# YAML, JSON and Configuration Formats

> Master the foundational data serialization formats used in modern DevOps, cloud infrastructure, and security tooling.

Canonical: https://codelivly.com/rooms/yaml-json-and-configuration-formats
Last updated: 2026-10-26

| | |
|---|---|
| Level | Beginner |
| Category | Cybersecurity |
| Lessons | 5 |
| Estimated time | 30 min |
| XP | 100 |

This module demystifies the data formats that power modern infrastructure. You will learn how to read, write, validate, and parse JSON and YAML, the universal languages of cloud configuration, CI/CD pipelines, and security policies. We will explore the strict syntax rules, common pitfalls (like YAML's notorious indentation and type inference quirks), and how to safely manipulate these files using command-line tools like jq and yq, as well as Python. The module culminates in a hands-on guided lab where you will validate, parse, and securely update a complex, Kubernetes-style configuration file.

## Lessons

1. What Are Configuration Formats and Why Do They Matter (30 min)
2. YAML Syntax and Common Pitfalls (30 min)
3. Validating and Linting Config Files (yamllint, jq) (30 min)
4. Templating Configuration with Variables (30 min)
5. Guided Lab: Writing and Validating a Pipeline-Style YAML Config (30 min)

## Related

- [Learning path: Software Development and Git Fundamentals](https://codelivly.com/learning-paths/software-development-and-git-fundamentals)
- [All rooms](https://codelivly.com/rooms)