# JSON Config Loader

> Configuration file parsing patterns for bash scripts (INI, key=value, JSON)

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

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# Json Config Loader

## When to Use This Skill

✅ **Use when:**
- Loading configuration from files into bash scripts
- Parsing key=value or INI-style configuration files
- Working with JSON data using jq
- Generating JSON reports from bash
- Managing configuration with associative arrays

❌ **Avoid when:**
- Complex nested configuration (consider Python instead)
- Real-time configuration changes (use a daemon)
- Configuration with complex validation rules

## Complete Example: Config Manager

Full configuration management with multiple formats:

```bash
#!/bin/bash
# ABOUTME: Universal configuration manager
# ABOUTME: Supports key=value, JSON, and environment overrides

set -e

# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
# Configuration Storage
# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

declare -A CONFIG
CONFIG_FILE=""
CONFIG_FORMAT=""

# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
# Format Detection
# ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

detect_format() {
    local file="$1"

    case "${file##*.}" in

*See sub-skills for full details.*

## Resources

- [jq Manual](https://stedolan.github.io/jq/manual/)
- [yq Documentation](https://mikefarah.gitbook.io/yq/)
- [Bash Associative Arrays](https://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/html_node/Arrays.html)

---

## Version History

- **1.0.0** (2026-01-14): Initial release - extracted from workspace-hub configuration scripts

## Sub-Skills

- [1. Key=Value Configuration Parsing (+1)](1-keyvalue-configuration-parsing/SKILL.md)
- [3. JSON Report Generation](3-json-report-generation/SKILL.md)
- [4. Multi-Section INI Parsing](4-multi-section-ini-parsing/SKILL.md)
- [5. Environment Variable Configuration](5-environment-variable-configuration/SKILL.md)
- [6. YAML Configuration (via yq)](6-yaml-configuration-via-yq/SKILL.md)
- [1. Always Provide Defaults (+4)](1-always-provide-defaults/SKILL.md)