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

@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ jobs:
 
     # 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

@@ -30,6 +30,19 @@ jobs:
       - 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

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
 
     - name: Set up Go
-      uses: actions/setup-go@v4
+      uses: actions/setup-go@v5
       with:
         go-version: '^1.20'
       id: go

.github/workflows/release.yml

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ name: Release YQ
 on:
   push:
     tags:
-      - 'v*'
+      - 'v4.*'
       - 'draft-*'
 
 jobs:
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-      - uses: actions/setup-go@v4
+      - uses: actions/setup-go@v5
         with:
           go-version: '^1.20'
           check-latest: true
@@ -40,9 +40,7 @@ jobs:
       - 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

.gitignore

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ _cgo_gotypes.go
 _cgo_export.*
 
 _testmain.go
+cover.out
 coverage.out
 coverage.html
 *.exe
@@ -44,6 +45,8 @@ 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

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Development
+.# Development
 
 1. Install (Golang)[https://golang.org/]
 1. Run  `scripts/devtools.sh` to install the required devtools
@@ -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

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-FROM golang:1.21.3 as builder
+FROM golang:1.24.5 AS builder
 
 WORKDIR /go/src/mikefarah/yq
 
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ 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

@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
-FROM golang:1.21.3
+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
-ENV PATH=/go/bin:$PATH
+RUN set -e -x && \
+    /opt/devtools.sh
 
-RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y npm && npm install -g npx cspell@latest
+ENV PATH=/go/bin:$PATH
 
 ENV CGO_ENABLED 0
 ENV GOPATH /go:/yq

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
 

Makefile.variables

@@ -26,6 +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
@@ -33,7 +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.
 
@@ -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 ({}; . * $item )' path/to/*.yml
@@ -72,21 +76,21 @@ For instance, VERSION=v4.2.0 and BINARY=yq_linux_amd64
 #### Compressed via tar.gz
 ```bash
 wget https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/releases/download/${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
 ```
 
 #### 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:
@@ -237,6 +241,14 @@ As these are supported by the community :heart: - however, they may be out of da
 _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
 
 ```
@@ -291,18 +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
+```
+
+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
+```
 
 ## 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
@@ -341,32 +366,52 @@ 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 in place 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")
+  -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.
 ```

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)
@@ -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.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

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/output-format.sh

@@ -72,6 +72,15 @@ EOL
   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
@@ -189,6 +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

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

@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ package cmd
 
 var unwrapScalarFlag = newUnwrapFlag()
 
+var printNodeInfo = false
+
 var unwrapScalar = false
 
 var writeInplace = false
@@ -12,9 +14,6 @@ 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
@@ -23,6 +22,10 @@ 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

@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@ 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 (in place)
 yq eval-all --inplace 'select(fileIndex == 0) * select(fileIndex == 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
 	}

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 
@@ -31,7 +37,7 @@ yq e -n '.a.b.c = "cat"'
 # 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
 	}
@@ -99,6 +105,11 @@ func evaluateSequence(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (cmdError error) {
 	}
 
 	printer := yqlib.NewPrinter(encoder, printerWriter)
+
+	if printNodeInfo {
+		printer = yqlib.NewNodeInfoPrinter(printerWriter)
+	}
+
 	if nulSepOutput {
 		printer.SetNulSepOutput(true)
 	}

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 {
@@ -35,20 +66,30 @@ yq -P sample.json
 			return evaluateSequence(cmd, args)
 
 		},
-		PersistentPreRunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+		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()
@@ -58,6 +99,7 @@ yq -P sample.json
 	}
 
 	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")
@@ -65,28 +107,76 @@ yq -P sample.json
 		panic(err)
 	}
 
-	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&outputFormat, "output-format", "o", "auto", "[auto|a|yaml|y|json|j|props|p|xml|x|tsv|t|csv|c] output format type.")
-	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&inputFormat, "input-format", "p", "auto", "[auto|a|yaml|y|props|p|xml|x|tsv|t|csv|c|toml] 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)
+	}
+
+	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 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")
@@ -97,15 +187,31 @@ yq -P sample.json
 	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/utils.go

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"os"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/mikefarah/yq/v4/pkg/yqlib"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -17,55 +18,103 @@ func isAutomaticOutputFormat() bool {
 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 err := loadSplitFileExpression(); err != nil {
+		return "", nil, err
+	}
+
+	handleBackwardsCompatibility()
+
+	if err := validateCommandFlags(args); err != nil {
+		return "", nil, err
+	}
+
+	if err := configureFormats(args); err != nil {
+		return "", nil, err
+	}
+
+	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 "", nil, err
+			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 "", nil, fmt.Errorf("write in place flag only applicable when giving an expression and at least one file")
+		return fmt.Errorf("write in place flag only applicable when giving an expression and at least one file")
 	}
 
 	if frontMatter != "" && len(args) == 0 {
-		return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("front matter flag only applicable when giving an expression and at least one file")
+		return fmt.Errorf("front matter flag only applicable when giving an expression and at least one file")
 	}
 
 	if writeInplace && splitFileExp != "" {
-		return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("write in place cannot be used with split file")
+		return fmt.Errorf("write in place cannot be used with split file")
 	}
 
 	if nullInput && len(args) > 0 {
-		return "", nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot pass files in when using null-input flag")
+		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)
 
-		inputFormat = yqlib.FormatFromFilename(inputFilename)
-
-		_, err := yqlib.InputFormatFromString(inputFormat)
+		_, 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)
@@ -74,10 +123,6 @@ func initCommand(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (string, []string, error) {
 				outputFormat = "yaml"
 			}
 		} else if isAutomaticOutputFormat() {
-			// automatic input worked, we can do it for output too unless specified
-			if inputFormat == "json" {
-				yqlib.GetLogger().Warning("JSON file output is now JSON by default (instead of yaml). Use '-oy' or '--output-format=yaml' for yaml output")
-			}
 			outputFormat = inputFormat
 		}
 	} else if isAutomaticOutputFormat() {
@@ -85,74 +130,50 @@ func initCommand(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (string, []string, error) {
 		// before this was introduced, `yq -pcsv things.csv`
 		// would produce *yaml* output.
 		//
-		outputFormat = yqlib.FormatFromFilename(inputFilename)
+		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
+}
 
-	outputFormatType, err := yqlib.OutputFormatFromString(outputFormat)
-
+func configureOutputFormat() error {
+	outputFormatType, err := yqlib.FormatFromString(outputFormat)
 	if err != nil {
-		return "", nil, err
+		return err
 	}
-	yqlib.GetLogger().Debug("Using input format %v", inputFormat)
-	yqlib.GetLogger().Debug("Using output format %v", outputFormat)
 
