textK4

textK4 is a data serialization language designed for human-readable configuration and data interchange. It aims to combine the clarity of plain text with structured expressivity, providing an approachable alternative to more complex formats. The language emphasizes predictable parsing, small runtime requirements, and broad portability across programming languages and platforms.

Origin and design: textK4 was developed by the K4 Initiative, a collaborative effort among open-source developers and researchers. The initial specification appeared in the mid-2010s, with subsequent revisions that refined syntax rules, clarified edge cases, and expanded library support. The project positions textK4 as a practical, readable option for both configuration files and lightweight data payloads.

Data model and syntax: textK4 represents data as hierarchical structures using indentation to denote nesting. Mappings use key: value pairs, while sequences employ leading dashes. Strings can be unquoted for simple content or quoted to preserve special characters; multi-line strings are supported using literal indicators. The format includes comments, anchors and aliases for reuse, and optional type tags (for example !str, !int) to guide parsing and validation. It supports schemas for validation and tooling integration.

Parsers and implementations: Several language implementations exist, prioritizing deterministic parsing and low memory usage. textK4 parsers typically support streaming input, enabling processing of large files without loading them entirely into memory. The ecosystem emphasizes consistent error reporting and cross-version compatibility.

Usage and reception: textK4 is used in configuration management, documentation, and lightweight data exchange in various projects. Proponents argue that its readability and stable parsing model reduce common configuration errors, while critics note that it has a smaller ecosystem and fewer battle-tested libraries than more established formats.

See also: YAML, JSON, TOML, XML. References: Official textK4 specification and implementation repositories.