I have a script that I'm attempting to generalize to the most general generalization :) In order to make my script as extensible and configurable as possible I've turned to an external config file to set up some data structures, general variables, etc. I originally skimmed CPAN and found a couple of modules that looked applicable, but after taking a look at them decided to just parse the file myself. All fine and good, but now I'm getting to the point where its becoming unmanageable, and it's exhausting my parsing skills ;).

The question: What is the best-practice out there for parsing a complex configuration file? I'm talking some nastily complex nested configuration directives with options dependant on other options, repeating blocks of "elements", etc.

A couple of points:

• After staring at the config file for a while, it's almost looking like XML... am I out of my gourd for thinking of making a config file in XML and using the XML parsers out there to parse it for me?
• Are the config file modules out there actually usable?
• What do you use?

Please spare some brain power here and I'll lend you mine when you need it :)
thx,
-r0

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