Syntax & config model

This page walks the engine's capabilities. Each is complete unless explicitly marked as a documented deferral.

Lexer & parser

Unquoted keys and strings, = / :, optional commas and root braces, # and // comments, dotted-path keys, triple-quoted strings and unicode escapes — the full HOCON surface over JSON.

Merging & concatenation

Deep object merge of duplicate keys, array and value concatenation, and += self-append, applied as the tree is built.

Substitutions

${path} and optional ${?path} substitutions with environment fallback and self-reference, resolved after the whole tree is assembled.

Includes & environment seams

include directives and environment lookups run through injectable WithIncludeResolver / WithEnv seams — no filesystem or process environment needed, in production or in tests.

Typed access & rendering

GetString / GetInt / GetFloat / GetBool / GetDuration / GetBytes / GetList / GetObject / GetOrElse / HasPath over dotted paths, WithFallback, and Render back to HOCON or JSON.