-	if outputFormatType == yqlib.YamlOutputFormat ||
-		outputFormatType == yqlib.PropsOutputFormat {
+	if outputFormatType == yqlib.YamlFormat ||
+		outputFormatType == yqlib.PropertiesFormat {
 		unwrapScalar = true
 	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+func configureUnwrapScalar() {
 	if unwrapScalarFlag.IsExplicitlySet() {
 		unwrapScalar = unwrapScalarFlag.IsSet()
 	}
-
-	//copy preference form global setting
-	yqlib.ConfiguredYamlPreferences.UnwrapScalar = unwrapScalar
-
-	yqlib.ConfiguredYamlPreferences.PrintDocSeparators = !noDocSeparators
-
-	return expression, args, nil
 }
 
 func configureDecoder(evaluateTogether bool) (yqlib.Decoder, error) {
-	yqlibInputFormat, err := yqlib.InputFormatFromString(inputFormat)
+	format, err := yqlib.FormatFromString(inputFormat)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	yqlibDecoder, err := createDecoder(yqlibInputFormat, evaluateTogether)
+	yqlib.ConfiguredYamlPreferences.EvaluateTogether = evaluateTogether
+
+	yqlibDecoder := format.DecoderFactory()
 	if yqlibDecoder == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no support for %s input format", inputFormat)
 	}
-	return yqlibDecoder, err
+	return yqlibDecoder, nil
 }
 
-func createDecoder(format yqlib.InputFormat, evaluateTogether bool) (yqlib.Decoder, error) {
-	switch format {
-	case yqlib.LuaInputFormat:
-		return yqlib.NewLuaDecoder(yqlib.ConfiguredLuaPreferences), nil
-	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
-	case yqlib.TomlInputFormat:
-		return yqlib.NewTomlDecoder(), nil
-	case yqlib.YamlInputFormat:
-		prefs := yqlib.ConfiguredYamlPreferences
-		prefs.EvaluateTogether = evaluateTogether
-		return yqlib.NewYamlDecoder(prefs), nil
-	}
-	return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid decoder: %v", format)
-}
-
-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
 
@@ -170,39 +191,29 @@ func configurePrinterWriter(format yqlib.PrinterOutputFormat, out io.Writer) (yq
 }
 
 func configureEncoder() (yqlib.Encoder, error) {
-	yqlibOutputFormat, err := yqlib.OutputFormatFromString(outputFormat)
+	yqlibOutputFormat, err := yqlib.FormatFromString(outputFormat)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	yqlibEncoder, err := createEncoder(yqlibOutputFormat)
-	if yqlibEncoder == nil {
+	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 yqlibEncoder, err
-}
-
-func createEncoder(format yqlib.PrinterOutputFormat) (yqlib.Encoder, error) {
-	switch format {
-	case yqlib.JSONOutputFormat:
-		return yqlib.NewJSONEncoder(indent, colorsEnabled, unwrapScalar), nil
-	case yqlib.PropsOutputFormat:
-		return yqlib.NewPropertiesEncoder(unwrapScalar), nil
-	case yqlib.CSVOutputFormat:
-		return yqlib.NewCsvEncoder(','), nil
-	case yqlib.TSVOutputFormat:
-		return yqlib.NewCsvEncoder('\t'), nil
-	case yqlib.YamlOutputFormat:
-		return yqlib.NewYamlEncoder(indent, colorsEnabled, yqlib.ConfiguredYamlPreferences), nil
-	case yqlib.XMLOutputFormat:
-		return yqlib.NewXMLEncoder(indent, yqlib.ConfiguredXMLPreferences), nil
-	case yqlib.TomlOutputFormat:
-		return yqlib.NewTomlEncoder(), nil
-	case yqlib.ShellVariablesOutputFormat:
-		return yqlib.NewShellVariablesEncoder(), nil
-	case yqlib.LuaOutputFormat:
-		return yqlib.NewLuaEncoder(yqlib.ConfiguredLuaPreferences), nil
-	}
-	return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid encoder: %v", format)
+	return encoder, err
 }
 
 // this is a hack to enable backwards compatibility with githubactions (which pipe /dev/null into everything)
@@ -226,8 +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.
@@ -251,15 +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 = "v4.35.2"
+	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, "'", "")
 }

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: multiline 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/data1.yaml

@@ -1 +1,8 @@
-["foobar", "foobaz", "blarp"]
+# 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 +1 @@
-<cat>3</cat>
+<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.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

go.mod

@@ -1,33 +1,35 @@
 module github.com/mikefarah/yq/v4
 
 require (
-	github.com/a8m/envsubst v1.4.2
-	github.com/alecthomas/participle/v2 v2.1.0
-	github.com/alecthomas/repr v0.3.0
+	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 v1.15.0
-	github.com/goccy/go-json v0.10.2
-	github.com/goccy/go-yaml v1.11.2
+	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 v1.8.7
-	github.com/pelletier/go-toml/v2 v2.1.0
+	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 v1.7.0
-	github.com/spf13/pflag v1.0.5
-	github.com/yuin/gopher-lua v1.1.0
-	golang.org/x/net v0.17.0
-	golang.org/x/text v0.13.0
+	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 v1.1.0 // indirect
-	github.com/mattn/go-colorable v0.1.13 // indirect
-	github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.17 // indirect
-	golang.org/x/sys v0.13.0 // indirect
-	golang.org/x/xerrors v0.0.0-20220609144429-65e65417b02f // 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 1.20
+go 1.24
+
+toolchain go1.24.1

