesDecoder struct {
@@ -52,18 +53,15 @@ func (dec *propertiesDecoder) applyPropertyComments(context Context, path []inte
 	assignmentOp := &Operation{OperationType: assignOpType, Preferences: assignPreferences{}}
 
 	rhsCandidateNode := &CandidateNode{
-		Path: path,
-		Node: &yaml.Node{
-			Tag:         "!!str",
-			Value:       fmt.Sprintf("%v", path[len(path)-1]),
-			HeadComment: dec.processComment(strings.Join(comments, "\n")),
-			Kind:        yaml.ScalarNode,
-		},
+		Tag:         "!!str",
+		Value:       fmt.Sprintf("%v", path[len(path)-1]),
+		HeadComment: dec.processComment(strings.Join(comments, "\n")),
+		Kind:        ScalarNode,
 	}
 
-	rhsCandidateNode.Node.Tag = guessTagFromCustomType(rhsCandidateNode.Node)
+	rhsCandidateNode.Tag = rhsCandidateNode.guessTagFromCustomType()
 
-	rhsOp := &Operation{OperationType: valueOpType, CandidateNode: rhsCandidateNode}
+	rhsOp := &Operation{OperationType: referenceOpType, CandidateNode: rhsCandidateNode}
 
 	assignmentOpNode := &ExpressionNode{
 		Operation: assignmentOp,
@@ -87,31 +85,10 @@ func (dec *propertiesDecoder) applyProperty(context Context, properties *propert
 		}
 	}
 
-	rhsNode := &yaml.Node{
-		Value: value,
-		Tag:   "!!str",
-		Kind:  yaml.ScalarNode,
-	}
+	rhsNode := createStringScalarNode(value)
+	rhsNode.Tag = rhsNode.guessTagFromCustomType()
 
-	rhsNode.Tag = guessTagFromCustomType(rhsNode)
-
-	rhsCandidateNode := &CandidateNode{
-		Path: path,
-		Node: rhsNode,
-	}
-
-	assignmentOp := &Operation{OperationType: assignOpType, Preferences: assignPreferences{}}
-
-	rhsOp := &Operation{OperationType: valueOpType, CandidateNode: rhsCandidateNode}
-
-	assignmentOpNode := &ExpressionNode{
-		Operation: assignmentOp,
-		LHS:       createTraversalTree(path, traversePreferences{}, false),
-		RHS:       &ExpressionNode{Operation: rhsOp},
-	}
-
-	_, err := dec.d.GetMatchingNodes(context, assignmentOpNode)
-	return err
+	return dec.d.DeeplyAssign(context, path, rhsNode)
 }
 
 func (dec *propertiesDecoder) Decode() (*CandidateNode, error) {
@@ -134,10 +111,8 @@ func (dec *propertiesDecoder) Decode() (*CandidateNode, error) {
 	properties.DisableExpansion = true
 
 	rootMap := &CandidateNode{
-		Node: &yaml.Node{
-			Kind: yaml.MappingNode,
-			Tag:  "!!map",
-		},
+		Kind: MappingNode,
+		Tag:  "!!map",
 	}
 
 	context := Context{}
@@ -151,11 +126,6 @@ func (dec *propertiesDecoder) Decode() (*CandidateNode, error) {
 	}
 	dec.finished = true
 
-	return &CandidateNode{
-		Node: &yaml.Node{
-			Kind:    yaml.DocumentNode,
-			Content: []*yaml.Node{rootMap.Node},
-		},
-	}, nil
+	return rootMap, nil
 
 }

pkg/yqlib/decoder_test.go

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package yqlib
 import (
 	"bufio"
 	"bytes"
+	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 )
 
@@ -15,10 +16,10 @@ type formatScenario struct {
 	subdescription string
 	skipDoc        bool
 	scenarioType   string
+	expectedError  string
 }
 
-func processFormatScenario(s formatScenario, decoder Decoder, encoder Encoder) string {
-
+func processFormatScenario(s formatScenario, decoder Decoder, encoder Encoder) (string, error) {
 	var output bytes.Buffer
 	writer := bufio.NewWriter(&output)
 
@@ -26,11 +27,14 @@ func processFormatScenario(s formatScenario, decoder Decoder, encoder Encoder) s
 		decoder = NewYamlDecoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences)
 	}
 
+	log.Debugf("reading docs")
 	inputs, err := readDocuments(strings.NewReader(s.input), "sample.yml", 0, decoder)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
+		return "", err
 	}
 
+	log.Debugf("done reading the documents")
+
 	expression := s.expression
 	if expression == "" {
 		expression = "."
@@ -39,22 +43,34 @@ func processFormatScenario(s formatScenario, decoder Decoder, encoder Encoder) s
 	exp, err := getExpressionParser().ParseExpression(expression)
 
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
+		return "", err
 	}
 
 	context, err := NewDataTreeNavigator().GetMatchingNodes(Context{MatchingNodes: inputs}, exp)
 
+	log.Debugf("Going to print: %v", NodesToString(context.MatchingNodes))
+
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
+		return "", err
 	}
 
 	printer := NewPrinter(encoder, NewSinglePrinterWriter(writer))
 	err = printer.PrintResults(context.MatchingNodes)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
+		return "", err
 	}
 	writer.Flush()
 
-	return output.String()
+	return output.String(), nil
+}
+
+func mustProcessFormatScenario(s formatScenario, decoder Decoder, encoder Encoder) string {
+
+	result, err := processFormatScenario(s, decoder, encoder)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Error("Bad scenario %v: %w", s.description, err)
+		return fmt.Sprintf("Bad scenario %v: %v", s.description, err.Error())
+	}
+	return result
 
