Page generated from: LandingPage_v4.4.md

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Welcome to Set|Files

Human-readable configuration, kept efficient and simple

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What are SET Files?

SET Files are an efficient, light, readable format for configuration and data storage.
Simple when you need it, powerful when you want it.
Easy for Humans and AI alike to read!

Two flavors:

Q-Set (.qset) - Quick and Simple

• The baseline standard
• Groups, pipe delimiters, text blocks
• Everything you need for configs and data
• Zero configuration required

X-Set (.xset) - eXtended and Modular

• Q-Set with plug-in extensions
• Mix-and-match capabilities
• Custom delimiters, includes, schemas, and more
• Declare only what you use

Think of SET Files as easy to edit and update configuration files, with room to grow!

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Why Use SET Files?

• Human readable and editable - No quoting or escaping nightmares
• Simple parsing - Groups and pipes, that's it
• AI-efficient - Clean structure for LLM processing
• Multi-line text - Text groups handle it naturally with zero escaping
• Comments built-in - Document your configuration
• Modular power - Start simple, add features only when needed
• Flexible structure - Mix key-value pairs, tables, and text blocks
• 25 years experience - Battle-tested from VB6 to modern web apps

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Quick Example

Q-Set - Simple Config:

myconfig.qset

Application configuration
Created: 2025-01-22

[DATABASE]
Host|localhost
Port|5432
Database|myapp

[SETTINGS]
Theme|dark
Language|en-US
MaxUsers|50

[{WELCOME_MESSAGE}]
Welcome to My Application!

Get started by configuring your settings above.

X-Set - With Extensions:

advanced.xset

[THIS-FILE]
X-SET|delimiters:1.0!includes:1.0

[DELIMITERS]
Primary|;

[CONFIG]
Name;MyApp
Include;database.set
Include;cache.set

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Get Started

• One-Page Overview - Quick reference
• Q-Set Specification - The baseline standard
• X-Set Overview - Extension system
• Quick Start Guide - Learn in 5 minutes
• Examples - Real-world usage

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Features

Simple Structure - Complex Data

• Groups organize related information
• Pipe-delimited fields (or customize with X-Set)
• Nested arrays with secondary delimiter

Flexible Data Formats

• Key-value pairs for settings
• Tables for structured records
• Multi-line text blocks for documentation
• Comments for clarity

Text Groups - Zero Escaping

• Store licenses, documentation, code samples
• No escape sequences needed
• Pipes | and backslashes \ are literal
• Perfect for embedding JSON, HTML, or any content

Modular Extensions (X-Set)

• Custom delimiters - use ; or : instead of |
• File includes - compose from multiple files
• Type schemas - validate data structure
• Conditional sections - platform-specific configs
• And more in the extensions catalog

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The SET Files Family

SET Files (ecosystem)
  │
  ├─ Q-Set (.qset)
  │   └─ The baseline - stable, simple, universal
  │
  └─ X-Set (.xset)
      └─ Optional extensions - modular power

Start with Q-Set. Graduate to X-Set only when you need advanced features.

Both are SET Files. Both are human-friendly. Both work together.

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Version 4.4 - January 2025

What's New:

• Split into Q-Set baseline and X-Set extensions
• File extensions: .qset for simple, .xset for extended
• Modular extension system with versioning
• Each extension has its own micro-spec
• Clear learning path from beginner to advanced
• SCL (Structured Code Library) integration

Upgrading from v4.3:

• Your existing files work as Q-Set files
• Add [THIS-FILE] group to use X-Set extensions
• Change extension to .xset for extended features
• See migration guide in documentation

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Documentation

Core Specs:

• One-Page Overview - Quick reference card
• Q-Set Specification - Complete baseline spec
• X-Set Overview - Extension system
• Extensions Catalog - All available extensions

Learning Resources:

• Quick Start - 5-minute intro
• Examples - Real-world files
• Best Practices - Tips and patterns

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Community & Development

• GitHub: github.com/kirksiqveland/setfile
• Parsers: Available implementations in various languages
• SCL: Structured Code Library - reference implementations
• Contributing: How to contribute
• Support: Buy me a coffee ☕

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Integration with EMU Ecosystem

SET Files work seamlessly with:

• EMU IDE - AI-assisted development environment
• SCL - Structured Code Library with tried-and-true modules
• AbSynth Protocol - Code metadata carriers
• AppDrive - Desktop application platform

Learn more about the EMU ecosystem

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About SET Files

History: 25 years of evolution from VB6 to modern web apps. Born from frustration with JSON and maintained by practical use in real projects.

Philosophy: Human-readable always. Simple by default. Powerful by choice.

Creator: Kirk Siqveland
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Copyright: © 2025 Kirk Siqveland

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Contact

• Email: kirk@setfiles.org
• GitHub: kirksiqveland/setfile
• Discussions: GitHub Discussions

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SET Files v4.4 - Making configuration files enjoyable since 1999