Stop startup on a list or map setting in neoirc.yaml (closes #268)

viper.GetString returns the empty string for a list or a map in neoirc.yaml, so IRC_LISTEN_ADDR: [":6667"] turned the IRC listener off and MOTD or SERVER_NAME went blank without an error.

Every setting is now read through getString in internal/config, which uses cast.ToStringE, the conversion viper.GetString wraps. A list or a map is an error naming the setting, without its value, since the value may be a password. An environment value, the empty string included, still wins over the file. TRUSTED_PROXIES uses the same helper. A config file that does not parse makes New return an error naming the file instead of calling panic.

Model: opus-5-5

README.md

@@ -1722,7 +1722,8 @@ exceptions:
 
 A `neoirc.yaml` that is not valid YAML stops the server at startup. A setting
 that does not parse or is out of range also stops the server at startup, and the
-error names the setting.
+error names the setting. The same holds for a setting given a list or a map in
+`neoirc.yaml`.
 
 - `PORT` (default `8080`): the HTTP port. `0` lets the system pick a free port.
 - `IRC_LISTEN_ADDR` (default `:6667`): the address of the IRC listener. The

go.mod

@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/prometheus/client_golang v1.23.2
 	github.com/rivo/tview v0.42.0
 	github.com/slok/go-http-metrics v0.13.0
+	github.com/spf13/cast v1.10.0
 	github.com/spf13/viper v1.21.0
 	go.uber.org/fx v1.24.0
 	go4.org/netipx v0.0.0-20260823151212-3075585bcbeb
@@ -41,7 +42,6 @@ require (
 	github.com/sagikazarmark/locafero v0.11.0 // indirect
 	github.com/sourcegraph/conc v0.3.1-0.20240121214520-5f936abd7ae8 // indirect
 	github.com/spf13/afero v1.15.0 // indirect
-	github.com/spf13/cast v1.10.0 // indirect
 	github.com/spf13/pflag v1.0.10 // indirect
 	github.com/subosito/gotenv v1.6.0 // indirect
 	go.uber.org/dig v1.19.0 // indirect

internal/config/config.go

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/spf13/cast"
 	"github.com/spf13/viper"
 	"go.uber.org/fx"
 	"go4.org/netipx"
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ var errOutOfRange = errors.New("setting out of range")
 
 var errNeverMatches = errors.New("entry can never match a connection")
 
-var errNotString = errors.New("not a string")
+var errListOrMap = errors.New("a list or a map")
 
 // Params defines the dependencies for creating a Config.
 type Params struct {
@@ -81,8 +82,9 @@ type Config struct {
 }
 
 // New creates a new Config by reading from files and environment variables.
-// It returns an error when a number, true/false, duration or address
+// It returns an error when the config file does not parse, when the file
-// setting does not parse or is out of range.
+// gives a setting a list or a map, and when a number, true/false,
+// duration or address setting does not parse or is out of range.
 func New(
 	_ fx.Lifecycle, params Params,
 ) (*Config, error) {
@@ -121,25 +123,12 @@ func New(
 	if err != nil {
 		var notFound viper.ConfigFileNotFoundError
 		if !errors.As(err, &notFound) {
-			log.Error("config file malformed", "error", err)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot read %s: %w",
-			panic(err)
+				viper.ConfigFileUsed(), err)
 		}
 	}
 
 	cfg := &Config{
-		DBURL:              viper.GetString("DBURL"),
-		SentryDSN:          viper.GetString("SENTRY_DSN"),
-		MetricsUsername:    viper.GetString("METRICS_USERNAME"),
-		MetricsPassword:    viper.GetString("METRICS_PASSWORD"),
-		MessageMaxAge:      viper.GetString("MESSAGE_MAX_AGE"),
-		QueueMaxAge:        viper.GetString("QUEUE_MAX_AGE"),
-		MOTD:               viper.GetString("MOTD"),
-		ServerName:         viper.GetString("SERVER_NAME"),
-		FederationKey:      viper.GetString("FEDERATION_KEY"),
-		SessionIdleTimeout: viper.GetString("SESSION_IDLE_TIMEOUT"),
-		OperName:           viper.GetString("NEOIRC_OPER_NAME"),
-		OperPassword:       viper.GetString("NEOIRC_OPER_PASSWORD"),
-		IRCListenAddr:      viper.GetString("IRC_LISTEN_ADDR"),
 		log:    log,
 		params: &params,
 	}
@@ -149,13 +138,6 @@ func New(
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	// Viper counts an empty environment variable as unset, but an
-	// empty IRC_LISTEN_ADDR must turn the IRC listener off.
-	ircListenAddr, set := os.LookupEnv("IRC_LISTEN_ADDR")
-	if set {
-		cfg.IRCListenAddr = ircListenAddr
-	}
-
 	if cfg.Debug {
 		params.Logger.EnableDebugLogging()
 		cfg.log = params.Logger.Get()
@@ -164,13 +146,24 @@ func New(
 	return cfg, nil
 }
 