 }

pkg/yqlib/decoder_toml.go

@@ -0,0 +1,358 @@
+//go:build !yq_notoml
+
+package yqlib
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"io"
+	"strconv"
+	"time"
+
+	toml "github.com/pelletier/go-toml/v2/unstable"
+)
+
+type tomlDecoder struct {
+	parser   toml.Parser
+	finished bool
+	d        DataTreeNavigator
+	rootMap  *CandidateNode
+}
+
+func NewTomlDecoder() Decoder {
+	return &tomlDecoder{
+		finished: false,
+		d:        NewDataTreeNavigator(),
+	}
+}
+
+func (dec *tomlDecoder) Init(reader io.Reader) error {
+	dec.parser = toml.Parser{}
+	buf := new(bytes.Buffer)
+	_, err := buf.ReadFrom(reader)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	dec.parser.Reset(buf.Bytes())
+	dec.rootMap = &CandidateNode{
+		Kind: MappingNode,
+		Tag:  "!!map",
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (dec *tomlDecoder) getFullPath(tomlNode *toml.Node) []interface{} {
+	path := make([]interface{}, 0)
+	for {
+		path = append(path, string(tomlNode.Data))
+		tomlNode = tomlNode.Next()
+		if tomlNode == nil {
+			return path
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (dec *tomlDecoder) processKeyValueIntoMap(rootMap *CandidateNode, tomlNode *toml.Node) error {
+	value := tomlNode.Value()
+	path := dec.getFullPath(value.Next())
+	log.Debug("processKeyValueIntoMap: %v", path)
+
+	valueNode, err := dec.decodeNode(value)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	context := Context{}
+	context = context.SingleChildContext(rootMap)
+
+	return dec.d.DeeplyAssign(context, path, valueNode)
+}
+
+func (dec *tomlDecoder) decodeKeyValuesIntoMap(rootMap *CandidateNode, tomlNode *toml.Node) (bool, error) {
+	log.Debug("decodeKeyValuesIntoMap -- processing first (current) entry")
+	if err := dec.processKeyValueIntoMap(rootMap, tomlNode); err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+
+	for dec.parser.NextExpression() {
+		nextItem := dec.parser.Expression()
+		log.Debug("decodeKeyValuesIntoMap -- next exp, its a %v", nextItem.Kind)
+
+		if nextItem.Kind == toml.KeyValue {
+			if err := dec.processKeyValueIntoMap(rootMap, nextItem); err != nil {
+				return false, err
+			}
+		} else {
+			// run out of key values
+			log.Debug("done in decodeKeyValuesIntoMap, gota a %v", nextItem.Kind)
+			return true, nil
+		}
+	}
+	log.Debug("no more things to read in")
+	return false, nil
+}
+
+func (dec *tomlDecoder) createInlineTableMap(tomlNode *toml.Node) (*CandidateNode, error) {
+	content := make([]*CandidateNode, 0)
+	log.Debug("createInlineTableMap")
+
+	iterator := tomlNode.Children()
+	for iterator.Next() {
+		child := iterator.Node()
+		if child.Kind != toml.KeyValue {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("only keyvalue pairs are supported in inlinetables, got %v instead", child.Kind)
+		}
+
+		keyValues := &CandidateNode{
+			Kind: MappingNode,
+			Tag:  "!!map",
+		}
+
+		if err := dec.processKeyValueIntoMap(keyValues, child); err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+
+		content = append(content, keyValues.Content...)
+	}
+
+	return &CandidateNode{
+		Kind:    MappingNode,
+		Tag:     "!!map",
+		Content: content,
+	}, nil
+}
+
+func (dec *tomlDecoder) createArray(tomlNode *toml.Node) (*CandidateNode, error) {
+	content := make([]*CandidateNode, 0)
+	iterator := tomlNode.Children()
+	for iterator.Next() {
+		child := iterator.Node()
+		yamlNode, err := dec.decodeNode(child)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		content = append(content, yamlNode)
+	}
+
+	return &CandidateNode{
+		Kind:    SequenceNode,
+		Tag:     "!!seq",
+		Content: content,
+	}, nil
+
+}
+
+func (dec *tomlDecoder) createStringScalar(tomlNode *toml.Node) (*CandidateNode, error) {
+	content := string(tomlNode.Data)
+	return createScalarNode(content, content), nil
+}
+
+func (dec *tomlDecoder) createBoolScalar(tomlNode *toml.Node) (*CandidateNode, error) {
+	content := string(tomlNode.Data)
+	return createScalarNode(content == "true", content), nil
+}
+
+func (dec *tomlDecoder) createIntegerScalar(tomlNode *toml.Node) (*CandidateNode, error) {
+	content := string(tomlNode.Data)
+	_, num, err := parseInt64(content)
+	return createScalarNode(num, content), err
+}
+
+func (dec *tomlDecoder) createDateTimeScalar(tomlNode *toml.Node) (*CandidateNode, error) {
+	content := string(tomlNode.Data)
+	val, err := parseDateTime(time.RFC3339, content)
+	return createScalarNode(val, content), err
+}
+
+func (dec *tomlDecoder) createFloatScalar(tomlNode *toml.Node) (*CandidateNode, error) {
+	content := string(tomlNode.Data)
+	num, err := strconv.ParseFloat(content, 64)
+	return createScalarNode(num, content), err
+}
+
+func (dec *tomlDecoder) decodeNode(tomlNode *toml.Node) (*CandidateNode, error) {
+	switch tomlNode.Kind {
+	case toml.Key, toml.String:
+		return dec.createStringScalar(tomlNode)
+	case toml.Bool:
+		return dec.createBoolScalar(tomlNode)
+	case toml.Integer:
+		return dec.createIntegerScalar(tomlNode)
+	case toml.DateTime:
+		return dec.createDateTimeScalar(tomlNode)
+	case toml.Float:
+		return dec.createFloatScalar(tomlNode)
+	case toml.Array:
+		return dec.createArray(tomlNode)
+	case toml.InlineTable:
+		return dec.createInlineTableMap(tomlNode)
+	default:
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unsupported type %v", tomlNode.Kind)
+	}
+
+}
+
+func (dec *tomlDecoder) Decode() (*CandidateNode, error) {
+	if dec.finished {
+		return nil, io.EOF
+	}
+	//
+	// toml library likes to panic
+	var deferredError error
+	defer func() { //catch or finally
+		if r := recover(); r != nil {
+			var ok bool
+			deferredError, ok = r.(error)
+			if !ok {
+				deferredError = fmt.Errorf("pkg: %v", r)
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+
+	log.Debug("ok here we go")
+	var runAgainstCurrentExp = false
+	var err error
+	for runAgainstCurrentExp || dec.parser.NextExpression() {
+
+		if runAgainstCurrentExp {
+			log.Debug("running against current exp")
+		}
+
+		currentNode := dec.parser.Expression()
+
+		log.Debug("currentNode: %v ", currentNode.Kind)
+		runAgainstCurrentExp, err = dec.processTopLevelNode(currentNode)
+		if err != nil {
+			return dec.rootMap, err
+		}
+
+	}
+
+	err = dec.parser.Error()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// must have finished
+	dec.finished = true
+
+	if len(dec.rootMap.Content) == 0 {
+		return nil, io.EOF
+	}
+
+	return dec.rootMap, deferredError
+
+}
+
+func (dec *tomlDecoder) processTopLevelNode(currentNode *toml.Node) (bool, error) {
+	var runAgainstCurrentExp bool
+	var err error
+	log.Debug("processTopLevelNode: Going to process %v state is current %v", currentNode.Kind, NodeToString(dec.rootMap))
+	switch currentNode.Kind {
+	case toml.Table:
+		runAgainstCurrentExp, err = dec.processTable(currentNode)
+	case toml.ArrayTable:
+		runAgainstCurrentExp, err = dec.processArrayTable(currentNode)
+	default:
+		runAgainstCurrentExp, err = dec.decodeKeyValuesIntoMap(dec.rootMap, currentNode)
+	}
+
+	log.Debug("processTopLevelNode: DONE Processing state is now %v", NodeToString(dec.rootMap))
+	return runAgainstCurrentExp, err
+}
+
+func (dec *tomlDecoder) processTable(currentNode *toml.Node) (bool, error) {
+	log.Debug("Enter processTable")
+	fullPath := dec.getFullPath(currentNode.Child())
+	log.Debug("fullpath: %v", fullPath)
+
+	tableNodeValue := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind:    MappingNode,
+		Tag:     "!!map",
+		Content: make([]*CandidateNode, 0),
+	}
+
+	var tableValue *toml.Node
+	runAgainstCurrentExp := false
+	var err error
+	hasValue := dec.parser.NextExpression()
+	// check to see if there is any table data
+	if hasValue {
+		tableValue = dec.parser.Expression()
+		// next expression is not table data, so we are done
+		if tableValue.Kind != toml.KeyValue {
+			log.Debug("got an empty table, returning")
+			return true, nil
+		}
+
+		runAgainstCurrentExp, err = dec.decodeKeyValuesIntoMap(tableNodeValue, tableValue)
+		if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, io.EOF) {
+			return false, err
+		}
+	}
+
+	c := Context{}
+	c = c.SingleChildContext(dec.rootMap)
+	err = dec.d.DeeplyAssign(c, fullPath, tableNodeValue)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	return runAgainstCurrentExp, nil
+}
+
+func (dec *tomlDecoder) arrayAppend(context Context, path []interface{}, rhsNode *CandidateNode) error {
+	log.Debug("arrayAppend to path: %v,%v", path, NodeToString(rhsNode))
+	rhsCandidateNode := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind:    SequenceNode,
+		Tag:     "!!seq",
+		Content: []*CandidateNode{rhsNode},
+	}
+
+	assignmentOp := &Operation{OperationType: addAssignOpType}
+
+	rhsOp := &Operation{OperationType: valueOpType, CandidateNode: rhsCandidateNode}
+
+	assignmentOpNode := &ExpressionNode{
+		Operation: assignmentOp,
+		LHS:       createTraversalTree(path, traversePreferences{}, false),
+		RHS:       &ExpressionNode{Operation: rhsOp},
+	}
+
+	_, err := dec.d.GetMatchingNodes(context, assignmentOpNode)
+	return err
+}
+
+func (dec *tomlDecoder) processArrayTable(currentNode *toml.Node) (bool, error) {
+	log.Debug("Entering processArrayTable")
+	fullPath := dec.getFullPath(currentNode.Child())
+	log.Debug("Fullpath: %v", fullPath)
+
+	// need to use the array append exp to add another entry to
+	// this array: fullpath += [ thing ]
+
+	hasValue := dec.parser.NextExpression()
+	if !hasValue {
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("error retrieving table %v value: %w", fullPath, dec.parser.Error())
+	}
+
+	tableNodeValue := &CandidateNode{
+		Kind: MappingNode,
+		Tag:  "!!map",
+	}
+
+	tableValue := dec.parser.Expression()
+	runAgainstCurrentExp, err := dec.decodeKeyValuesIntoMap(tableNodeValue, tableValue)
+	log.Debugf("table node err: %w", err)
+	if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, io.EOF) {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	c := Context{}
+
+	c = c.SingleChildContext(dec.rootMap)
+
+	// += function
+	err = dec.arrayAppend(c, fullPath, tableNodeValue)
+
+	return runAgainstCurrentExp, err
+}

