Serious question - why not just use python?
For example, something like: "this number is be between 1 and 10" means you have to come up with a novel way to add validation, because it isn't built into the language.
Also, Pkl is meant to be usable everywhere. General purpose languages tend to be tied to their own ecosystem--imagine telling a Go developer that they need to install Python, set up virtualenv, and run pip install so they can configure their application. We'd like Pkl to be a simple tool that can be brought anywhere, and easily integrated into any system.
No need for a novel mechanism - there are plenty of available solutions to add validation to python
> imagine telling a Go developer that they need to install Python
Pkl doesn't come preinstalled on machines - so you'll have to install it as well
> set up virtualenv, and run pip install so they can configure their application
This is the real friction point, but is it a bigger friction point than having to adopt yet another DSL?
Yesterday, I created a virtualenv, then ran `pip install`, only to see it fail. I found out that even `pip --version` was failing. I discovered that running `python -m ensurepip --upgrade` would fix pip. It did fix pip, but `pip install` still didn't work properly. I figured out that pip was reporting a different version of python than the one virtualenv is using. Running `python -m pip install --upgrade pip` upgraded pip, which should have been accomplished with the previous ensurepip command. Finally, everything was working properly.
I experienced these problems after years of experience in python. To answer the question. Yes, it's worth adopting yet another DSL than using python.
For all the flak python gets, dependency setup is pretty simple if you're not flailing around aimlessly
python3.12 -m venv --copies --clear --upgrade-deps ".venv"
source ".venv/bin/activate"
python -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel
python -m pip install --editable .And to think "There should be one-- and preferably only one --obvious way to do it." is in the Zen of Python...
What novel way to add validation in python?
I'm also incredibly high.
Have a look at PEP 20 – The Zen of Python.
Python is actually horrible at following it, Go doing a much better job.
Edit: and moreover, you probably do not want config files that can run arbitrary code with full access to the Python standard library.
* It's been dragged into static typing kicking and screaming.
* You import the whole Python infrastructure/packaging catastrophe.
* It's not sandboxed.
If you wanted something Python-like you would you Starlark.
This looks very easy. I'd be more hesitant about Dhall or Nix (though obviously Nix comes with even bigger benefits so it might be worth the awkward language).