Feature Request: Add hcl format #161

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2025-12-30T01:21:39+01:00

adam commented

2025-12-30 01:21:39 +01:00

Originally created by @garysassano on GitHub (May 10, 2024).

While Pkl currently supports various formats like json and yaml, direct output in hcl would be a powerful addition for Terraform users.

Although generating HCL through intermediary formats like YAML or JSON is technically possible using HCL's yamldecode and jsondecode functions, it introduces unnecessary complexity. Direct HCL output would significantly streamline the workflow for creating .tfvars files used in Terraform configurations.

This feature would eliminate conversion steps, reduce potential errors, and solidify Pkl's position as a valuable tool within the Terraform ecosystem.

See also #59

Originally created by @garysassano on GitHub (May 10, 2024). While Pkl currently supports various formats like `json` and `yaml`, direct output in `hcl` would be a powerful addition for Terraform users. Although generating HCL through intermediary formats like YAML or JSON is technically possible using HCL's [yamldecode](https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/language/functions/yamldecode) and [jsondecode](https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/language/functions/jsondecode) functions, it introduces unnecessary complexity. Direct HCL output would significantly streamline the workflow for creating `.tfvars` files used in Terraform configurations. This feature would eliminate conversion steps, reduce potential errors, and solidify Pkl's position as a valuable tool within the Terraform ecosystem. See also #59

adam commented

2025-12-30 01:21:39 +01:00

@holzensp commented on GitHub (Jun 25, 2024):

We don't plan to generate higher-level languages from Pkl. You can, of course, define your own renderers (see the TOML and CSV renderers, for example).

The problem is that we can't "inspect" constructs that change under evaluation (for/when/if/etc). We only render static output.

I have used Terraform's tf.json format quite a lot without any problems or notable "added complexity." Using it from HCL might add the extra indirection, but I just do everything in tf.json and forget about HCL altogether.

@holzensp commented on GitHub (Jun 25, 2024): We don't plan to generate higher-level languages from Pkl. You can, of course, define your own renderers (see the [TOML](https://pkl-lang.org/package-docs/pkg.pkl-lang.org/pkl-pantry/pkl.toml/current/toml/Renderer.html) and [CSV](https://pkl-lang.org/package-docs/pkg.pkl-lang.org/pkl-pantry/pkl.csv/current/csv/Renderer.html) renderers, for example). The problem is that we can't "inspect" constructs that change under evaluation (`for`/`when`/`if`/etc). We only render static output. I have used Terraform's `tf.json` format quite a lot without any problems or notable "added complexity." Using it _from HCL_ might add the extra indirection, but I just do _everything_ in `tf.json` and forget about HCL altogether.

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Reference: starred/pkl#161

Feature Request: Add hcl format #161

Feature Request: Add `hcl` format #161