inline-schema/README.md

# inline-schema

A TypeScript library for parsing and validating inline schemas with a TypeScript-like syntax using `;` instead of `,`.

## Installation

```bash
npm install inline-schema
```

## Usage

### Basic Example

```typescript
import { defineSchema } from 'inline-schema';

// Define a schema
const stringSchema = defineSchema('string');
const numberSchema = defineSchema('number');
const booleanSchema = defineSchema('boolean');

// Parse values
const name = stringSchema.parse('hello');        // "hello"
const age = numberSchema.parse('42');            // 42
const active = booleanSchema.parse('true');      // true

// Validate parsed values
stringSchema.validator(name);    // true
numberSchema.validator(name);    // false
```

### Tuples

```typescript
const tupleSchema = defineSchema('[string; number; boolean]');

// With brackets
const value1 = tupleSchema.parse('[hello; 42; true]');
// ["hello", 42, true]

// Without brackets (outermost brackets are optional)
const value2 = tupleSchema.parse('hello; 42; true');
// ["hello", 42, true]

tupleSchema.validator(value1);    // true
tupleSchema.validator(['a', 'b', true]);  // false (second element should be number)
```

### Arrays

```typescript
// Array syntax: Type[] or [Type][]
const stringArray = defineSchema('string[]');
const numberArray = defineSchema('[number][]');

// With brackets
const names1 = stringArray.parse('[alice; bob; charlie]');
// ["alice", "bob", "charlie"]

// Without brackets (outermost brackets are optional)
const names2 = stringArray.parse('alice; bob; charlie');
// ["alice", "bob", "charlie"]

const numbers = numberArray.parse('[1; 2; 3; 4; 5]');
// [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
```

### Array of Tuples

```typescript
const schema = defineSchema('[string; number][]');

// With outer brackets
const data1 = schema.parse('[[a; 1]; [b; 2]; [c; 3]]');
// [["a", 1], ["b", 2], ["c", 3]]

// Without outer brackets
const data2 = schema.parse('[a; 1]; [b; 2]; [c; 3]');
// [["a", 1], ["b", 2], ["c", 3]]
```

### Escaping Special Characters

Use `\` to escape special characters `;`, `[`, `]`, and `\` in string values:

```typescript
const schema = defineSchema('string');

const value1 = schema.parse('hello\\;world');    // "hello;world"
const value2 = schema.parse('hello\\[world');    // "hello[world"
const value3 = schema.parse('hello\\\\world');   // "hello\\world"

// In tuples
const tupleSchema = defineSchema('[string; string]');
const tuple = tupleSchema.parse('hello\\;world; test');
// ["hello;world", "test"]
```

### String Identifiers

Any identifier (including hyphens) is treated as a string schema:

```typescript
const schema = defineSchema('word-smith');
const value = schema.parse('word-smith');
// "word-smith"
```

## API

### `defineSchema(schemaString: string): ParsedSchema`

Parses a schema string and returns an object with:
- `schema`: The parsed schema AST
- `validator`: A function to validate values against the schema
- `parse`: A function to parse value strings

### `parseSchema(schemaString: string): Schema`

Parses a schema string and returns the schema AST.

### `parseValue(schema: Schema, valueString: string): unknown`

Parses a value string according to the given schema.

### `createValidator(schema: Schema): (value: unknown) => boolean`

Creates a validation function for the given schema.

## Schema Syntax

| Type | Schema | Example Value |
|------|--------|---------------|
| String | `string` or `identifier` | `hello` |
| Number | `number` | `42` |
| Boolean | `boolean` | `true` or `false` |
| Tuple | `[Type1; Type2; ...]` | `[hello; 42; true]` or `hello; 42; true` |
| Array | `Type[]` or `[Type][]` | `[1; 2; 3]` or `1; 2; 3` |
| Array of Tuples | `[Type1; Type2][]` | `[[a; 1]; [b; 2]]` or `[a; 1]; [b; 2]` |

## Notes

- Semicolons `;` are used as separators instead of commas `,`
- Outermost brackets `[]` are optional for tuple and array values
- Special characters can be escaped with backslash: `\;`, `\[`, `\]`, `\\`
- Empty arrays/tuples are not allowed

## License

ISC