-// parseSettings reads the number, true/false and address settings into
+// parseSettings reads every setting into cfg. Each number and duration
-// cfg and checks the duration settings. Each number and duration must be
+// must be above zero. PORT and NEOIRC_HASHCASH_BITS may also be zero:
-// above zero. PORT and NEOIRC_HASHCASH_BITS may also be zero: port 0 lets
+// port 0 lets the system pick a port, and 0 bits turns proof of work off.
-// the system pick a port, and 0 bits turns proof of work off. The error
+// The error names each setting that is a list or a map, does not parse or
-// names each setting that does not parse or is out of range.
+// is out of range.
 func parseSettings(cfg *Config) error {
 	return errors.Join(
+		parseString("DBURL", &cfg.DBURL),
+		parseString("SENTRY_DSN", &cfg.SentryDSN),
+		parseString("METRICS_USERNAME", &cfg.MetricsUsername),
+		parseString("METRICS_PASSWORD", &cfg.MetricsPassword),
+		parseString("MOTD", &cfg.MOTD),
+		parseString("SERVER_NAME", &cfg.ServerName),
+		parseString("FEDERATION_KEY", &cfg.FederationKey),
+		parseString("NEOIRC_OPER_NAME", &cfg.OperName),
+		parseString("NEOIRC_OPER_PASSWORD", &cfg.OperPassword),
+		// The empty string turns the IRC listener off.
+		parseStringAllowEmptyEnv("IRC_LISTEN_ADDR", &cfg.IRCListenAddr),
 		parseInt("PORT", 0, &cfg.Port),
 		parseInt("MAX_MESSAGE_SIZE", 1, &cfg.MaxMessageSize),
 		parseInt("NEOIRC_HASHCASH_BITS", 0, &cfg.HashcashBits),
@@ -178,39 +171,70 @@ func parseSettings(cfg *Config) error {
 		parseFloat("LOGIN_RATE_LIMIT", &cfg.LoginRateLimit),
 		parseBool("DEBUG", &cfg.Debug),
 		parseBool("MAINTENANCE_MODE", &cfg.MaintenanceMode),
-		checkDuration("MESSAGE_MAX_AGE", cfg.MessageMaxAge),
+		parseDuration("MESSAGE_MAX_AGE", &cfg.MessageMaxAge),
-		checkDuration("QUEUE_MAX_AGE", cfg.QueueMaxAge),
+		parseDuration("QUEUE_MAX_AGE", &cfg.QueueMaxAge),
-		checkDuration("SESSION_IDLE_TIMEOUT", cfg.SessionIdleTimeout),
+		parseDuration("SESSION_IDLE_TIMEOUT", &cfg.SessionIdleTimeout),
 		parseTrustedProxies(&cfg.TrustedProxies),
 	)
 }
 
-// parseTrustedProxies sets *value to the addresses in TRUSTED_PROXIES, a
+// getString returns the setting key as a string. A number or a true/false
-// comma-separated list of networks such as 10.0.0.0/8 and single
+// value in the config file becomes its text, as with viper.GetString. A
-// addresses such as 192.0.2.1. The empty string trusts nothing. Viper
+// list or a map in the config file is an error, where viper.GetString
-// counts an empty environment variable as unset, so the environment is
+// would return the empty string. The error leaves out the value, which
-// read directly as well.
+// may be a password.
-func parseTrustedProxies(value **netipx.IPSet) error {
+func getString(key string) (string, error) {
-	setting := viper.Get("TRUSTED_PROXIES")
+	raw, err := cast.ToStringE(viper.Get(key))
-
+	if err != nil {
-	fromEnv, set := os.LookupEnv("TRUSTED_PROXIES")
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("%s is %w", key, errListOrMap)
-	if set {
-		setting = fromEnv
 	}
 
