configdict: parse INI files into Python dictionaries

configdict parses INI-style configuration files into Python dictionaries. Given a file like this:

[DEFAULT]

in stock = yes

[widgets]

price = 110.00
size = large

options = this \
        that \
        and \
        the other thing

You can do this:

>>> import configdict
>>> cf = configdict.ConfigDict('sample.conf')

And get this:

>>> import pprint
>>> pprint.pprint(cf)
{'DEFAULT': {'in stock': 'yes'},
 '__GLOBAL__': {},
 'widgets': {'options': 'this that and the other thing',
             'price': '110.00',
             'size': 'large'}}

And do this:

>>> print cf['widgets']['in stock']
yes

editini script

The editini script included in recent versions of configdict allows you to edit ini-style configuration files "on the fly". The script supports the following options:

-g GROUP, --group=GROUP -v VALUE, --value=VALUE -d DELETE, --delete=DELETE -D, --delete-group

These options allow you to add, modify, or remote items from a configuration file. For example, you can do this:

$ editini -g widgets \
  -v 'comment=These are great!' \
  -d options < sample.conf

And get this:

[DEFAULT]
in stock = yes

[widgets]
comment = These are great!
price = 110.00
size = large

Or you delete entire sections:

$ editini -g widgets -D < sample.conf [DEFAULT] in stock = yes