Draft PEP on RSON configuration file format

[Daniel Fetchinson]

>> > But you are working on a solution in search of a problem.  The really
>> > smart thing to do would be pick something more useful to work on.  We
>> > don't need another configuration language.  I can't even say "yet
>> > another" because there's already a "yet another" called yaml.
>>
>> And in case you are new here let me assure you that Paul is saying
>> this with his full intention of being helpful to you. I also would
>> think that working on such a project might be fun and educational for
>> you but completely useless if you have users other than yourself in
>> mind. Again, I'm trying to be helpful here, so you can focus on a
>> project that is both fun/educational for you and also potentially
>> useful for others. This RSON business is not one of them.
>
> OK, but I am a bit unclear on what you and/or Paul are claiming.  It
> could be one of a number of things.  For example:
>
> - There is a preexisting file format suitable for my needs, so I
> should not invent another one.

I suspect this to be true, if we mean the same thing by "configuration
file format". Especially if RSON will be a superset of JSON.

> - If I invent a file format suitable for my needs, it couldn't
> possibly be general enough for anybody else.

Quite possibly, the reason is that the already existing file formats
have an ecosystem around them that make them attractive. Your file
format will have to cope with this barrier to attract new users which
I think will be very difficult, given the wide range of already
existing formats, covering just about any use case.

> - Even if it was general enough for somebody else, there would only be
> two of them.

See above.

> I've been known to waste time (or be accused of wasting time) on
> various endeavors, but I like to know exactly *why* it is perceived to
> be a waste.

Don't get me wrong, I also waste lot of time on hobby/fun/educational
projects ("waste" in this case is only meant as "useless for others",
not "useless for me") because it's, well, hobby and fun and
educational :) It's just good to know if a given project is in this
category or outside.

Cheers,
Daniel



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