go.sum

@@ -1,66 +1,63 @@
-github.com/a8m/envsubst v1.4.2 h1:4yWIHXOLEJHQEFd4UjrWDrYeYlV7ncFWJOCBRLOZHQg=
-github.com/a8m/envsubst v1.4.2/go.mod h1:MVUTQNGQ3tsjOOtKCNd+fl8RzhsXcDvvAEzkhGtlsbY=
-github.com/alecthomas/assert/v2 v2.3.0 h1:mAsH2wmvjsuvyBvAmCtm7zFsBlb8mIHx5ySLVdDZXL0=
-github.com/alecthomas/participle/v2 v2.1.0 h1:z7dElHRrOEEq45F2TG5cbQihMtNTv8vwldytDj7Wrz4=
-github.com/alecthomas/participle/v2 v2.1.0/go.mod h1:Y1+hAs8DHPmc3YUFzqllV+eSQ9ljPTk0ZkPMtEdAx2c=
-github.com/alecthomas/repr v0.3.0 h1:NeYzUPfjjlqHY4KtzgKJiWd6sVq2eNUPTi34PiFGjY8=
-github.com/alecthomas/repr v0.3.0/go.mod h1:Fr0507jx4eOXV7AlPV6AVZLYrLIuIeSOWtW57eE/O/4=
-github.com/cpuguy83/go-md2man/v2 v2.0.2/go.mod h1:tgQtvFlXSQOSOSIRvRPT7W67SCa46tRHOmNcaadrF8o=
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 github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.0/go.mod h1:J7Y8YcW2NihsgmVo/mv3lAwl/skON4iLHjSsI+c5H38=
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 github.com/inconshreveable/mousetrap v1.1.0 h1:wN+x4NVGpMsO7ErUn/mUI3vEoE6Jt13X2s0bqwp9tc8=
 github.com/inconshreveable/mousetrap v1.1.0/go.mod h1:vpF70FUmC8bwa3OWnCshd2FqLfsEA9PFc4w1p2J65bw=
 github.com/jinzhu/copier v0.4.0 h1:w3ciUoD19shMCRargcpm0cm91ytaBhDvuRpz1ODO/U8=
 github.com/jinzhu/copier v0.4.0/go.mod h1:DfbEm0FYsaqBcKcFuvmOZb218JkPGtvSHsKg8S8hyyg=
-github.com/magiconair/properties v1.8.7 h1:IeQXZAiQcpL9mgcAe1Nu6cX9LLw6ExEHKjN0VQdvPDY=
-github.com/magiconair/properties v1.8.7/go.mod h1:Dhd985XPs7jluiymwWYZ0G4Z61jb3vdS329zhj2hYo0=
-github.com/mattn/go-colorable v0.1.13 h1:fFA4WZxdEF4tXPZVKMLwD8oUnCTTo08duU7wxecdEvA=
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-github.com/mattn/go-isatty v0.0.16/go.mod h1:kYGgaQfpe5nmfYZH+SKPsOc2e4SrIfOl2e/yFXSvRLM=
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 github.com/pkg/diff v0.0.0-20210226163009-20ebb0f2a09e/go.mod h1:pJLUxLENpZxwdsKMEsNbx1VGcRFpLqf3715MtcvvzbA=
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 github.com/stretchr/objx v0.1.0/go.mod h1:HFkY916IF+rwdDfMAkV7OtwuqBVzrE8GR6GFx+wExME=
-github.com/stretchr/objx v0.4.0/go.mod h1:YvHI0jy2hoMjB+UWwv71VJQ9isScKT/TqJzVSSt89Yw=
-github.com/stretchr/objx v0.5.0/go.mod h1:Yh+to48EsGEfYuaHDzXPcE3xhTkx73EhmCGUpEOglKo=
+github.com/stretchr/testify v1.7.0 h1:nwc3DEeHmmLAfoZucVR881uASk0Mfjw8xYJ99tb5CcY=
 github.com/stretchr/testify v1.7.0/go.mod h1:6Fq8oRcR53rry900zMqJjRRixrwX3KX962/h/Wwjteg=
-github.com/stretchr/testify v1.7.1/go.mod h1:6Fq8oRcR53rry900zMqJjRRixrwX3KX962/h/Wwjteg=
-github.com/stretchr/testify v1.8.0/go.mod h1:yNjHg4UonilssWZ8iaSj1OCr/vHnekPRkoO+kdMU+MU=
-github.com/stretchr/testify v1.8.4 h1:CcVxjf3Q8PM0mHUKJCdn+eZZtm5yQwehR5yeSVQQcUk=
-github.com/stretchr/testify v1.8.4/go.mod h1:sz/lmYIOXD/1dqDmKjjqLyZ2RngseejIcXlSw2iwfAo=
-github.com/yuin/gopher-lua v1.1.0 h1:BojcDhfyDWgU2f2TOzYK/g5p2gxMrku8oupLDqlnSqE=
-github.com/yuin/gopher-lua v1.1.0/go.mod h1:GBR0iDaNXjAgGg9zfCvksxSRnQx76gclCIb7kdAd1Pw=
-golang.org/x/net v0.17.0 h1:pVaXccu2ozPjCXewfr1S7xza/zcXTity9cCdXQYSjIM=
-golang.org/x/net v0.17.0/go.mod h1:NxSsAGuq816PNPmqtQdLE42eU2Fs7NoRIZrHJAlaCOE=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20220811171246-fbc7d0a398ab/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.13.0 h1:Af8nKPmuFypiUBjVoU9V20FiaFXOcuZI21p0ycVYYGE=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.13.0/go.mod h1:oPkhp1MJrh7nUepCBck5+mAzfO9JrbApNNgaTdGDITg=
-golang.org/x/text v0.13.0 h1:ablQoSUd0tRdKxZewP80B+BaqeKJuVhuRxj/dkrun3k=
-golang.org/x/text v0.13.0/go.mod h1:TvPlkZtksWOMsz7fbANvkp4WM8x/WCo/om8BMLbz+aE=
-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=

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 original 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_not_linux_os.go

@@ -7,6 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"os"
 )
 
-func changeOwner(info fs.FileInfo, file *os.File) error {
+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

@@ -12,6 +12,11 @@ const csvSimple = `name,numberOfCats,likesApples,height
 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
 `
@@ -39,6 +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
@@ -119,12 +149,56 @@ var csvScenarios = []formatScenario{
 		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",
@@ -153,15 +227,17 @@ var csvScenarios = []formatScenario{
 func testCSVScenario(t *testing.T, s formatScenario) {
 	switch s.scenarioType {
 	case "encode-csv":
-		test.AssertResultWithContext(t, s.expected, mustProcessFormatScenario(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, mustProcessFormatScenario(s, NewYamlDecoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences), NewCsvEncoder('\t')), s.description)
-	case "decode-csv-object":
-		test.AssertResultWithContext(t, s.expected, mustProcessFormatScenario(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, mustProcessFormatScenario(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, mustProcessFormatScenario(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))
 	}
@@ -188,7 +264,32 @@ func documentCSVDecodeObjectScenario(w *bufio.Writer, s formatScenario, formatTy
 	}
 
 	writeOrPanic(w, fmt.Sprintf("```yaml\n%v```\n\n",
-		mustProcessFormatScenario(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))),
 	)
 }
 
@@ -218,9 +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,
-		mustProcessFormatScenario(s, NewYamlDecoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences), NewCsvEncoder(separator))),
+		mustProcessFormatScenario(s, NewYamlDecoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences), NewCsvEncoder(csvPrefs))),
 	)
 }
 
@@ -251,12 +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,
-		mustProcessFormatScenario(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
@@ -266,8 +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

@@ -4,16 +4,15 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 
 	logging "gopkg.in/op/go-logging.v1"
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 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 *yaml.Node) error
+	DeeplyAssign(context Context, path []interface{}, rhsNode *CandidateNode) error
 }
 
 type dataTreeNavigator struct {
@@ -23,15 +22,21 @@ func NewDataTreeNavigator() DataTreeNavigator {
 	return &dataTreeNavigator{}
 }
 
-func (d *dataTreeNavigator) DeeplyAssign(context Context, path []interface{}, rhsNode *yaml.Node) error {
-
-	rhsCandidateNode := &CandidateNode{
-		Path: path,
-		Node: rhsNode,
-	}
+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{
@@ -55,11 +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

