ini

What is ini?

The ini npm package is used for parsing .ini files and converting objects to .ini format. It provides a simple interface for working with INI configuration files, which are often used for storing settings in a structured yet readable format. This package allows for easy reading, writing, and manipulation of INI files.

What are ini's main functionalities?

Parse INI string

This feature allows you to parse a string in INI format and convert it into a JavaScript object. The example demonstrates parsing a simple INI formatted string.

"const ini = require('ini');\nconst config = ini.parse('[section]\na=1\nb=2');\nconsole.log(config); // { section: { a: '1', b: '2' } }"

Stringify an object to INI format

This feature converts a JavaScript object into a string in INI format. The example shows how to convert an object with nested properties into an INI formatted string.

"const ini = require('ini');\nconst obj = { section: { a: '1', b: '2' } };\nconst str = ini.stringify(obj);\nconsole.log(str); // '[section]\na=1\nb=2'"

Other packages similar to ini

dotenv

dotenv is a package that loads environment variables from a .env file into process.env. While it serves a different purpose by focusing on environment variables, it shares the concept of managing configuration through a file. Unlike ini, dotenv does not support sections or nested properties.

rc

rc is a configuration package that reads properties from multiple sources, including INI files, environment variables, and command-line arguments. It offers more flexibility in configuration management compared to ini by aggregating settings from various sources, but it might be more complex to use for simple INI file parsing and writing.

config

config is a more comprehensive configuration management solution that supports multiple file formats, including JSON, YAML, and JavaScript. It is designed for organizing hierarchical configurations for app deployments. While it provides more features and supports more formats than ini, it might be overkill for simple INI file tasks.

README

An ini format parser and serializer for node.

Sections are treated as nested objects. Items before the first heading are saved on the object directly.