CHSL (Chethana's Human-readable Simple Language)

The configuration language designed for humans, not parsers.

CHSL is a lightweight, strictly-typed, and highly readable configuration language. It was built from the ground up to be as simple and predictable as possible for humans to read and write.

Official File Extension: All CHSL configuration files should use the .chsl extension (e.g., config.chsl).

Why use CHSL?

1. No quotes, no syntax headaches — just write your values naturally and CHSL figures out the type automatically.
2. Comments that actually work — document your config files properly with NOTE: so future you knows why something is set.
3. Secrets done right — pull API keys and passwords directly from the operating system with COPY_ENV. If the secret is missing, it crashes immediately before anything goes wrong.
4. Write once, reuse anywhere — the COPY system lets you define a value once and reference it everywhere. Change it in one place, it updates everywhere.
5. Readable multi-line text — write long text blocks with numbered lines instead of cramming everything into one unreadable line.
6. Protect special strings with PIN — passwords, zip codes, and ID numbers that look like numbers stay exactly as you wrote them.
7. Split big configs into smaller files — use LOAD to break massive configuration files into clean, logical chunks.
8. Never lose track of nesting — the 0Group0 bracket system makes it visually impossible to lose track of which scope you're in, no matter how deep.
9. Short or long arrays, your choice — write quick inline arrays with ARE or detailed bullet lists with # depending on what's more readable.
10. Built-in safety — circular file dependencies and directory traversal attacks are blocked at the language level, not the application level.

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Features & Syntax

1. Variables and Data Types

No quotes are required. CHSL automatically understands text, numbers, booleans (YES/NO), and empty values.

NOTE: This is a comment.
server_name = Oxide Main Server
is_active = YES
api_token = EMPTY

2. The PIN System (Strict Text)

Keep leading zeros on passwords, phone numbers, or ZIP codes by using PIN.

admin_password = PIN 0042

(Parsed as the exact string "0042", not the number 42)

3. Arrays in CHSL (Two Ways)

CHSL provides two ways to write lists, designed for different situations.

Method A: Smart Lists (The # bullet points)

• Best for: Long lists, or strings that naturally contain spaces and commas.

allowed_ports =
#8080
#8081
#PIN 0021

Method B: Inline Arrays (The ARE keyword)

• Best for: Short, simple data on a single line.
• Note: Commas strictly separate items. If your text naturally contains spaces or commas, use Method A (# bullet lists) instead. If you use Smith_John to avoid spaces, it will be parsed literally as "Smith_John".

0Users0
name ARE Alice, Bob, Charlie
age ARE 30, EMPTY, 25

4. Explicit Multi-line Text (Paragraphs)

Write multi-line text naturally using explicit, numbered lines.

welcome_message = LINE
1 = Hello there!
2 = Welcome to the server.

5. Infinite, Explicit Nesting

CHSL uses numbered headers to change the current group scope. You don't need closing tags; declaring a new group automatically shifts the level.

0Network0
bind_ip = 192.168.1.1

  1Access1
  block_guest = YES

0Database0
port = 5432

6. DRY Configs (The COPY System)

Don't repeat yourself. CHSL allows you to copy values from other keys in the file.

active_port = 8080
backup_port = COPY active_port

7. Native OS Secrets

Never hardcode API keys in your config files again. CHSL securely pulls secrets directly from the operating system environment.

stripe_api_key = COPY_ENV STRIPE_SECRET_KEY

8. Modularity (File Loading)

Split massive configuration files into smaller chunks. Circular dependency detection and directory traversal protection are built-in automatically.

LOAD weapons.chsl

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Usage

CHSL provides perfect compatibility across Python and JavaScript (Node.js).

Python (Install via PyPI)

pip install chsl-lang

from chsl import parse_chsl_file, write_chsl_file

config = parse_chsl_file("settings.chsl")
write_chsl_file(config, "new_settings.chsl")

JavaScript / Node.js (Install via npm)

npm install @kcvabeysinghe/chsl

const CHSL = require('@kcvabeysinghe/chsl');

const config = CHSL.parseCHSLFile('settings.chsl');
CHSL.writeCHSLFile(config, 'new_settings.chsl');

🚀 How to Use in Your Code

Once installed, it takes just two lines to load a .chsl file into a native dictionary or object.

Python

import chsl

config = chsl.parse_chsl_file("config.chsl")

print(config["Server"]["port"])   # 8080
print(config["Server"]["active"]) # True

JavaScript / Node.js

const chsl = require('@kcvabeysinghe/chsl');

const config = chsl.parseCHSLFile('config.chsl');

console.log(config.Server.port);   // 8080
console.log(config.Server.active); // true

🤝 Contributing & Language Ports

CHSL currently supports Python and JavaScript, but our ultimate goal is to bring human-readable config files to every programming language.

Are you a Rust developer? A Go expert? A Java wizard? We want you! Check out our Contributing Guide to see how you can help build an official CHSL engine for your favorite language.