@@ -1,66 +1,10 @@
 package yqlib
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"io"
-	"strings"
-)
-
-type InputFormat uint
-
-const (
-	YamlInputFormat = 1 << iota
-	XMLInputFormat
-	PropertiesInputFormat
-	Base64InputFormat
-	JsonInputFormat
-	CSVObjectInputFormat
-	TSVObjectInputFormat
-	TomlInputFormat
-	UriInputFormat
-	LuaInputFormat
 )
 
 type Decoder interface {
 	Init(reader io.Reader) error
 	Decode() (*CandidateNode, error)
 }
-
-func InputFormatFromString(format string) (InputFormat, error) {
-	switch format {
-	case "yaml", "yml", "y":
-		return YamlInputFormat, nil
-	case "xml", "x":
-		return XMLInputFormat, nil
-	case "properties", "props", "p":
-		return PropertiesInputFormat, nil
-	case "json", "ndjson", "j":
-		return JsonInputFormat, nil
-	case "csv", "c":
-		return CSVObjectInputFormat, nil
-	case "tsv", "t":
-		return TSVObjectInputFormat, nil
-	case "toml":
-		return TomlInputFormat, nil
-	case "lua", "l":
-		return LuaInputFormat, nil
-	default:
-		return 0, fmt.Errorf("unknown format '%v' please use [yaml|json|props|csv|tsv|xml|toml]", format)
-	}
-}
-
-func FormatFromFilename(filename string) string {
-
-	if filename != "" {
-		GetLogger().Debugf("checking file extension '%s' for auto format detection", filename)
-		nPos := strings.LastIndex(filename, ".")
-		if nPos > -1 {
-			format := filename[nPos+1:]
-			GetLogger().Debugf("detected format '%s'", format)
-			return format
-		}
-	}
-
-	GetLogger().Debugf("using default inputFormat 'yaml'")
-	return "yaml"
-}

pkg/yqlib/decoder_base64.go

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+//go:build !yq_nobase64
+
 package yqlib
 
 import (
@@ -5,25 +7,23 @@ import (
 	"encoding/base64"
 	"io"
 	"strings"
-
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 type base64Padder struct {
-	count uint64
+	count int
 	io.Reader
 }
 
 func (c *base64Padder) pad(buf []byte) (int, error) {
-	pad := strings.Repeat("=", int(4-c.count%4))
+	pad := strings.Repeat("=", (4 - c.count%4))
 	n, err := strings.NewReader(pad).Read(buf)
-	c.count += uint64(n)
+	c.count += n
 	return n, err
 }
 
 func (c *base64Padder) Read(buf []byte) (int, error) {
 	n, err := c.Reader.Read(buf)
-	c.count += uint64(n)
+	c.count += n
 
 	if err == io.EOF && c.count%4 != 0 {
 		return c.pad(buf)
@@ -70,11 +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

@@ -3,11 +3,9 @@
 package yqlib
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"io"
 
 	"github.com/goccy/go-json"
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 type jsonDecoder struct {
@@ -25,76 +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 == nil {
-		return createScalarNode(nil, "null"), nil
-	}
-	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.'
-			intNum := int(rawData.(float64))
-
-			// if the integer representation is the same as the original
-			// then its an int.
-			if float64(intNum) == rawData.(float64) {
-				return createScalarNode(intNum, fmt.Sprintf("%v", intNum)), nil
-			}
-
-			return createScalarNode(rawData, fmt.Sprintf("%v", rawData)), nil
-		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, Tag: "!!map"}
-	for i, keyValuePair := range data.kv {
-		yamlValue, err := dec.convertToYamlNode(&data.kv[i].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, Tag: "!!seq"}
-
-	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

@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import (
 	"math"
 
 	lua "github.com/yuin/gopher-lua"
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 type luaDecoder struct {
@@ -28,17 +27,17 @@ func (dec *luaDecoder) Init(reader io.Reader) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (dec *luaDecoder) convertToYamlNode(ls *lua.LState, lv lua.LValue) *yaml.Node {
+func (dec *luaDecoder) convertToYamlNode(ls *lua.LState, lv lua.LValue) *CandidateNode {
 	switch lv.Type() {
 	case lua.LTNil:
-		return &yaml.Node{
-			Kind:  yaml.ScalarNode,
+		return &CandidateNode{
+			Kind:  ScalarNode,
 			Tag:   "!!null",
 			Value: "",
 		}
 	case lua.LTBool:
-		return &yaml.Node{
-			Kind:  yaml.ScalarNode,
+		return &CandidateNode{
+			Kind:  ScalarNode,
 			Tag:   "!!bool",
 			Value: lv.String(),
 		}
@@ -46,22 +45,22 @@ func (dec *luaDecoder) convertToYamlNode(ls *lua.LState, lv lua.LValue) *yaml.No
 		n := float64(lua.LVAsNumber(lv))
 		// various special case floats
 		if math.IsNaN(n) {
-			return &yaml.Node{
-				Kind:  yaml.ScalarNode,
+			return &CandidateNode{
+				Kind:  ScalarNode,
 				Tag:   "!!float",
 				Value: ".nan",
 			}
 		}
 		if math.IsInf(n, 1) {
-			return &yaml.Node{
-				Kind:  yaml.ScalarNode,
+			return &CandidateNode{
+				Kind:  ScalarNode,
 				Tag:   "!!float",
 				Value: ".inf",
 			}
 		}
 		if math.IsInf(n, -1) {
-			return &yaml.Node{
-				Kind:  yaml.ScalarNode,
+			return &CandidateNode{
+				Kind:  ScalarNode,
 				Tag:   "!!float",
 				Value: "-.inf",
 			}
@@ -69,27 +68,27 @@ func (dec *luaDecoder) convertToYamlNode(ls *lua.LState, lv lua.LValue) *yaml.No
 
 		// does it look like an integer?
 		if n == float64(int(n)) {
-			return &yaml.Node{
-				Kind:  yaml.ScalarNode,
+			return &CandidateNode{
+				Kind:  ScalarNode,
 				Tag:   "!!int",
 				Value: lv.String(),
 			}
 		}
 