-	// A YAML list or map in the config file is not a string, and
+	return raw, nil
-	// viper.GetString would turn it into the empty string.
+}
-	raw, isString := setting.(string)
+
-	if !isString {
+// parseString sets *value to the setting key.
-		return fmt.Errorf("cannot parse TRUSTED_PROXIES: %v is %w",
+func parseString(key string, value *string) error {
-			setting, errNotString)
+	raw, err := getString(key)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	*value = raw
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// parseStringAllowEmptyEnv sets *value to the setting key, as parseString
+// does, but an environment variable set to the empty string counts as
+// set. Viper counts such a variable as unset and uses the config file or
+// the default instead.
+func parseStringAllowEmptyEnv(key string, value *string) error {
+	fromEnv, set := os.LookupEnv(key)
+	if set {
+		*value = fromEnv
+
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	return parseString(key, value)
+}
+
+// parseTrustedProxies sets *value to the addresses in TRUSTED_PROXIES, a
+// comma-separated list of networks such as 10.0.0.0/8 and single
+// addresses such as 192.0.2.1. The empty string trusts nothing.
+func parseTrustedProxies(value **netipx.IPSet) error {
+	var raw string
+
+	err := parseStringAllowEmptyEnv("TRUSTED_PROXIES", &raw)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
 
 	var builder netipx.IPSetBuilder
 
 	if strings.TrimSpace(raw) != "" {
 		for entry := range strings.SplitSeq(raw, ",") {
-			err := addTrustedProxy(&builder, strings.TrimSpace(entry))
+			err = addTrustedProxy(&builder, strings.TrimSpace(entry))
 			if err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("cannot parse TRUSTED_PROXIES: %w", err)
 			}
@@ -267,7 +291,10 @@ func addTrustedProxy(builder *netipx.IPSetBuilder, entry string) error {
 // parseInt sets *value to the setting key read as a whole number. It
 // returns an error when the value does not parse or is below minimum.
 func parseInt(key string, minimum int, value *int) error {
-	raw := viper.GetString(key)
+	raw, err := getString(key)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 
 	parsed, err := strconv.Atoi(raw)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -288,7 +315,10 @@ func parseInt(key string, minimum int, value *int) error {
 // number. It returns an error when the value does not parse or is not a
 // finite number above zero.
 func parseFloat(key string, value *float64) error {
-	raw := viper.GetString(key)
+	raw, err := getString(key)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 
 	parsed, err := strconv.ParseFloat(raw, 64)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -308,7 +338,12 @@ func parseFloat(key string, value *float64) error {
 
 // parseBool sets *value to the setting key read as true or false.
 func parseBool(key string, value *bool) error {
-	parsed, err := strconv.ParseBool(viper.GetString(key))
+	raw, err := getString(key)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	parsed, err := strconv.ParseBool(raw)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("cannot parse %s: %w", key, err)
 	}
@@ -318,18 +353,25 @@ func parseBool(key string, value *bool) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// checkDuration returns an error naming the setting key when value is
+// parseDuration sets *value to the setting key. It returns an error when
-// not a Go duration above zero.
+// the value is not a Go duration above zero.
-func checkDuration(key, value string) error {
+func parseDuration(key string, value *string) error {
-	duration, err := time.ParseDuration(value)
+	raw, err := getString(key)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	duration, err := time.ParseDuration(raw)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("cannot parse %s: %w", key, err)
 	}
 
 	if duration <= 0 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %s is %s, but must be above zero",
-			errOutOfRange, key, value)
+			errOutOfRange, key, raw)
 	}
 
+	*value = raw
+
 	return nil
 }

internal/config/config_test.go

@@ -287,49 +287,153 @@ func TestTrustedProxies(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestTrustedProxiesNotAStringInYAMLStopsStartup(t *testing.T) {
+// unsetEnv removes the environment variable key for the rest of the
-	// YAML reads the first value as a list and the second as a map.
+// test, so that config.New reads key from the config file.
-	values := []string{"[10.0.0.1]", "{proxy: 10.0.0.1}"}
+func unsetEnv(t *testing.T, key string) {
+	t.Helper()
 
-	for _, value := range values {
+	// t.Setenv puts back whatever value was there after the test,
-		t.Run(value, func(t *testing.T) {
+	// including when Unsetenv removes it.
-			// t.Setenv puts back whatever value was there after the
+	t.Setenv(key, "")
-			// test, including when Unsetenv removes it.
-			t.Setenv("TRUSTED_PROXIES", "")
 
-			err := os.Unsetenv("TRUSTED_PROXIES")
+	err := os.Unsetenv(key)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
+}
+
+// writeConfigFile writes content to the config file config.New reads
+// when HOME is home, and returns the file's path.
+func writeConfigFile(t *testing.T, home, content string) string {
+	t.Helper()
 
