Is YAML evil? - How do we maintain good dev habits in modern YAML pipeline development

• YAML taking over everything in DevOps, not sure if that is a good thing
• The only way to test YAML (Pipelines, Infrastructure) is to launch it
• Round tripping YAML is impossible (for general case)
• A lot of YAML is procedural, so why not use a procedural programming language
• Lack of type information is an issue
• Good for simple configuration
• Has lots of features that compete with each other (multi-line strings)
• Has a lot of features, advanced stuff that no one uses, yet lacks the stuff we need
• Easy to get started with
• Traits of a replacement of YAML designed by the CITCON committee:
  • Non whitespace significant
  • Textual