-		return &yaml.Node{
-			Kind:  yaml.ScalarNode,
+		return &CandidateNode{
+			Kind:  ScalarNode,
 			Tag:   "!!float",
 			Value: lv.String(),
 		}
 	case lua.LTString:
-		return &yaml.Node{
-			Kind:  yaml.ScalarNode,
+		return &CandidateNode{
+			Kind:  ScalarNode,
 			Tag:   "!!str",
 			Value: lv.String(),
 		}
 	case lua.LTFunction:
-		return &yaml.Node{
-			Kind:  yaml.ScalarNode,
+		return &CandidateNode{
+			Kind:  ScalarNode,
 			Tag:   "tag:lua.org,2006,function",
 			Value: lv.String(),
 		}
@@ -97,12 +96,12 @@ func (dec *luaDecoder) convertToYamlNode(ls *lua.LState, lv lua.LValue) *yaml.No
 		// Simultaneously create a sequence and a map, pick which one to return
 		// based on whether all keys were consecutive integers
 		i := 1
-		yaml_sequence := &yaml.Node{
-			Kind: yaml.SequenceNode,
+		yaml_sequence := &CandidateNode{
+			Kind: SequenceNode,
 			Tag:  "!!seq",
 		}
-		yaml_map := &yaml.Node{
-			Kind: yaml.MappingNode,
+		yaml_map := &CandidateNode{
+			Kind: MappingNode,
 			Tag:  "!!map",
 		}
 		t := lv.(*lua.LTable)
@@ -113,11 +112,13 @@ func (dec *luaDecoder) convertToYamlNode(ls *lua.LState, lv lua.LValue) *yaml.No
 			} else {
 				i = 0
 			}
-			yaml_map.Content = append(yaml_map.Content, dec.convertToYamlNode(ls, k))
+			newKey := dec.convertToYamlNode(ls, k)
+
 			yv := dec.convertToYamlNode(ls, v)
-			yaml_map.Content = append(yaml_map.Content, yv)
+			yaml_map.AddKeyValueChild(newKey, yv)
+
 			if i != 0 {
-				yaml_sequence.Content = append(yaml_sequence.Content, yv)
+				yaml_sequence.AddChild(yv)
 			}
 			k, v = ls.Next(t, k)
 		}
@@ -126,8 +127,8 @@ func (dec *luaDecoder) convertToYamlNode(ls *lua.LState, lv lua.LValue) *yaml.No
 		}
 		return yaml_map
 	default:
-		return &yaml.Node{
-			Kind:        yaml.ScalarNode,
+		return &CandidateNode{
+			Kind:        ScalarNode,
 			LineComment: fmt.Sprintf("Unhandled Lua type: %s", lv.Type().String()),
 			Tag:         "!!null",
 			Value:       lv.String(),
@@ -135,7 +136,7 @@ func (dec *luaDecoder) convertToYamlNode(ls *lua.LState, lv lua.LValue) *yaml.No
 	}
 }
 
-func (dec *luaDecoder) decideTopLevelNode(ls *lua.LState) *yaml.Node {
+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))
@@ -160,10 +161,5 @@ func (dec *luaDecoder) Decode() (*CandidateNode, error) {
 	}
 	firstNode := dec.decideTopLevelNode(ls)
 	dec.finished = true
-	return &CandidateNode{
-		Node: &yaml.Node{
-			Kind:    yaml.DocumentNode,
-			Content: []*yaml.Node{firstNode},
-		},
-	}, nil
+	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 {
@@ -52,16 +53,13 @@ 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: referenceOpType, CandidateNode: rhsCandidateNode}
 
@@ -87,13 +85,8 @@ func (dec *propertiesDecoder) applyProperty(context Context, properties *propert
 		}
 	}
 
-	rhsNode := &yaml.Node{
-		Value: value,
-		Tag:   "!!str",
-		Kind:  yaml.ScalarNode,
-	}
-
-	rhsNode.Tag = guessTagFromCustomType(rhsNode)
+	rhsNode := createStringScalarNode(value)
+	rhsNode.Tag = rhsNode.guessTagFromCustomType()
 
 	return dec.d.DeeplyAssign(context, path, rhsNode)
 }
@@ -118,10 +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{}
@@ -135,11 +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

@@ -27,11 +27,14 @@ func processFormatScenario(s formatScenario, decoder Decoder, encoder Encoder) (
 		decoder = NewYamlDecoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences)
 	}
 
+	log.Debugf("reading docs")
 	inputs, err := readDocuments(strings.NewReader(s.input), "sample.yml", 0, decoder)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
 
+	log.Debugf("done reading the documents")
+
 	expression := s.expression
 	if expression == "" {
 		expression = "."
@@ -45,6 +48,8 @@ func processFormatScenario(s formatScenario, decoder Decoder, encoder Encoder) (
 
 	context, err := NewDataTreeNavigator().GetMatchingNodes(Context{MatchingNodes: inputs}, exp)
 
+	log.Debugf("Going to print: %v", NodesToString(context.MatchingNodes))
+
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
@@ -63,7 +68,8 @@ func mustProcessFormatScenario(s formatScenario, decoder Decoder, encoder Encode
 
 	result, err := processFormatScenario(s, decoder, encoder)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Errorf("Bad scenario %v: %w", s.description, err))
+		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

@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	toml "github.com/pelletier/go-toml/v2/unstable"
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 type tomlDecoder struct {
@@ -37,10 +36,9 @@ func (dec *tomlDecoder) Init(reader io.Reader) error {
 	}
 	dec.parser.Reset(buf.Bytes())
 	dec.rootMap = &CandidateNode{
-		Node: &yaml.Node{
-			Kind: yaml.MappingNode,
-			Tag:  "!!map",
-		}}
+		Kind: MappingNode,
+		Tag:  "!!map",
+	}
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -58,12 +56,13 @@ func (dec *tomlDecoder) getFullPath(tomlNode *toml.Node) []interface{} {
 func (dec *tomlDecoder) processKeyValueIntoMap(rootMap *CandidateNode, tomlNode *toml.Node) error {
 	value := tomlNode.Value()
 	path := dec.getFullPath(value.Next())
-	log.Debug("!!!processKeyValueIntoMap: %v", path)
+	log.Debug("processKeyValueIntoMap: %v", path)
 
 	valueNode, err := dec.decodeNode(value)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+
 	context := Context{}
 	context = context.SingleChildContext(rootMap)
 
@@ -71,14 +70,14 @@ func (dec *tomlDecoder) processKeyValueIntoMap(rootMap *CandidateNode, tomlNode
 }
 
 func (dec *tomlDecoder) decodeKeyValuesIntoMap(rootMap *CandidateNode, tomlNode *toml.Node) (bool, error) {
-	log.Debug("!! DECODE_KV_INTO_MAP -- processing first (current) entry")
+	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("!! DECODE_KV_INTO_MAP -- next exp, its a %v", nextItem.Kind)
+		log.Debug("decodeKeyValuesIntoMap -- next exp, its a %v", nextItem.Kind)
 
 		if nextItem.Kind == toml.KeyValue {
 			if err := dec.processKeyValueIntoMap(rootMap, nextItem); err != nil {
@@ -86,18 +85,17 @@ func (dec *tomlDecoder) decodeKeyValuesIntoMap(rootMap *CandidateNode, tomlNode
 			}
 		} else {
 			// run out of key values
-			log.Debug("! DECODE_KV_INTO_MAP - ok we are done in decodeKeyValuesIntoMap, gota a %v", nextItem.Kind)
-			log.Debug("! DECODE_KV_INTO_MAP - processAgainstCurrentExp = true!")
+			log.Debug("done in decodeKeyValuesIntoMap, gota a %v", nextItem.Kind)
 			return true, nil
 		}
 	}
-	log.Debug("! DECODE_KV_INTO_MAP - no more things to read in")
+	log.Debug("no more things to read in")
 	return false, nil
 }
 