 	// loadConfig names the app neoirc-test, so config.New reads
 	// $HOME/.config/neoirc-test/neoirc-test.yaml.
-			home := t.TempDir()
-			t.Setenv("HOME", home)
-
 	dir := filepath.Join(home, ".config", "neoirc-test")
 
-			err = os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o700)
+	err := os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o700)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-			err = os.WriteFile(
+	path := filepath.Join(dir, "neoirc-test.yaml")
-				filepath.Join(dir, "neoirc-test.yaml"),
+
-				[]byte("TRUSTED_PROXIES: "+value+"\n"), 0o600,
+	err = os.WriteFile(path, []byte(content), 0o600)
-			)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-			// Viper keeps the values it read from this file after the
+	// Viper keeps the file and the values it read from it after the
 	// file is gone. Reset clears them for later tests.
 	t.Cleanup(viper.Reset)
 
-			_, err = loadConfig(t)
+	return path
-			if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "TRUSTED_PROXIES") {
+}
-				t.Errorf("error = %v, want one naming TRUSTED_PROXIES", err)
+
+func TestListOrMapInConfigFileStopsStartup(t *testing.T) {
+	// YAML reads the first value as a list and the second as a map.
+	values := []string{`[":6667"]`, `{addr: ":6667"}`}
+	keys := []string{"IRC_LISTEN_ADDR", "MOTD", "TRUSTED_PROXIES"}
+
+	for _, key := range keys {
+		for _, value := range values {
+			t.Run(key+"="+value, func(t *testing.T) {
+				home := t.TempDir()
+				t.Setenv("HOME", home)
+				unsetEnv(t, key)
+				writeConfigFile(t, home, key+": "+value+"\n")
+
+				_, err := loadConfig(t)
+				if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), key) {
+					t.Errorf("error = %v, want one naming %s", err, key)
 				}
 			})
 		}
 	}
+}
+
+func TestListOrMapErrorLeavesOutValue(t *testing.T) {
+	const key = "NEOIRC_OPER_PASSWORD"
+
+	home := t.TempDir()
+	t.Setenv("HOME", home)
+	unsetEnv(t, key)
+	// YAML reads an unquoted {hunter2} as a map.
+	writeConfigFile(t, home, key+": {hunter2}\n")
+
+	_, err := loadConfig(t)
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), key) {
+		t.Fatalf("error = %v, want one naming %s", err, key)
+	}
+
+	if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "hunter2") {
+		t.Errorf("error %q shows the password", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestEmptyEnvironmentValueWinsOverConfigFile(t *testing.T) {
+	const (
+		ircListenAddr  = "IRC_LISTEN_ADDR"
+		trustedProxies = "TRUSTED_PROXIES"
+	)
+
+	// Each setting is the empty string in the environment and a list in
+	// the config file. The environment wins, so the list is never read.
+	tests := []struct {
+		key   string
+		empty func(cfg *config.Config) bool
+	}{
+		{
+			key: ircListenAddr,
+			empty: func(cfg *config.Config) bool {
+				return cfg.IRCListenAddr == ""
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			key: trustedProxies,
+			empty: func(cfg *config.Config) bool {
+				return len(cfg.TrustedProxies.Prefixes()) == 0
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, test := range tests {
+		t.Run(test.key, func(t *testing.T) {
+			home := t.TempDir()
+			t.Setenv("HOME", home)
+			t.Setenv(test.key, "")
+			writeConfigFile(t, home, test.key+": [\":6667\"]\n")
+
+			cfg := newConfig(t)
+			if !test.empty(cfg) {
+				t.Errorf("%s is not the empty string", test.key)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSingleValuesInConfigFileAreUsed(t *testing.T) {
+	home := t.TempDir()
+	t.Setenv("HOME", home)
+	unsetEnv(t, "PORT")
+	unsetEnv(t, "DEBUG")
+	unsetEnv(t, "MOTD")
+	writeConfigFile(t, home, "PORT: 9000\nDEBUG: true\nMOTD: hello\n")
+
+	cfg := newConfig(t)
+	if cfg.Port != 9000 || !cfg.Debug || cfg.MOTD != "hello" {
+		t.Errorf("Port, Debug, MOTD = %d, %t, %q, want 9000, true, %q",
+			cfg.Port, cfg.Debug, cfg.MOTD, "hello")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestConfigFileThatDoesNotParseStopsStartup(t *testing.T) {
+	home := t.TempDir()
+	t.Setenv("HOME", home)
+	path := writeConfigFile(t, home, "MOTD: [unclosed\n")
+
+	_, err := loadConfig(t)
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), path) {
+		t.Errorf("error = %v, want one naming %s", err, path)
+	}
+}