[Zope3-dev] RFC: Use ConfigParser for High-Level Configuration

[Jim Fulton]

Dieter Maurer wrote:
> Jim Fulton wrote at 2006-3-11 18:03 -0500:
> 
>>...
>>Where is this documented?
> 
> 
> I do not know. I saw a feature description in the mailing list.
> Fred and Tres (the authors) should be able to tell you whether
> there is a formal documentation and where you can find it.
> 
> 
>>Let's pursue this a bit.
>>
>>Would it be possible to write a configuration file that loaded
>>it's own schemas?
> 
> 
> Yes -- with some restrictions: as I described in my previous mail.
> 
>   The feature essentially works as follows:
> 
>      You have an abstract section type in your primary
>      schema, usually usable in a multisection.
> 
>        Examples: ZServer server, ZODB storage, the general extension
>        abstract section type
> 
>      In your module/package, you define your own section type
>      implementing the abstract section type in its "component.xml".
>      You are completely free in its keys and subsections.
> 
>      In the configuration file, you import your module/package (which
>      makes available the definitions in its "component.xml") and
>      instantiate one or more of the section types defined there.
> 
>      Your application/module looks for the sections of "its" type
>      and uses them.
> 
>   The restriction: you cannot have new keys on the top level -- all
>   must be nested in a section type defined by your "component.xml".
>   But, this, I consider an advantage (ZConfig here behave similar
>   to a "ConfigParser" approach).

So the example I gave won't work.  In a schema, I have to have an
abstract type for each thing I might want to add.  But I don't know what
I want to add.  This doesn't sound very extensible.

I can't fathom the ZConfig documentation so I don't really know what
an abstract type is.  I don't know how restrictive it has to be.
Can I define an abstract type that matched anything?
Can I define a schema that just defines an abstract type that
matches anything?

Jim

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