Question 1

How do I update a YAML file in place with yq without losing format?

Accepted Answer

Use the -i flag, like 'yq -i '.key = "value"' file.yaml'. However, note that yq may not perfectly preserve comments or whitespace in all cases, so test with backups first.

Question 2

What's the difference between yq and jq?

Accepted Answer

yq extends jq's syntax to support multiple formats like YAML and XML, but it lacks some advanced jq features. jq is better for complex JSON streaming, while yq excels in multi-format configuration management.

Question 3

How to convert JSON to YAML using yq?

Accepted Answer

Run 'yq -o yaml file.json' or 'yq -Poy file.json' for pretty-printed output. The -o flag specifies the output format, and -P enables pretty printing.

Question 4

Does yq support XML processing?

Accepted Answer

Yes, use '-p xml' for input or '-o xml' for output, as shown in the README examples for converting XML to YAML or querying XML files with jq-like expressions.

Question 5

How to install yq on Linux without package managers?

Accepted Answer

Download the binary directly with wget, e.g., 'wget https://github.com/mikefarah/yq/releases/latest/download/yq_linux_amd64 -O /usr/local/bin/yq && chmod +x /usr/local/bin/yq' as per the installation guide.

Question 6

Can yq merge multiple YAML files into one?

Accepted Answer

Yes, use commands like 'yq -n 'load("file1.yaml") * load("file2.yaml")'' for simple merges, or 'yq ea' with glob patterns for more complex scenarios, though the syntax can be tricky.

yq

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