Dasel: A Universal CLI Tool for Data Selection and Transformation

Introduction

Dasel, short for Data-Select, is a versatile command-line tool and Go library that simplifies querying, modifying, and transforming structured data. It supports a wide array of formats including JSON, YAML, TOML, XML, and CSV, offering a unified and powerful syntax for interacting with your data. Whether you need to extract specific values, update configurations, or convert data between different formats, Dasel provides an efficient solution.

Installation

Getting started with Dasel is straightforward. You can install it using popular package managers or directly from source.

Homebrew (macOS/Linux)

brew install dasel

Go Install

go install github.com/tomwright/dasel/v3/cmd/dasel@master

For more installation options, including prebuilt binaries, please refer to the official documentation.

Examples

Dasel's intuitive syntax makes common data manipulation tasks simple. Here are a few examples:

Selecting Values

echo '{"foo": {"bar": "baz"}}' | dasel -i json 'foo.bar'
# Output: "baz"

Modifying Values

echo '{"foo": {"bar": "baz"}}' | dasel -i json --root 'foo.bar = "bong"'
# Output:
{
  "foo": {
    "bar": "bong"
  }
}

Format Conversion

cat data.json | dasel -i json -o yaml

Recursive Descent (..)

echo '{"foo": {"bar": "baz"}}' | dasel -i json '..bar'
# Output:
[
    "baz"
]

Search (search)

echo '{"foo": {"bar": "baz"}}' | dasel -i json 'search(bar == "baz")'
# Output:
[
    {
        "bar": "baz"
    }
]

Why Use Dasel?

Dasel stands out due to its comprehensive feature set and ease of use. Its multi-format support means you only need one tool for various data types, simplifying your workflow. The unified query syntax ensures consistency, reducing the learning curve. It's highly script-friendly, making it ideal for automation in shell scripts and CI/CD pipelines. Furthermore, its availability as a Go package allows developers to integrate its powerful capabilities directly into their Go applications.

Links

Find more information and contribute to Dasel:

• GitHub Repository
• Official Documentation
• License (MIT)