-func (dec *tomlDecoder) createInlineTableMap(tomlNode *toml.Node) (*yaml.Node, error) {
-	content := make([]*yaml.Node, 0)
-	log.Debug("!! createInlineTableMap")
+func (dec *tomlDecoder) createInlineTableMap(tomlNode *toml.Node) (*CandidateNode, error) {
+	content := make([]*CandidateNode, 0)
+	log.Debug("createInlineTableMap")
 
 	iterator := tomlNode.Children()
 	for iterator.Next() {
@@ -107,28 +105,26 @@ func (dec *tomlDecoder) createInlineTableMap(tomlNode *toml.Node) (*yaml.Node, e
 		}
 
 		keyValues := &CandidateNode{
-			Node: &yaml.Node{
-				Kind: yaml.MappingNode,
-				Tag:  "!!map",
-			},
+			Kind: MappingNode,
+			Tag:  "!!map",
 		}
 
 		if err := dec.processKeyValueIntoMap(keyValues, child); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 
-		content = append(content, keyValues.Node.Content...)
+		content = append(content, keyValues.Content...)
 	}
 
-	return &yaml.Node{
-		Kind:    yaml.MappingNode,
+	return &CandidateNode{
+		Kind:    MappingNode,
 		Tag:     "!!map",
 		Content: content,
 	}, nil
 }
 
-func (dec *tomlDecoder) createArray(tomlNode *toml.Node) (*yaml.Node, error) {
-	content := make([]*yaml.Node, 0)
+func (dec *tomlDecoder) createArray(tomlNode *toml.Node) (*CandidateNode, error) {
+	content := make([]*CandidateNode, 0)
 	iterator := tomlNode.Children()
 	for iterator.Next() {
 		child := iterator.Node()
@@ -139,43 +135,43 @@ func (dec *tomlDecoder) createArray(tomlNode *toml.Node) (*yaml.Node, error) {
 		content = append(content, yamlNode)
 	}
 
-	return &yaml.Node{
-		Kind:    yaml.SequenceNode,
+	return &CandidateNode{
+		Kind:    SequenceNode,
 		Tag:     "!!seq",
 		Content: content,
 	}, nil
 
 }
 
-func (dec *tomlDecoder) createStringScalar(tomlNode *toml.Node) (*yaml.Node, error) {
+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) (*yaml.Node, error) {
+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) (*yaml.Node, error) {
+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) (*yaml.Node, error) {
+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) (*yaml.Node, error) {
+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) (*yaml.Node, error) {
+func (dec *tomlDecoder) decodeNode(tomlNode *toml.Node) (*CandidateNode, error) {
 	switch tomlNode.Kind {
 	case toml.Key, toml.String:
 		return dec.createStringScalar(tomlNode)
@@ -241,81 +237,76 @@ func (dec *tomlDecoder) Decode() (*CandidateNode, error) {
 	// must have finished
 	dec.finished = true
 
-	if len(dec.rootMap.Node.Content) == 0 {
+	if len(dec.rootMap.Content) == 0 {
 		return nil, io.EOF
 	}
 
-	return &CandidateNode{
-		Node: &yaml.Node{
-			Kind:    yaml.DocumentNode,
-			Content: []*yaml.Node{dec.rootMap.Node},
-		},
-	}, deferredError
+	return dec.rootMap, deferredError
 
 }
 
 func (dec *tomlDecoder) processTopLevelNode(currentNode *toml.Node) (bool, error) {
 	var runAgainstCurrentExp bool
 	var err error
-	log.Debug("!!!!!!!!!!!!Going to process %v state is current %v", currentNode.Kind, NodeToString(dec.rootMap))
-	if currentNode.Kind == toml.Table {
-		runAgainstCurrentExp, err = dec.processTable((currentNode))
-	} else if currentNode.Kind == toml.ArrayTable {
-		runAgainstCurrentExp, err = dec.processArrayTable((currentNode))
-	} else {
+	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("!!!!!!!!!!!!DONE Processing state is now %v", NodeToString(dec.rootMap))
+	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("!!! processing table")
+	log.Debug("Enter processTable")
 	fullPath := dec.getFullPath(currentNode.Child())
-	log.Debug("!!!fullpath: %v", fullPath)
-
-	hasValue := dec.parser.NextExpression()
-	if !hasValue {
-		return false, fmt.Errorf("error retrieving table %v value: %w", fullPath, dec.parser.Error())
-	}
+	log.Debug("fullpath: %v", fullPath)
 
 	tableNodeValue := &CandidateNode{
-		Node: &yaml.Node{
-			Kind: yaml.MappingNode,
-			Tag:  "!!map",
-		},
+		Kind:    MappingNode,
+		Tag:     "!!map",
+		Content: make([]*CandidateNode, 0),
 	}
 
-	tableValue := dec.parser.Expression()
-	if tableValue.Kind != toml.KeyValue {
-		log.Debug("got an empty table, returning")
-		return true, nil
+	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
+		}
 	}
 
-	runAgainstCurrentExp, err := dec.decodeKeyValuesIntoMap(tableNodeValue, tableValue)
-	log.Debugf("table node err: %w", err)
-	if err != nil && !errors.Is(io.EOF, err) {
-		return false, err
-	}
 	c := Context{}
-
 	c = c.SingleChildContext(dec.rootMap)
-	err = dec.d.DeeplyAssign(c, fullPath, tableNodeValue.Node)
+	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 *yaml.Node) error {
+func (dec *tomlDecoder) arrayAppend(context Context, path []interface{}, rhsNode *CandidateNode) error {
+	log.Debug("arrayAppend to path: %v,%v", path, NodeToString(rhsNode))
 	rhsCandidateNode := &CandidateNode{
-		Path: path,
-		Node: &yaml.Node{
-			Kind:    yaml.SequenceNode,
-			Tag:     "!!seq",
-			Content: []*yaml.Node{rhsNode},
-		},
+		Kind:    SequenceNode,
+		Tag:     "!!seq",
+		Content: []*CandidateNode{rhsNode},
 	}
 
 	assignmentOp := &Operation{OperationType: addAssignOpType}
@@ -333,9 +324,9 @@ func (dec *tomlDecoder) arrayAppend(context Context, path []interface{}, rhsNode
 }
 
 func (dec *tomlDecoder) processArrayTable(currentNode *toml.Node) (bool, error) {
-	log.Debug("!!! processing table")
+	log.Debug("Entering processArrayTable")
 	fullPath := dec.getFullPath(currentNode.Child())
-	log.Debug("!!!fullpath: %v", fullPath)
+	log.Debug("Fullpath: %v", fullPath)
 