pkg/yqlib/decoder_uri.go

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+//go:build !yq_nouri
+
+package yqlib
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"io"
+	"net/url"
+)
+
+type uriDecoder struct {
+	reader       io.Reader
+	finished     bool
+	readAnything bool
+}
+
+func NewUriDecoder() Decoder {
+	return &uriDecoder{finished: false}
+}
+
+func (dec *uriDecoder) Init(reader io.Reader) error {
+	dec.reader = reader
+	dec.readAnything = false
+	dec.finished = false
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (dec *uriDecoder) Decode() (*CandidateNode, error) {
+	if dec.finished {
+		return nil, io.EOF
+	}
+
+	buf := new(bytes.Buffer)
+
+	if _, err := buf.ReadFrom(dec.reader); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if buf.Len() == 0 {
+		dec.finished = true
+
+		// if we've read _only_ an empty string, lets return that
+		// otherwise if we've already read some bytes, and now we get
+		// an empty string, then we are done.
+		if dec.readAnything {
+			return nil, io.EOF
+		}
+	}
+	newValue, err := url.QueryUnescape(buf.String())
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	dec.readAnything = true
+	return createStringScalarNode(newValue), nil
+}

pkg/yqlib/decoder_xml.go

@@ -1,14 +1,17 @@
+//go:build !yq_noxml
+
 package yqlib
 
 import (
 	"encoding/xml"
 	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"io"
+	"regexp"
 	"strings"
 	"unicode"
 
