SOML Editor

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SOML is a configuration format designed to be pleasant to write and easy to read. It supports comments, unquoted keys, multiline strings, dates, and durations. Top-level objects need no braces, and line breaks can replace commas. A value’s type comes from its syntax, so '123' is always a string and 123 is a number.

The outline lets you browse nested values without following brackets by hand. You can inspect types, jump to a key path, and edit or move individual items while keeping surrounding comments. You can still edit the source directly whenever you prefer. The main usefulness, however, is to get Quick Look previews of SOML files.

The app uses newer system APIs for document handling and text editing. Supporting older versions would mean extra testing, compatibility code, and working around older system bugs. Keeping the requirements current lets me focus on improving the app.

Editing, validation, formatting, and conversion all run locally on your Mac. The app does not upload your documents. If you save a file in iCloud Drive or another synced folder, that service handles syncing it.

The app edits SOML files. You can export a document as JSON, and use the “Convert JSON to SOML” Shortcuts action to get SOML from JSON. TOML, YAML, and property lists are not supported.

No. JSON has no comments, dates, or durations. Comments and source formatting are lost, and dates and durations become strings. Converting those strings back to SOML leaves them as strings. Values such as infinity cannot be exported as JSON.

Editing an individual value preserves the surrounding source. Renaming keys and moving items also preserve their source spelling and attached comments.

“Edit › Format Document” expands nonempty objects and arrays onto separate lines and removes redundant commas. It keeps comments and value spelling.

Yes. SOML files are ordinary UTF-8 text files. There is no app-specific wrapper or database. You can edit them in another text editor and track changes with Git.

Yes. Select a .soml file in Finder and press Space to see its Quick Look preview.

Save your files in iCloud Drive or another file provider available on your devices. SOML documents are ordinary text files, so you can also share them or keep them in version control.

Yes. It provides actions to format and validate SOML, convert between SOML and JSON, and get the value at a key path. The actions accept text or a file and run without opening the editor.

Choose “View › Go to Path…” or press Shift+Command+O, then search for a path such as server.host or items[0]. You can also filter keys and values in the outline.

Press Command+1 to focus the outline, then use the arrow keys to navigate it. Press Command+2 to return to the source editor. The Node menu lists shortcuts for editing, renaming, moving, and deleting items.

Right-click the item in the outline and choose “Copy String Contents”. This copies the string’s value, including decoded escape sequences. “Copy Value” copies its SOML source instead, including quotes. “Copy String Contents” only appears for strings.

Use “View › Bigger Text” to increase the text size. The View menu also lets you toggle line wrapping and show invisible characters. Settings has options for indentation guides and highlighting the current line.

Fix any syntax errors in the source first. While the document is invalid, the outline shows the last valid structure and disables edits. The error message helps you find what needs fixing.

I just enjoy making apps. Consider leaving a nice review on the App Store.

On macOS:

1. Open Finder.
2. Click Finder in the menu bar, then Settings.
3. Go to the General tab.
4. Uncheck “Suggest file names”.

I don’t plan to localize the app.