 	// need to use the array append exp to add another entry to
 	// this array: fullpath += [ thing ]
@@ -346,16 +337,14 @@ func (dec *tomlDecoder) processArrayTable(currentNode *toml.Node) (bool, error)
 	}
 
 	tableNodeValue := &CandidateNode{
-		Node: &yaml.Node{
-			Kind: yaml.MappingNode,
-			Tag:  "!!map",
-		},
+		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(io.EOF, err) {
+	if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, io.EOF) {
 		return false, err
 	}
 	c := Context{}
@@ -363,7 +352,7 @@ func (dec *tomlDecoder) processArrayTable(currentNode *toml.Node) (bool, error)
 	c = c.SingleChildContext(dec.rootMap)
 
 	// += function
-	err = dec.arrayAppend(c, fullPath, tableNodeValue.Node)
+	err = dec.arrayAppend(c, fullPath, tableNodeValue)
 
 	return runAgainstCurrentExp, err
 }

pkg/yqlib/decoder_uri.go

@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
+//go:build !yq_nouri
+
 package yqlib
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"io"
 	"net/url"
-
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 type uriDecoder struct {
@@ -50,11 +50,5 @@ func (dec *uriDecoder) Decode() (*CandidateNode, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	dec.readAnything = true
-	return &CandidateNode{
-		Node: &yaml.Node{
-			Kind:  yaml.ScalarNode,
-			Tag:   "!!str",
-			Value: newValue,
-		},
-	}, nil
+	return createStringScalarNode(newValue), nil
 }

pkg/yqlib/decoder_xml.go

@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import (
 	"unicode"
 
 	"golang.org/x/net/html/charset"
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
 type xmlDecoder struct {
@@ -36,14 +35,14 @@ 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
@@ -64,9 +63,9 @@ func (dec *xmlDecoder) processComment(c string) string {
 	return replacement
 }
 
-func (dec *xmlDecoder) createMap(n *xmlNode) (*yaml.Node, error) {
+func (dec *xmlDecoder) createMap(n *xmlNode) (*CandidateNode, error) {
 	log.Debug("createMap: headC: %v, lineC: %v, footC: %v", n.HeadComment, n.LineComment, n.FootComment)
-	yamlNode := &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.MappingNode, Tag: "!!map"}
+	yamlNode := &CandidateNode{Kind: MappingNode, Tag: "!!map"}
 
 	if len(n.Data) > 0 {
 		log.Debugf("creating content node for map: %v", dec.prefs.ContentName)
@@ -75,14 +74,14 @@ func (dec *xmlDecoder) createMap(n *xmlNode) (*yaml.Node, error) {
 		labelNode.HeadComment = dec.processComment(n.HeadComment)
 		labelNode.LineComment = dec.processComment(n.LineComment)
 		labelNode.FootComment = dec.processComment(n.FootComment)
-		yamlNode.Content = append(yamlNode.Content, labelNode, dec.createValueNodeFromData(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 {
@@ -120,32 +119,32 @@ func (dec *xmlDecoder) createMap(n *xmlNode) (*yaml.Node, error) {
 				return nil, err
 			}
 		}
-		yamlNode.Content = append(yamlNode.Content, labelNode, valueNode)
+		yamlNode.AddKeyValueChild(labelNode, valueNode)
 	}
 
 	return yamlNode, nil
 }
 
-func (dec *xmlDecoder) createValueNodeFromData(values []string) *yaml.Node {
+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([]*yaml.Node, 0)
+		content := make([]*CandidateNode, 0)
 		for _, value := range values {
 			content = append(content, createScalarNode(value, value))
 		}
-		return &yaml.Node{
-			Kind:    yaml.SequenceNode,
+		return &CandidateNode{
+			Kind:    SequenceNode,
 			Tag:     "!!seq",
 			Content: content,
 		}
 	}
 }
 
-func (dec *xmlDecoder) convertToYamlNode(n *xmlNode) (*yaml.Node, error) {
+func (dec *xmlDecoder) convertToYamlNode(n *xmlNode) (*CandidateNode, error) {
 	if len(n.Children) > 0 {
 		return dec.createMap(n)
 	}
@@ -189,12 +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 {
@@ -305,6 +299,10 @@ func (dec *xmlDecoder) decodeXML(root *xmlNode) error {
 				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
@@ -317,13 +315,14 @@ 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 = joinComments([]string{elem.n.LineComment, commentStr}, " ")
-			} else {
+			default:
 				log.Debug("got a head comment for (%v) %v: [%v]", elem.state, elem.label, commentStr)
 				elem.n.HeadComment = joinComments([]string{elem.n.HeadComment, commentStr}, " ")
 			}

pkg/yqlib/decoder_yaml.go

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"regexp"
 	"strings"
 
-	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
+	yaml "go.yaml.in/yaml/v3"
 )
 
 type yamlDecoder struct {
@@ -20,8 +20,12 @@ type yamlDecoder struct {
 	leadingContent string
 	bufferRead     bytes.Buffer
 
-	readAnything bool
-	firstFile    bool
+	// anchor map persists over multiple documents for convenience.
+	anchorMap map[string]*CandidateNode
+
+	readAnything  bool
+	firstFile     bool
+	documentIndex uint
 }
 
 func NewYamlDecoder(prefs YamlPreferences) Decoder {
@@ -33,7 +37,7 @@ func (dec *yamlDecoder) processReadStream(reader *bufio.Reader) (io.Reader, stri
 	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
@@ -47,7 +51,15 @@ func (dec *yamlDecoder) processReadStream(reader *bufio.Reader) (io.Reader, stri
 			} else if err != nil {
 				return reader, sb.String(), err
 			}
-		} else if 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) {
@@ -93,12 +105,15 @@ func (dec *yamlDecoder) Init(reader io.Reader) error {
 	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
-	err := dec.decoder.Decode(&dataBucket)
+	var yamlNode yaml.Node
+	err := dec.decoder.Decode(&yamlNode)
+
 	if errors.Is(err, io.EOF) && dec.leadingContent != "" && !dec.readAnything {
 		// force returning an empty node with a comment.
 		dec.readAnything = true
@@ -116,28 +131,27 @@ func (dec *yamlDecoder) Decode() (*CandidateNode, error) {
 		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 = ""
 	}
 	dec.readAnything = true
-	// move document comments into candidate node
-	// otherwise unwrap drops them.
-	candidateNode.TrailingContent = dataBucket.FootComment
-	dataBucket.FootComment = ""
-	return candidateNode, nil
+	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/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/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
 

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

@@ -187,7 +187,6 @@ yq '. head_comment="single"' sample.yml
 will output
 ```yaml
 # single
-
 a: cat
 ```
 

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

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

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/document-index.md

@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ will output
 ```yaml
 match: cat
 doc: 0
+---
 match: frog
 doc: 1
 ```

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/entries.md

@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 Similar to the same named functions in `jq` these functions convert to/from an object and an array of key-value pairs. This is most useful for performing operations on keys of maps.
 