 	"golang.org/x/net/html/charset"
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 type xmlDecoder struct {
@@ -32,50 +35,61 @@ func (dec *xmlDecoder) Init(reader io.Reader) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (dec *xmlDecoder) createSequence(nodes []*xmlNode) (*yaml.Node, error) {
-	yamlNode := &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.SequenceNode, Tag: "!!seq"}
+func (dec *xmlDecoder) createSequence(nodes []*xmlNode) (*CandidateNode, error) {
+	yamlNode := &CandidateNode{Kind: SequenceNode, Tag: "!!seq"}
 	for _, child := range nodes {
 		yamlChild, err := dec.convertToYamlNode(child)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		yamlNode.Content = append(yamlNode.Content, yamlChild)
+		yamlNode.AddChild(yamlChild)
 	}
 
 	return yamlNode, nil
 }
 
+var decoderCommentPrefix = regexp.MustCompile(`(^|\n)([[:alpha:]])`)
+
 func (dec *xmlDecoder) processComment(c string) string {
 	if c == "" {
 		return ""
 	}
-	return "#" + strings.TrimRight(c, " ")
+	//need to replace "cat " with "# cat"
+	// "\ncat\n" with "\n cat\n"
+	// ensure non-empty comments starting with newline have a space in front
+
+	replacement := decoderCommentPrefix.ReplaceAllString(c, "$1 $2")
+	replacement = "#" + strings.ReplaceAll(strings.TrimRight(replacement, " "), "\n", "\n#")
+	return replacement
 }
 
-func (dec *xmlDecoder) createMap(n *xmlNode) (*yaml.Node, error) {
-	log.Debug("createMap: headC: %v, footC: %v", n.HeadComment, n.FootComment)
-	yamlNode := &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.MappingNode, Tag: "!!map"}
+func (dec *xmlDecoder) createMap(n *xmlNode) (*CandidateNode, error) {
+	log.Debug("createMap: headC: %v, lineC: %v, footC: %v", n.HeadComment, n.LineComment, n.FootComment)
+	yamlNode := &CandidateNode{Kind: MappingNode, Tag: "!!map"}
 
 	if len(n.Data) > 0 {
+		log.Debugf("creating content node for map: %v", dec.prefs.ContentName)
 		label := dec.prefs.ContentName
 		labelNode := createScalarNode(label, label)
 		labelNode.HeadComment = dec.processComment(n.HeadComment)
+		labelNode.LineComment = dec.processComment(n.LineComment)
 		labelNode.FootComment = dec.processComment(n.FootComment)
-		yamlNode.Content = append(yamlNode.Content, labelNode, createScalarNode(n.Data, n.Data))
+		yamlNode.AddKeyValueChild(labelNode, dec.createValueNodeFromData(n.Data))
 	}
 
 	for i, keyValuePair := range n.Children {
 		label := keyValuePair.K
 		children := keyValuePair.V
 		labelNode := createScalarNode(label, label)
-		var valueNode *yaml.Node
+		var valueNode *CandidateNode
 		var err error
 
 		if i == 0 {
+			log.Debugf("head comment here")
 			labelNode.HeadComment = dec.processComment(n.HeadComment)
 
 		}
-
+		log.Debugf("label=%v, i=%v, keyValuePair.FootComment: %v", label, i, keyValuePair.FootComment)
 		labelNode.FootComment = dec.processComment(keyValuePair.FootComment)
 
 		log.Debug("len of children in %v is %v", label, len(children))
@@ -89,31 +103,62 @@ func (dec *xmlDecoder) createMap(n *xmlNode) (*yaml.Node, error) {
 			// if the value is a scalar, the head comment of the scalar needs to go on the key?
 			// add tests for <z/> as well as multiple <ds> of inputXmlWithComments > yaml
 			if len(children[0].Children) == 0 && children[0].HeadComment != "" {
-				labelNode.HeadComment = labelNode.HeadComment + "\n" + strings.TrimSpace(children[0].HeadComment)
-				children[0].HeadComment = ""
+				if len(children[0].Data) > 0 {
+
+					log.Debug("scalar comment hack, currentlabel [%v]", labelNode.HeadComment)
+					labelNode.HeadComment = joinComments([]string{labelNode.HeadComment, strings.TrimSpace(children[0].HeadComment)}, "\n")
+					children[0].HeadComment = ""
+				} else {
+					// child is null, put the headComment as a linecomment for reasons
+					children[0].LineComment = children[0].HeadComment
+					children[0].HeadComment = ""
+				}
 			}
 			valueNode, err = dec.convertToYamlNode(children[0])
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
 		}
-		yamlNode.Content = append(yamlNode.Content, labelNode, valueNode)
+		yamlNode.AddKeyValueChild(labelNode, valueNode)
 	}
 
