How to read and write INI file with Python3?

http://docs.python.org/library/configparser.html

Python's standard library might be helpful in this case.

Here's a complete read, update and write example.

Input file, test.ini

[section_a]
string_val = hello
bool_val = false
int_val = 11
pi_val = 3.14

Working code.

try:
    from configparser import ConfigParser
except ImportError:
    from ConfigParser import ConfigParser  # ver. < 3.0

# instantiate
config = ConfigParser()

# parse existing file
config.read('test.ini')

# read values from a section
string_val = config.get('section_a', 'string_val')
bool_val = config.getboolean('section_a', 'bool_val')
int_val = config.getint('section_a', 'int_val')
float_val = config.getfloat('section_a', 'pi_val')

# update existing value
config.set('section_a', 'string_val', 'world')

# add a new section and some values
config.add_section('section_b')
config.set('section_b', 'meal_val', 'spam')
config.set('section_b', 'not_found_val', '404')

# save to a file
with open('test_update.ini', 'w') as configfile:
    config.write(configfile)

Output file, test_update.ini

[section_a]
string_val = world
bool_val = false
int_val = 11
pi_val = 3.14

[section_b]
meal_val = spam
not_found_val = 404

The original input file remains untouched.

This can be something to start with:

import configparser

config = configparser.ConfigParser()
config.read('FILE.INI')
print(config['DEFAULT']['path'])     # -> "/path/name/"
config['DEFAULT']['path'] = '/var/shared/'    # update
config['DEFAULT']['default_message'] = 'Hey! help me!!'   # create

with open('FILE.INI', 'w') as configfile:    # save
    config.write(configfile)

You can find more at the official configparser documentation.

The standard ConfigParser normally requires access via config['section_name']['key'], which is no fun. A little modification can deliver attribute access:

class AttrDict(dict):
    def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
        super(AttrDict, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
        self.__dict__ = self

AttrDict is a class derived from dict which allows access via both dictionary keys and attribute access: that means a.x is a['x']

We can use this class in ConfigParser:

config = configparser.ConfigParser(dict_type=AttrDict)
config.read('application.ini')

and now we get application.ini with:

[general]
key = value

as

>>> config._sections.general.key
'value'