+Use `with_entries(op)` as a syntactic sugar for doing `to_entries | op | from_entries`.
+
 ## to_entries Map
 Given a sample.yml file of:
 ```yaml
@@ -101,6 +103,28 @@ KEY_a: 1
 KEY_b: 2
 ```
 
+## Use with_entries to update keys recursively
+We use (.. | select(tag="map")) to find all the maps in the doc, then |= to update each one of those maps. In the update, with_entries is used.
+
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+a: 1
+b:
+  b_a: nested
+  b_b: thing
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq '(.. | select(tag=="!!map")) |= with_entries(.key |= "KEY_" + .)' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+KEY_a: 1
+KEY_b:
+  KEY_b_a: nested
+  KEY_b_b: thing
+```
+
 ## Custom sort map keys
 Use to_entries to convert to an array of key/value pairs, sort the array using sort/sort_by/etc, and convert it back.
 

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

@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@ yq eval-all 'file_index' sample.yml another.yml
 will output
 ```yaml
 0
----
 1
 ```
 

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/Main.md

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # NAME
-  *yq* is a portable command-line YAML processor
+  *yq* is a portable command-line data file processor
 
 # SYNOPSIS 
 
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ eval-all/ea - Loads all yaml documents of all yaml files and runs expression onc
 
 # DESCRIPTION
 
-a lightweight and portable command-line YAML processor. `yq` uses [jq](https://github.com/stedolan/jq) like syntax but works with yaml files as well as json. 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 data file processor. `yq` uses [jq](https://github.com/stedolan/jq) like syntax but works with yaml, json, xml, csv, properties and TOML files. It doesn't yet support everything `jq` does - but it does support the most common operations and functions, and more is being added continuously.
 
 This documentation is also available at https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/
 # QUICK GUIDE 

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/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
 

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/column.md

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 # Column
 
 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.

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/entries.md

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 # Entries
 
 Similar to the same named functions in `jq` these functions convert to/from an object and an array of key-value pairs. This is most useful for performing operations on keys of maps.
+
+Use `with_entries(op)` as a syntactic sugar for doing `to_entries | op | from_entries`.

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/kind.md

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# Kind
+
+The `kind` operator identifies the type of a node as either `scalar`, `map`, or `seq`.
+
+This can be used for filtering or transforming nodes based on their type.
+
+Note that `null` values are treated as `scalar`.

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/max.md

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# Max
+
+Computes the maximum among an incoming sequence of scalar values.

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/min.md

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# Min
+
+Computes the minimum among an incoming sequence of scalar values.

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/multiply-merge.md

@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@
 Like the multiple operator in jq, depending on the operands, this multiply operator will do different things. Currently numbers, arrays and objects are supported.
 
 ## Objects and arrays - merging
-Objects are merged deeply matching on matching keys. By default, array values override and are not deeply merged.
+Objects are merged _deeply_ matching on matching keys. By default, array values override and are not deeply merged.
+
+You can use the add operator `+`, to shallow merge objects, see more info [here](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/operators/add).
 
 Note that when merging objects, this operator returns the merged object (not the parent). This will be clearer in the examples below.
 
@@ -16,6 +18,7 @@ You can control how objects are merged by using one or more of the following fla
 - `n` only merge _new_ fields
 - `c` clobber custom tags
 
+To perform a shallow merge only, use the add operator `+`, see more info [here](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/operators/add).
 
 ### Merge two files together
 This uses the load operator to merge file2 into file1.

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/omit.md

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# Omit
+
+Works like `pick`, but instead you specify the keys/indices that you _don't_ want included.

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/pivot.md

@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# Pivot
+
+Emulates the `PIVOT` function supported by several popular RDBMS systems.

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/slice-array.md

@@ -2,4 +2,4 @@
 
 The slice array operator takes an array as input and returns a subarray. Like the `jq` equivalent, `.[10:15]` will return an array of length 5, starting from index 10 inclusive, up to index 15 exclusive. Negative numbers count backwards from the end of the array.
 
-You may leave out the first or second number, which will will refer to the start or end of the array respectively.
+You may leave out the first or second number, which will refer to the start or end of the array respectively.

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/sort-keys.md

@@ -12,5 +12,5 @@ diff file1.yml file2.yml
 
 Note that `yq` does not yet consider anchors when sorting by keys - this may result in invalid yaml documents if you are using merge anchors.
 
-For more advanced sorting, using `to_entries` to convert the map to an array, then sort/process the array as you like (e.g. using `sort_by`) and convert back to a map using `from_entries`.
-See [here](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/operators/entries#custom-sort-map-keys) for an example. 
+For more advanced sorting, you can use the [sort_by](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/operators/sort) function on a map, and give it a custom function like `sort_by(key | downcase)`.
+

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/string-operators.md

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 ## RegEx
 This uses Golang's native regex functions under the hood - See their [docs](https://github.com/google/re2/wiki/Syntax) for the supported syntax.
 
-Case insensitive tip: prefix the regex with `(?i)` - e.g. `test("(?i)cats)"`.
+Case insensitive tip: prefix the regex with `(?i)` - e.g. `test("(?i)cats")`.
 
 ### match(regEx)
 This operator returns the substring match details of the given regEx.

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/style.md

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 # Style
 
-The style operator can be used to get or set the style of nodes (e.g. string style, yaml style)
+The style operator can be used to get or set the style of nodes (e.g. string style, yaml style).
+Use this to control the formatting of the document in yaml.
+

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/kind.md

@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+# Kind
+
+The `kind` operator identifies the type of a node as either `scalar`, `map`, or `seq`.
+
+This can be used for filtering or transforming nodes based on their type.
+
+Note that `null` values are treated as `scalar`.
 
 ## Get kind
 Given a sample.yml file of:

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/max.md

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+# Max
+
+Computes the maximum among an incoming sequence of scalar values.
+
+## Maximum int
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- 99
+- 16
+- 12
+- 6
+- 66
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'max' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+99
+```
+
+## Maximum string
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- foo
+- bar
+- baz
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'max' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+foo
+```
+
+## Maximum of empty
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+[]
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'max' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+```
+

pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/min.md

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+# Min
+
+Computes the minimum among an incoming sequence of scalar values.
+
+## Minimum int
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- 99
+- 16
+- 12
+- 6
+- 66
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'min' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+6
+```
+
+## Minimum string
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- foo
+- bar
+- baz
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'min' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+bar
+```
+
+## Minimum of empty
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+[]
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq 'min' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+```
+