 	return yamlNode, nil
 }
 
-func (dec *xmlDecoder) convertToYamlNode(n *xmlNode) (*yaml.Node, error) {
+func (dec *xmlDecoder) createValueNodeFromData(values []string) *CandidateNode {
+	switch len(values) {
+	case 0:
+		return createScalarNode(nil, "")
+	case 1:
+		return createScalarNode(values[0], values[0])
+	default:
+		content := make([]*CandidateNode, 0)
+		for _, value := range values {
+			content = append(content, createScalarNode(value, value))
+		}
+		return &CandidateNode{
+			Kind:    SequenceNode,
+			Tag:     "!!seq",
+			Content: content,
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (dec *xmlDecoder) convertToYamlNode(n *xmlNode) (*CandidateNode, error) {
 	if len(n.Children) > 0 {
 		return dec.createMap(n)
 	}
-	scalar := createScalarNode(n.Data, n.Data)
-	if n.Data == "" {
-		scalar = createScalarNode(nil, "")
-	}
-	log.Debug("scalar headC: %v, footC: %v", n.HeadComment, n.FootComment)
+
+	scalar := dec.createValueNodeFromData(n.Data)
+
+	log.Debug("scalar (%v), headC: %v, lineC: %v, footC: %v", scalar.Tag, n.HeadComment, n.LineComment, n.FootComment)
 	scalar.HeadComment = dec.processComment(n.HeadComment)
 	scalar.LineComment = dec.processComment(n.LineComment)
+	if scalar.Tag == "!!seq" {
+		scalar.Content[0].HeadComment = scalar.LineComment
+		scalar.LineComment = ""
+	}
+
 	scalar.FootComment = dec.processComment(n.FootComment)
 
 	return scalar, nil
@@ -143,12 +188,7 @@ func (dec *xmlDecoder) Decode() (*CandidateNode, error) {
 	dec.readAnything = true
 	dec.finished = true
 
-	return &CandidateNode{
-		Node: &yaml.Node{
-			Kind:    yaml.DocumentNode,
-			Content: []*yaml.Node{firstNode},
-		},
-	}, nil
+	return firstNode, nil
 }
 
 type xmlNode struct {
@@ -156,7 +196,7 @@ type xmlNode struct {
 	HeadComment string
 	FootComment string
 	LineComment string
-	Data        string
+	Data        []string
 }
 
 type xmlChildrenKv struct {
@@ -201,6 +241,8 @@ func (dec *xmlDecoder) decodeXML(root *xmlNode) error {
 	// That will convert the charset if the provided XML is non-UTF-8
 	xmlDec.CharsetReader = charset.NewReaderLabel
 
+	started := false
+
 	// Create first element from the root node
 	elem := &element{
 		parent: nil,
@@ -241,16 +283,26 @@ func (dec *xmlDecoder) decodeXML(root *xmlNode) error {
 						a.Name.Local = a.Name.Space + ":" + a.Name.Local
 					}
 				}
-				elem.n.AddChild(dec.prefs.AttributePrefix+a.Name.Local, &xmlNode{Data: a.Value})
+				elem.n.AddChild(dec.prefs.AttributePrefix+a.Name.Local, &xmlNode{Data: []string{a.Value}})
 			}
 		case xml.CharData:
+
 			// Extract XML data (if any)
-			elem.n.Data = trimNonGraphic(string(se))
-			if elem.n.Data != "" {
+			newBit := trimNonGraphic(string(se))
+			if !started && len(newBit) > 0 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("invalid XML: Encountered chardata [%v] outside of XML node", newBit)
+			}
+
+			if len(newBit) > 0 {
+				elem.n.Data = append(elem.n.Data, newBit)
 				elem.state = "chardata"
 				log.Debug("chardata [%v] for %v", elem.n.Data, elem.label)
 			}
 		case xml.EndElement:
+			if elem == nil {
+				log.Debug("no element, probably bad xml")
+				continue
+			}
 			log.Debug("end element %v", elem.label)
 			elem.state = "finished"
 			// And add it to its parent list
@@ -263,26 +315,28 @@ func (dec *xmlDecoder) decodeXML(root *xmlNode) error {
 		case xml.Comment:
 
 			commentStr := string(xml.CharData(se))
-			if elem.state == "started" {
+			switch elem.state {
+			case "started":
 				applyFootComment(elem, commentStr)
 
-			} else if elem.state == "chardata" {
+			case "chardata":
 				log.Debug("got a line comment for (%v) %v: [%v]", elem.state, elem.label, commentStr)
-				elem.n.LineComment = joinFilter([]string{elem.n.LineComment, commentStr})
-			} else {
+				elem.n.LineComment = joinComments([]string{elem.n.LineComment, commentStr}, " ")
+			default:
 				log.Debug("got a head comment for (%v) %v: [%v]", elem.state, elem.label, commentStr)
-				elem.n.HeadComment = joinFilter([]string{elem.n.HeadComment, commentStr})
+				elem.n.HeadComment = joinComments([]string{elem.n.HeadComment, commentStr}, " ")
 			}
 
 		case xml.ProcInst:
 			if !dec.prefs.SkipProcInst {
-				elem.n.AddChild(dec.prefs.ProcInstPrefix+se.Target, &xmlNode{Data: string(se.Inst)})
+				elem.n.AddChild(dec.prefs.ProcInstPrefix+se.Target, &xmlNode{Data: []string{string(se.Inst)}})
 			}
 		case xml.Directive:
 			if !dec.prefs.SkipDirectives {
-				elem.n.AddChild(dec.prefs.DirectiveName, &xmlNode{Data: string(se)})
+				elem.n.AddChild(dec.prefs.DirectiveName, &xmlNode{Data: []string{string(se)}})
 			}
 		}
+		started = true
 	}
 
 	return nil
@@ -294,22 +348,28 @@ func applyFootComment(elem *element, commentStr string) {
 	if len(elem.n.Children) > 0 {
 		lastChildIndex := len(elem.n.Children) - 1
 		childKv := elem.n.Children[lastChildIndex]
-		log.Debug("got a foot comment for %v: [%v]", childKv.K, commentStr)
-		childKv.FootComment = joinFilter([]string{elem.n.FootComment, commentStr})
+		log.Debug("got a foot comment, putting on last child for %v: [%v]", childKv.K, commentStr)
+		// if it's an array of scalars, put the foot comment on the scalar itself
+		if len(childKv.V) > 0 && len(childKv.V[0].Children) == 0 {
+			nodeToUpdate := childKv.V[len(childKv.V)-1]
+			nodeToUpdate.FootComment = joinComments([]string{nodeToUpdate.FootComment, commentStr}, " ")
+		} else {
+			childKv.FootComment = joinComments([]string{elem.n.FootComment, commentStr}, " ")
+		}
 	} else {
 		log.Debug("got a foot comment for %v: [%v]", elem.label, commentStr)
-		elem.n.FootComment = joinFilter([]string{elem.n.FootComment, commentStr})
+		elem.n.FootComment = joinComments([]string{elem.n.FootComment, commentStr}, " ")
 	}
 }
 
