Fix #2275: Support YAML for complex CLI parameters #10051
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This fixes a long-standing issue where strings like '1e10' or '0755' were being output without quotes by 'aws cloudformation package', causing them to be misinterpreted as numbers when re-parsed. Added a custom string representer to yaml_dump that identifies and quotes ambiguous strings (scientific notation, octal, hex, binary, and sexagesimal formats).
This change enables YAML support for all complex CLI parameters (structures, maps, and lists) by updating the argument unpacking logic in argprocess.py.
Previously, complex parameters only supported JSON for file or string inputs. Now, if the input is not clearly JSON (doesn't start with '{' or '['), the CLI will attempt to parse it as YAML.
This allows using YAML files for CloudFormation parameters and other nested CLI inputs:
- aws cloudformation create-stack --parameters file://params.yaml
Included unit tests in tests/unit/test_argprocess.py covering various YAML input scenarios.
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PR Description: Support YAML for complex CLI parameters (Fixes #2275)
Overview
This PR addresses a long-standing feature request (#2275) to support YAML files and strings for complex CLI parameters. Previously, parameters expecting structures, maps, or lists only supported JSON format when passed as strings or via
file://.Changes
awscli/argprocess.pyto attempt YAML parsing if the input is not clearly JSON (i.e., it doesn't start with{or[)._unpack_yaml_cli_arg) that usesyaml.SafeLoaderbut preserves key order usingOrderedDict. This ensures the behavior is consistent with the existing JSON parser and respects the order required by some AWS services.TestYAMLParamstotests/unit/test_argprocess.pycovering:Implementation Details
The core logic resides in
_unpack_complex_cli_arginawscli/argprocess.py. It now checks the first character of the input:{or[, it still uses the existing JSON unpacker._unpack_yaml_cli_argfunction.This approach maintains full backward compatibility for all existing JSON-based scripts while enabling YAML support.
Verification Results
test_argprocess.pyplus the 6 new YAML tests passed successfully.aws cloudformation create-stack --parameters file://params.yamlwith various YAML formats.aws cloudformation create-stack --parameters " - ParameterKey: K\n ParameterValue: V".Fixes
Fixes #2275