MCPInstall

yq-yaml-processing

by laurigatesDevOps & Cloud

yq YAML processing: query, filter, transform YAML. Use when parsing configs, modifying Kubernetes manifests or GitHub Actions workflows, or transforming YAML.

Installs
75
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Install

Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.

npx skills add https://github.com/laurigates/claude-plugins --skill yq-yaml-processing
  1. 01

    Install

    Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.

  2. 02

    Describe the task

    Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads yq-yaml-processing automatically when relevant.

  3. 03

    Review the result

    The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.

SKILL.md

The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.

yq YAML Processing

Expert knowledge for processing, querying, and transforming YAML data using yq v4+, the lightweight command-line YAML processor with jq-like syntax.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when...Use another skill instead when...
Querying or modifying YAML filesThe input is JSON only — use jq-json-processing
Editing YAML in place while preserving comments and key orderMulti-step transforms spanning YAML, JSON, CSV, TOML — use nushell-data-processing
Targeted updates to a Kubernetes manifest or Actions workflowFull Kubernetes management (use kubectl); XML (use xmlstarlet)
Merging YAML configurationsAggregating or grouping across many files — use nushell-data-processing

Core Expertise

YAML Operations

  • Query and filter YAML with path expressions
  • Transform YAML structure and shape
  • Multi-document YAML support
  • Convert between YAML, JSON, XML, and other formats

Configuration Management

  • Modify Kubernetes manifests
  • Update GitHub Actions workflows
  • Process Helm values files
  • Manage application configurations

Essential Commands

Basic Querying

# Pretty-print YAML
yq '.' file.yaml

# Extract specific field
yq '.fieldName' file.yaml

# Extract nested field
yq '.spec.containers[0].name' pod.yaml

# Access array element
yq '.[0]' array.yaml
yq '.items[2]' data.yaml

Reading YAML

# Read specific field
yq '.metadata.name' deployment.yaml

# Read nested structure
yq '.spec.template.spec.containers[].image' deployment.yaml

# Read with default value
yq '.optional // "default"' file.yaml

# Check if field exists
yq 'has("fieldName")' file.yaml

Modifying YAML (In-Place)

# Update field value
yq -i '.metadata.name = "new-name"' file.yaml

# Update nested field
yq -i '.spec.replicas = 3' deployment.yaml

# Add new field
yq -i '.metadata.labels.app = "myapp"' file.yaml

# Delete field
yq -i 'del(.spec.nodeSelector)' file.yaml

# Append to array
yq -i '.items += {"name": "new-item"}' file.yaml

# Update all matching elements
yq -i '(.items[] | select(.name == "foo")).status = "active"' file.yaml

Multi-Document YAML

# Split multi-document YAML
yq -s '.metadata.name' multi-doc.yaml

# Select specific document (0-indexed)
yq 'select(document_index == 0)' multi-doc.yaml

# Process all documents
yq eval-all '.' multi-doc.yaml

# Filter documents
yq 'select(.kind == "Deployment")' k8s-resources.yaml

# Combine YAML files
yq eval-all '. as $item ireduce ({}; . * $item)' file1.yaml file2.yaml

Object Operations

# Get all keys
yq 'keys' file.yaml

# Select specific fields
yq '{name, version}' file.yaml

# Merge objects
yq '. * {"updated": true}' file.yaml
yq eval-all 'select(fileIndex == 0) * select(fileIndex == 1)' base.yaml override.yaml

# Deep merge
yq eval-all '. as $item ireduce ({}; . *+ $item)' base.yaml override.yaml

JSON Output (for piping)

# YAML to JSON
yq -o=json '.' file.yaml

# Compact single-line JSON — the form to pipe into jq or a tool that reads stdin
yq -o=json -I=0 '.' file.yaml

Quick Reference

Operators

  • .field - Access field
  • .[] - Iterate array/object
  • | - Pipe (chain operations)
  • , - Multiple outputs
  • // - Alternative operator (default value)
  • * - Merge objects (shallow)
  • *+ - Deep merge objects

Functions

  • keys, values - Object keys/values
  • length - Array/object/string length
  • select() - Filter
  • sort_by() - Sort
  • group_by() - Group
  • unique - Remove duplicates
  • has() - Check field existence
  • type - Get value type
  • add - Sum or concatenate
  • del() - Delete field

Flags

FlagDescription
-iIn-place edit
-oOutput format (json, yaml, xml, csv, tsv, props)
-pInput format (json, yaml, xml)
-IIndent (default: 2)
-rRaw output (no quotes)
-nNull input (create from scratch)
-sSplit multi-document YAML

String Functions

  • split(), join() - String/array conversion
  • contains() - String/array contains
  • test() - Regex match
  • sub(), gsub() - String substitution
  • upcase, downcase - Case conversion

For detailed examples, advanced patterns, and best practices, see REFERENCE.md.

Resources

FAQ

What does the yq-yaml-processing skill do?

yq YAML processing: query, filter, transform YAML. Use when parsing configs, modifying Kubernetes manifests or GitHub Actions workflows, or transforming YAML.

How do I install yq-yaml-processing?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/laurigates/claude-plugins --skill yq-yaml-processing in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/yq-yaml-processing/ (personal) or .claude/skills/yq-yaml-processing/ (project).

Which AI agents can use yq-yaml-processing?

Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.

Is yq-yaml-processing safe to install?

No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.

Who maintains yq-yaml-processing?

It is published by laurigates in laurigates/claude-plugins. It has 75 recorded installs.

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