The article discusses the challenges of configuration systems evolving into complex, ad-hoc programming languages, and presents Rye as a solution for embedding a controlled scripting environment in Go applications. It demonstrates how Rye allows for programmable whitelist-based configurations through a practical example of a Markdown-serving web server. The approach offers a middle ground between rigid configuration formats and full programming languages, enabling safe and flexible configuration while maintaining security boundaries.
Background
Configuration systems often start simple but tend to grow in complexity, leading to the implementation of ad-hoc programming languages within configuration files. This phenomenon is known as Greenspun's Tenth Rule, which states that any sufficiently complicated program contains an ad-hoc implementation of half a programming language.
- Source
- Lobsters
- Published
- May 11, 2026 at 06:57 PM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10