-func joinFilter(rawStrings []string) string {
+func joinComments(rawStrings []string, joinStr string) string {
 	stringsToJoin := make([]string, 0)
 	for _, str := range rawStrings {
 		if str != "" {
 			stringsToJoin = append(stringsToJoin, str)
 		}
 	}
-	return strings.Join(stringsToJoin, " ")
+	return strings.Join(stringsToJoin, joinStr)
 }
 
 // trimNonGraphic returns a slice of the string s, with all leading and trailing

pkg/yqlib/decoder_yaml.go

@@ -2,21 +2,30 @@ package yqlib
 
 import (
 	"bufio"
+	"bytes"
 	"errors"
 	"io"
 	"regexp"
 	"strings"
 
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
+	yaml "go.yaml.in/yaml/v3"
 )
 
 type yamlDecoder struct {
 	decoder yaml.Decoder
+
+	prefs YamlPreferences
+
 	// work around of various parsing issues by yaml.v3 with document headers
-	prefs          YamlPreferences
 	leadingContent string
-	readAnything   bool
-	firstFile      bool
+	bufferRead     bytes.Buffer
+
+	// anchor map persists over multiple documents for convenience.
+	anchorMap map[string]*CandidateNode
+
+	readAnything  bool
+	firstFile     bool
+	documentIndex uint
 }
 
 func NewYamlDecoder(prefs YamlPreferences) Decoder {
@@ -25,23 +34,40 @@ func NewYamlDecoder(prefs YamlPreferences) Decoder {
 
 func (dec *yamlDecoder) processReadStream(reader *bufio.Reader) (io.Reader, string, error) {
 	var commentLineRegEx = regexp.MustCompile(`^\s*#`)
+	var yamlDirectiveLineRegEx = regexp.MustCompile(`^\s*%YA`)
 	var sb strings.Builder
 	for {
-		peekBytes, err := reader.Peek(3)
+		peekBytes, err := reader.Peek(4)
 		if errors.Is(err, io.EOF) {
 			// EOF are handled else where..
 			return reader, sb.String(), nil
 		} else if err != nil {
 			return reader, sb.String(), err
-		} else if string(peekBytes) == "---" {
+		} else if string(peekBytes[0]) == "\n" {
 			_, err := reader.ReadString('\n')
-			sb.WriteString("$yqDocSeperator$\n")
+			sb.WriteString("\n")
 			if errors.Is(err, io.EOF) {
 				return reader, sb.String(), nil
 			} else if err != nil {
 				return reader, sb.String(), err
 			}
-		} else if commentLineRegEx.MatchString(string(peekBytes)) {
+		} else if string(peekBytes) == "--- " {
+			_, err := reader.ReadString(' ')
+			sb.WriteString("$yqDocSeparator$\n")
+			if errors.Is(err, io.EOF) {
+				return reader, sb.String(), nil
+			} else if err != nil {
+				return reader, sb.String(), err
+			}
+		} else if string(peekBytes) == "---\n" {
+			_, err := reader.ReadString('\n')
+			sb.WriteString("$yqDocSeparator$\n")
+			if errors.Is(err, io.EOF) {
+				return reader, sb.String(), nil
+			} else if err != nil {
+				return reader, sb.String(), err
+			}
+		} else if commentLineRegEx.MatchString(string(peekBytes)) || yamlDirectiveLineRegEx.MatchString(string(peekBytes)) {
 			line, err := reader.ReadString('\n')
 			sb.WriteString(line)
 			if errors.Is(err, io.EOF) {
@@ -58,6 +84,7 @@ func (dec *yamlDecoder) processReadStream(reader *bufio.Reader) (io.Reader, stri
 func (dec *yamlDecoder) Init(reader io.Reader) error {
 	readerToUse := reader
 	leadingContent := ""
+	dec.bufferRead = bytes.Buffer{}
 	var err error
 	// if we 'evaluating together' - we only process the leading content
 	// of the first file - this ensures comments from subsequent files are
@@ -67,48 +94,64 @@ func (dec *yamlDecoder) Init(reader io.Reader) error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+	} else if !dec.prefs.LeadingContentPreProcessing {
+		// if we're not process the leading content
+		// keep a copy of what we've read. This is incase its a
+		// doc with only comments - the decoder will return nothing
+		// then we can read the comments from bufferRead
+		readerToUse = io.TeeReader(reader, &dec.bufferRead)
 	}
 	dec.leadingContent = leadingContent
 	dec.readAnything = false
 	dec.decoder = *yaml.NewDecoder(readerToUse)
 	dec.firstFile = false
+	dec.documentIndex = 0
+	dec.anchorMap = make(map[string]*CandidateNode)
 	return nil
 }
 
 func (dec *yamlDecoder) Decode() (*CandidateNode, error) {
-	var dataBucket yaml.Node
+	var yamlNode yaml.Node
+	err := dec.decoder.Decode(&yamlNode)
 
