braq
Structured text format with sections
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need a lightweight, dependency-free way to parse or generate section-based text documents. The format is simple and the library is stable. However, the project is dormant with minimal community activity, so consider it for self-contained use cases rather than as a foundation for a larger ecosystem. Not suitable if you require active maintenance or frequent updates.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.5 or later.
- Installation is straightforward with no runtime dependencies.
- The project is dormant (last commit 2024-12-10, no activity for 612 days) but remains available and functional for its stated purpose.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license is permissive, allowing use in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.
last release 2024-12-10 (612 days) · last repo commit 2024-12-10 · 7 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 125,472 downloads/mo, #11,815 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install braq
import braq
text = """[section 1]
this is section 1"""
d = braq.parse(text)
print(d["section 1"])- Whether the library handles edge cases in nested or deeply indented structures reliably.
- Performance characteristics with very large documents or many sections.
- Community adoption and real-world usage patterns beyond the documented examples.
What it is and what it does
Braq is a lightweight text format and parser designed around the idea that structured data can be organized into human-readable sections, each with a header in square brackets and a body of plain text. The library provides functions to parse Braq documents into dictionaries (mapping headers to bodies) and to render Section objects back into formatted text. It supports embedding dictionary data structures via the Paradict format within sections, making it suitable for config files, code documentation, and AI prompt construction.
The format is deliberately simple: a document consists of an optional unnamed section at the top, followed by named sections. Multiple sections with the same header are concatenated. The library has no external runtime dependencies, making it quick to install and integrate. It targets developers who want a middle ground between plain text and rigid structured formats like JSON or YAML, particularly for use cases where readability and human editability matter as much as machine parsing.
Use it for
- Parse configuration files that mix human-readable help text with embedded dictionary data structures.
- Extract and organize docstrings from Python functions using custom section-based documentation formats.
- Construct structured AI prompts that interleave instructions, user input, and conversation history in readable sections.
- Build custom document formats for domain-specific applications by extending Braq's section abstraction.
- Store and retrieve multi-section documents where sections may repeat and their bodies concatenate automatically.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need a lightweight, dependency-free way to parse or generate section-based text documents.
The format is simple and the library is stable. However, the project is dormant with minimal community activity, so consider it for self-contained use cases rather than as a foundation for a larger ecosystem. Not suitable if you require active maintenance or frequent updates.
Install
braq on PyPI
Before you install
Installation is straightforward with no runtime dependencies. The project is dormant (last commit 2024-12-10, no activity for 612 days) but remains available and functional for its stated purpose.
Requires Python 3.5 or later.
License in practice
MIT license is permissive, allowing use in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install braq
import braq
text = """[section 1]
this is section 1"""
d = braq.parse(text)
print(d["section 1"])Verify before relying
- Whether the library handles edge cases in nested or deeply indented structures reliably.
- Performance characteristics with very large documents or many sections.
- Community adoption and real-world usage patterns beyond the documented examples.
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.5 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Dormant 612 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 125,472 / month, #11,815 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 4 - BetaIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: MIT LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3 |
Evidence: braq-0.0.12-py3-none-any.whl
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