# Mojo-ini v0.2.0 - Native INI Parser (Initial release)

**URL:** <https://forum.modular.com/t/mojo-ini-v0-2-0-native-ini-parser-initial-release/2597>\
**Category:** Community Showcase\
**Created:** [January 13, 2026, 8:57am UTC](https://forum.modular.com/t/mojo-ini-v0-2-0-native-ini-parser-initial-release/2597 "2026-01-13T08:57:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mjboothaus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@mjboothaus](https://forum.modular.com/u/mjboothaus)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 8:57am UTC](https://forum.modular.com/t/mojo-ini-v0-2-0-native-ini-parser-initial-release/2597/1 "2026-01-13T08:57:31Z")

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# mojo-ini v0.2.0 - Native INI Parser

From the author (@mjboothaus) of [mojo-dotenv](https://github.com/databooth/mojo-dotenv) and [mojo-toml](https://github.com/databooth/mojo-toml) comes **mojo-ini** , a native INI file parser and writer for Mojo with Python `configparser` compatibility and zero dependencies.

## What it does

Parses and writes [INI configuration files](https://cloanto.com/specs/ini/) into native Mojo structures:

- Classic INI format: `[sections]` and `key = value` pairs
- Comments: `#` and `;` styles
- Multiline values (indented continuation)
- Inline comments
- File I/O helpers (`parse_file`, `write_file`)
- Clear error messages with line/column context
- 46 tests ensuring reliability

_INI is a basic format using [sections] and simple key=value pairs for flat configuration settings, introduced in the late 1980s with early Microsoft Windows (popularised in Windows 3.0, 1990)._

## Installation

```bash
git clone https://github.com/DataBooth/mojo-ini.git
cd mojo-ini
pixi run test-all

```

Coming soon to the `modular-community` channel.

## Usage

**Parsing:**

```mojo
from ini import parse

fn main() raises:
    var config = parse("""
        [Database]
        host = localhost
        port = 5432
        user = admin
    """)

    print(config["Database"]["host"]) # "localhost"
    print(config["Database"]["port"]) # "5432"

```

**Writing:**

```mojo
from ini import to_ini

fn main() raises:
    var data = Dict[String, Dict[String, String]]()
    data["App"] = Dict[String, String]()
    data["App"]["name"] = "MyApp"
    data["App"]["version"] = "1.0"

    var ini_text = to_ini(data)
    print(ini_text)
    # [App]
    # name = MyApp
    # version = 1.0

```

**File I/O:**

```mojo
from ini import parse_file, write_file

fn main() raises:
    var config = parse_file("config.ini")
    config["Server"]["port"] = "8080"
    write_file("config.ini", config)

```

## What’s in v0.2.0

- Complete INI parser and writer (677 LOC)
- Multiline value support (Python configparser compatible)
- File I/O helpers for reading and writing files
- 46 comprehensive tests across 5 test suites
- Performance benchmarks with statistical reporting:
  - Small configs: ~9 μs parse, ~1 μs write
  - Medium configs: ~97 μs parse, ~23 μs write
  - Large configs: ~1038 μs parse, ~237 μs write
  - **7-10x faster than Python** for small configs

See the [CHANGELOG](https://github.com/DataBooth/mojo-ini/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md) for full details.

## Links

- [GitHub Repository](https://github.com/DataBooth/mojo-ini)
- [v0.2.0 Release](https://github.com/DataBooth/mojo-ini/releases/tag/v0.2.0)
- [Documentation](https://github.com/DataBooth/mojo-ini/blob/main/README.md)
- License: MIT

## Python configparser Compatibility

mojo-ini aims for high compatibility with Python’s `configparser`:

| Feature | Python | mojo-ini v0.2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Basic key=value | ✅ | ✅ |
| [Sections] | ✅ | ✅ |
| Multiline values | ✅ | ✅ |
| Inline comments | ✅ | ✅ |
| [DEFAULT] section | ✅ | 🚧 Planned v0.3 |
| Value interpolation | ✅ | 🚧 Planned v0.3 |
| Type converters | ✅ | 🚧 Planned v0.3 |

## Roadmap

Planned features for future releases:

- `[DEFAULT]` section with value inheritance
- Value interpolation `%(var)s`
- ConfigParser class API with type converters
- Case-insensitive mode

## Related Projects

- [mojo-toml](https://github.com/databooth/mojo-toml) - TOML 1.0 parser for modern configs
- [mojo-dotenv](https://github.com/databooth/mojo-dotenv) - Environment variable management

Together these provide comprehensive configuration file support for Mojo! 🎯

## Acknowledgements

This project is sponsored by [DataBooth](https://www.databooth.com.au/posts/mojo), building high-performance data and AI services with Mojo.

Feedback and contributions welcome!

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/uploads/modular/original/1X/2751e0fbdc595a99718b216730957e9db4448cfd.jpeg) [@system](https://forum.modular.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2026, 8:57am UTC](https://forum.modular.com/t/mojo-ini-v0-2-0-native-ini-parser-initial-release/2597/2 "2026-07-12T08:57:46Z")

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