-	err := dec.decoder.Decode(&dataBucket)
 	if errors.Is(err, io.EOF) && dec.leadingContent != "" && !dec.readAnything {
 		// force returning an empty node with a comment.
 		dec.readAnything = true
 		return dec.blankNodeWithComment(), nil
-
+	} else if errors.Is(err, io.EOF) && !dec.prefs.LeadingContentPreProcessing && !dec.readAnything {
+		// didn't find any yaml,
+		// check the tee buffer, maybe there were comments
+		dec.readAnything = true
+		dec.leadingContent = dec.bufferRead.String()
+		if dec.leadingContent != "" {
+			return dec.blankNodeWithComment(), nil
+		}
+		return nil, err
 	} else if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	candidateNode := &CandidateNode{
-		Node: &dataBucket,
+	candidateNode := CandidateNode{document: dec.documentIndex}
+	// don't bother with the DocumentNode
+	err = candidateNode.UnmarshalYAML(yamlNode.Content[0], dec.anchorMap)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	candidateNode.HeadComment = yamlNode.HeadComment + candidateNode.HeadComment
+	candidateNode.FootComment = yamlNode.FootComment + candidateNode.FootComment
+
 	if dec.leadingContent != "" {
 		candidateNode.LeadingContent = dec.leadingContent
 		dec.leadingContent = ""
 	}
-	// move document comments into candidate node
-	// otherwise unwrap drops them.
-	candidateNode.TrailingContent = dataBucket.FootComment
-	dataBucket.FootComment = ""
-	return candidateNode, nil
+	dec.readAnything = true
+	dec.documentIndex++
+	return &candidateNode, nil
 }
 
 func (dec *yamlDecoder) blankNodeWithComment() *CandidateNode {
-	return &CandidateNode{
-		Document:       0,
-		Filename:       "",
-		Node:           &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.DocumentNode, Content: []*yaml.Node{{Tag: "!!null", Kind: yaml.ScalarNode}}},
-		FileIndex:      0,
-		LeadingContent: dec.leadingContent,
-	}
+	node := createScalarNode(nil, "")
+	node.LeadingContent = dec.leadingContent
+	return node
 }

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/add.md

@@ -86,6 +86,23 @@ will output
 a: ['dog', 'cat']
 ```
 
+## Prepend to existing array
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+a:
+  - dog
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq '.a = ["cat"] + .a' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+a:
+  - cat
+  - dog
+```
+
 ## Add new object to array
 Given a sample.yml file of:
 ```yaml

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/anchor-and-alias-operators.md

@@ -34,68 +34,6 @@ y: 2
 r: 10
 ```
 
-## Merge multiple maps
-see https://yaml.org/type/merge.html
-
-Given a sample.yml file of:
-```yaml
-- &CENTER
-  x: 1
-  y: 2
-- &LEFT
-  x: 0
-  y: 2
-- &BIG
-  r: 10
-- &SMALL
-  r: 1
-- !!merge <<:
-    - *CENTER
-    - *BIG
-```
-then
-```bash
-yq '.[4] | explode(.)' sample.yml
-```
-will output
-```yaml
-r: 10
-x: 1
-y: 2
-```
-
-## Override
-see https://yaml.org/type/merge.html
-
-Given a sample.yml file of:
-```yaml
-- &CENTER
-  x: 1
-  y: 2
-- &LEFT
-  x: 0
-  y: 2
-- &BIG
-  r: 10
-- &SMALL
-  r: 1
-- !!merge <<:
-    - *BIG
-    - *LEFT
-    - *SMALL
-  x: 1
-```
-then
-```bash
-yq '.[4] | explode(.)' sample.yml
-```
-will output
-```yaml
-r: 10
-x: 1
-y: 2
-```
-
 ## Get anchor
 Given a sample.yml file of:
 ```yaml
@@ -254,7 +192,101 @@ f:
   cat: b
 ```
 
-## Explode with merge anchors
+## Dereference and update a field
+Use explode with multiply to dereference an object
+
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+item_value: &item_value
+  value: true
+thingOne:
+  name: item_1
+  !!merge <<: *item_value
+thingTwo:
+  name: item_2
+  !!merge <<: *item_value
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq '.thingOne |= explode(.) * {"value": false}' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+item_value: &item_value
+  value: true
+thingOne:
+  name: item_1
+  value: false
+thingTwo:
+  name: item_2
+  !!merge <<: *item_value
+```
+
+## Merge multiple maps
+see https://yaml.org/type/merge.html
+
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- &CENTER
+  x: 1
+  y: 2
+- &LEFT
+  x: 0
+  y: 2
+- &BIG
+  r: 10
+- &SMALL
+  r: 1
+- !!merge <<:
+    - *CENTER
+    - *BIG
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq '.[4] | explode(.)' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+r: 10
+x: 1
+y: 2
+```
+
+## Override
+see https://yaml.org/type/merge.html
+
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- &CENTER
+  x: 1
+  y: 2
+- &LEFT
+  x: 0
+  y: 2
+- &BIG
+  r: 10
+- &SMALL
+  r: 1
+- !!merge <<:
+    - *BIG
+    - *LEFT
+    - *SMALL
+  x: 1
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq '.[4] | explode(.)' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+r: 10
+x: 1
+y: 2
+```
+
+## LEGACY: Explode with merge anchors
+Caution: this is for when --yaml-fix-merge-anchor-to-spec=false; it's not to YAML spec because the merge anchors incorrectly override the object values. Flag will default to true in late 2025
+
 Given a sample.yml file of:
 ```yaml
 foo: &foo
@@ -301,33 +333,52 @@ foobar:
   thing: foobar_thing
 ```
 
-## Dereference and update a field
-`Use explode with multiply to dereference an object
+## FIXED: Explode with merge anchors
+Set `--yaml-fix-merge-anchor-to-spec=true` to get this correct merge behaviour. Flag will default to true in late 2025 
 
 Given a sample.yml file of:
 ```yaml
-item_value: &item_value
-  value: true
-thingOne:
-  name: item_1
-  !!merge <<: *item_value
-thingTwo:
-  name: item_2
-  !!merge <<: *item_value
+foo: &foo
+  a: foo_a
+  thing: foo_thing
+  c: foo_c
+bar: &bar
+  b: bar_b
+  thing: bar_thing
+  c: bar_c
+foobarList:
+  b: foobarList_b
+  !!merge <<:
+    - *foo
+    - *bar
+  c: foobarList_c
+foobar:
+  c: foobar_c
+  !!merge <<: *foo
+  thing: foobar_thing
 ```
 then
 ```bash
-yq '.thingOne |= explode(.) * {"value": false}' sample.yml
+yq 'explode(.)' sample.yml
 ```
 will output
 ```yaml
-item_value: &item_value
-  value: true
-thingOne:
-  name: item_1
-  value: false
-thingTwo:
-  name: item_2
-  !!merge <<: *item_value
+foo:
+  a: foo_a
+  thing: foo_thing
+  c: foo_c
+bar:
+  b: bar_b
+  thing: bar_thing
+  c: bar_c
+foobarList:
+  b: foobarList_b
+  a: foo_a
+  thing: foo_thing
+  c: foobarList_c
+foobar:
+  c: foobar_c
+  a: foo_a
+  thing: foobar_thing
 ```
 

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/array-to-map.md

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+# Array to Map
+
+Use this operator to convert an array to..a map. The indices are used as map keys, null values in the array are skipped over.
+
+Behind the scenes, this is implemented using reduce:
+
+```
+(.[] | select(. != null) ) as $i ireduce({}; .[$i | key] = $i)
+```
+
+## Simple example
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+cool:
+  - null
+  - null
+  - hello
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq '.cool |= array_to_map' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+cool:
+  2: hello
+```
+

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/assign-update.md

@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@
 This operator is used to update node values. It can be used in either the:
 
 ### plain form: `=`
-Which will assign the LHS node values to the RHS node values. The RHS expression is run against the matching nodes in the pipeline.
+Which will set the LHS node values equal to the RHS node values. The RHS expression is run against the matching nodes in the pipeline.
 
 ### relative form: `|=`
-This will do a similar thing to the plain form, however, the RHS expression is run against _the LHS nodes_. This is useful for updating values based on old values, e.g. increment.
+This will do a similar thing to the plain form, but the RHS expression is run with _each LHS node as context_. This is useful for updating values based on old values, e.g. increment.
 
 
 ### Flags
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ a:
 ```
 
