# YAML Config

> Use this skill when reading or writing YAML configuration files, loading vehicle parameters, or handling config file parsing with proper error handling.

- Skill: `tomevault-io/yaml-config` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add tomevault-io/yaml-config`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/tomevault-io/yaml-config/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: tomevault-io (https://skillmd.com/u/tomevault-io)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/tomevault-io/yaml-config

---


# YAML Configuration Files

## Reading YAML

Always use `safe_load` to prevent code execution vulnerabilities:

```python
import yaml

with open('config.yaml', 'r') as f:
    config = yaml.safe_load(f)

# Access nested values
value = config['section']['key']
```

## Writing YAML

```python
import yaml

data = {
    'settings': {
        'param1': 1.5,
        'param2': 0.1
    }
}

with open('output.yaml', 'w') as f:
    yaml.dump(data, f, default_flow_style=False, sort_keys=False)
```

## Options

- `default_flow_style=False`: Use block style (readable)
- `sort_keys=False`: Preserve insertion order
- `allow_unicode=True`: Support unicode characters

## Error Handling

```python
import yaml

try:
    with open('config.yaml', 'r') as f:
        config = yaml.safe_load(f)
except FileNotFoundError:
    config = {}  # Use defaults
except yaml.YAMLError as e:
    print(f"YAML parse error: {e}")
    config = {}
```

## Optional Config Loading

```python
import os
import yaml

def load_config(filepath, defaults=None):
    """Load config file, return defaults if missing."""
    if defaults is None:
        defaults = {}

    if not os.path.exists(filepath):
        return defaults

    with open(filepath, 'r') as f:
        loaded = yaml.safe_load(f) or {}

    # Merge loaded values over defaults
    result = defaults.copy()
    result.update(loaded)
    return result
```

---
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<!-- tomevault:4.0:skill_md:2026-04-11 -->