Company
Date Published
Author
Adam Gordon Bell
Word count
1802
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

The article critically examines the limitations and complexities of using YAML in CI/CD pipelines, particularly when it is employed to manage code execution and conditionals rather than simple configurations. Initially, YAML was praised for its simplicity compared to XML, but its application has become cumbersome as it is increasingly used to define complex workflows akin to programming languages. The author argues that while YAML is suitable for declarative configurations, it is less effective when used to define program logic, suggesting that traditional programming languages or custom parsers might be more appropriate for such tasks. The piece highlights how tools like Earthly can simplify build processes by avoiding the intricacies of YAML, advocating for the use of more robust and intuitive tools for software development and deployment.