 ## Update node value that has an anchor
-Anchor will remaple
+Anchor will remain
 
 Given a sample.yml file of:
 ```yaml
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ a: !cat woof
 b: !dog woof
 ```
 
-## Custom types: clovver
+## Custom types: clobber
 Use the `c` option to clobber custom tags
 
 Given a sample.yml file of:

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/boolean-operators.md

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ The `or` and `and` operators take two parameters and return a boolean result.
 
 `not` flips a boolean from true to false, or vice versa. 
 
-`any` will return `true` if there are any `true` values in a array sequence, and `all` will return true if _all_ elements in an array are true.
+`any` will return `true` if there are any `true` values in an array sequence, and `all` will return true if _all_ elements in an array are true.
 
 `any_c(condition)` and `all_c(condition)` are like `any` and `all` but they take a condition expression that is used against each element to determine if it's `true`. Note: in `jq` you can simply pass a condition to `any` or `all` and it simply works - `yq` isn't that clever..yet
 
@@ -26,6 +26,24 @@ will output
 true
 ```
 
+## "yes" and "no" are strings
+In the yaml 1.2 standard, support for yes/no as booleans was dropped - they are now considered strings. See '10.2.1.2. Boolean' in https://yaml.org/spec/1.2.2/
+
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- yes
+- no
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq '.[] | tag' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+!!str
+!!str
+```
+
 ## `and` example
 Running
 ```bash

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/column.md

@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 Returns the column of the matching node. Starts from 1, 0 indicates there was no column data.
 
+Column is the number of characters that precede that node on the line it starts.
+
 ## Returns column of _value_ node
 Given a sample.yml file of:
 ```yaml

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/comment-operators.md

@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@ Use these comment operators to set or retrieve comments. Note that line comments
 Like the `=` and `|=` assign operators, the same syntax applies when updating comments:
 
 ### plain form: `=`
-This will assign the LHS nodes comments to the expression on the RHS. The RHS is run against the matching nodes in the pipeline
+This will set the LHS nodes' comments equal to the expression on the RHS. The RHS is run against the matching nodes in the pipeline
 
 ### relative form: `|=` 
-Similar to the plain form, however the RHS evaluates against each matching LHS node! This is useful if you want to set the comments as a relative expression of the node, for instance its value or path.
+This is similar to the plain form, but it evaluates the RHS with _each matching LHS node as context_. This is useful if you want to set the comments as a relative expression of the node, for instance its value or path.
 
 ## Set line comment
 Set the comment on the key node for more reliability (see below).
@@ -187,7 +187,6 @@ yq '. head_comment="single"' sample.yml
 will output
 ```yaml
 # single
-
 a: cat
 ```
 
@@ -247,6 +246,7 @@ Note the use of `...` to ensure key nodes are included.
 Given a sample.yml file of:
 ```yaml
 # hi
+
 a: cat # comment
 # great
 b: # key comment
@@ -265,6 +265,7 @@ b:
 Given a sample.yml file of:
 ```yaml
 # welcome!
+
 a: cat # meow
 # have a great day
 ```
@@ -293,6 +294,7 @@ yq '. | head_comment' sample.yml
 will output
 ```yaml
 welcome!
+
 ```
 
 ## Head comment with document split

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/contains.md

@@ -1,6 +1,14 @@
 # Contains
 
-This returns `true` if the context contains the passed in parameter, and false otherwise.
+This returns `true` if the context contains the passed in parameter, and false otherwise. For arrays, this will return true if the passed in array is contained within the array. For strings, it will return true if the string is a substring.
+
+{% hint style="warning" %}
+
+_Note_ that, just like jq, when checking if an array of strings `contains` another, this will use `contains` and _not_ equals to check each string. This means an expression like `contains(["cat"])` will return true for an array `["cats"]`.
+
+See the "Array has a subset array" example below on how to check for a subset.
+
+{% endhint %}
 
 ## Array contains array
 Array is equal or subset of
@@ -20,6 +28,24 @@ will output
 true
 ```
 
+## Array has a subset array
+Subtract the superset array from the subset, if there's anything left, it's not a subset
+
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- foobar
+- foobaz
+- blarp
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq '["baz", "bar"] - . | length == 0' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+false
+```
+
 ## Object included in array
 Given a sample.yml file of:
 ```yaml

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/create-collect-into-object.md

@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ will output
 ```yaml
 Mike: cat
 Mike: dog
+---
 Rosey: monkey
 Rosey: sheep
 ```