How to Load a YAML Subset in Python Without PyYAML

import re
from pathlib import Path

def load_yaml_subset(path):
    """Load a flat YAML file (key: value) without external dependencies."""
    data = {}
    with open(path, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
        for line in f:
            # Skip empty lines and comments
            line = line.strip()
            if not line or line.startswith('#'):
                continue
            # Split on first colon followed by space
            match = re.match(r'^([^:#]+):\s*(.*)$', line)
            if match:
                key, value = match.groups()
                # Remove inline comments
                value = value.split(' #')[0].strip()
                # Strip surrounding quotes
                if len(value) >= 2 and value[0] == value[-1] and value[0] in ('"', "'"):
                    value = value[1:-1]
                data[key.strip()] = value
    return data

if __name__ == "__main__":
    test_file = Path("test_config.yaml")
    test_file.write_text(
        "# Sample configuration\n"
        "name: MyApp\n"
        "version: \"1.2.3\"  # release\n"
        "debug: false\n"
        "server:\n"
        "  port: 8080\n"
    )
    result = load_yaml_subset(test_file)
    print(result)
    test_file.unlink()