Can Canton configuration files be in JSON format?

Questions
1

The typical Canton example has the configuration files in HOCON format. That is really nice for human readability and editability.

Does Canton also accept configuration files in JSON format?

2

Apparently so. I converted a HOCON configuration file into a JSON file using this CLI tool.

HOCON Example 
canton {
  participants {
    mynode {
      ledger-api.address=localhost
    }
  }
}
Equivalent JSON 
hoconvert --file canton.conf --output json > canton.json

{
  "canton": {
    "participants": {
      "mynode": {
        "ledger-api": {
          "address": "localhost"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Canton accepted both HOCON and JSON files without error:

docker run -it --rm \
  --volume ./:/host/ \
  digitalasset/canton-open-source:2.7.9 \
  --config /host/canton.conf

participants.local.head.health.status

docker run -it --rm \
  --volume ./:/host/ \
  digitalasset/canton-open-source:2.7.9 \
  --config /host/canton.json

participants.local.head.health.status

This could be helpful for script-based creation and editing of configuration files. There is simply more JSON-aware tooling available (e.g., jq).

1 Like
3

It is a property of HOCON that any valid JSON file is also a valid HOCON file.

1 Like