Preserve comments on map keys

cmd/version.go

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ var (
 	GitDescribe string
 
 	// Version is main version number that is being run at the moment.
-	Version = "4.4.1"
+	Version = "4.5.0"
 
 	// VersionPrerelease is a pre-release marker for the version. If this is "" (empty string)
 	// then it means that it is a final release. Otherwise, this is a pre-release

github-action/Dockerfile

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-FROM mikefarah/yq:4.4.1
+FROM mikefarah/yq:4.5.0
 
 COPY entrypoint.sh /entrypoint.sh
 

go.mod

@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 module github.com/mikefarah/yq/v4
 
 require (
-	github.com/elliotchance/orderedmap v1.3.0
+	github.com/elliotchance/orderedmap v1.4.0
 	github.com/fatih/color v1.10.0
-	github.com/goccy/go-yaml v1.8.4
+	github.com/goccy/go-yaml v1.8.8
-	github.com/jinzhu/copier v0.1.0
+	github.com/jinzhu/copier v0.2.3
 	github.com/spf13/cobra v1.1.1
 	github.com/timtadh/data-structures v0.5.3 // indirect
 	github.com/timtadh/lexmachine v0.2.2
-	golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210105210732-16f7687f5001 // indirect
+	golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210124154548-22da62e12c0c // indirect
 	gopkg.in/op/go-logging.v1 v1.0.0-20160211212156-b2cb9fa56473
 	gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.0-20210107192922-496545a6307b
 )

go.sum

@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1 h1:vj9j/u1bqnvCEfJOwUhtlOARqs3+rkHYY13jYWTU97c
 github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1/go.mod h1:J7Y8YcW2NihsgmVo/mv3lAwl/skON4iLHjSsI+c5H38=
 github.com/dgrijalva/jwt-go v3.2.0+incompatible/go.mod h1:E3ru+11k8xSBh+hMPgOLZmtrrCbhqsmaPHjLKYnJCaQ=
 github.com/dgryski/go-sip13 v0.0.0-20181026042036-e10d5fee7954/go.mod h1:vAd38F8PWV+bWy6jNmig1y/TA+kYO4g3RSRF0IAv0no=
-github.com/elliotchance/orderedmap v1.3.0 h1:k6m77/d0zCXTjsk12nX40TkEBkSICq8T4s6R6bpCqU0=
+github.com/elliotchance/orderedmap v1.4.0 h1:wZtfeEONCbx6in1CZyE6bELEt/vFayMvsxqI5SgsR+A=
-github.com/elliotchance/orderedmap v1.3.0/go.mod h1:8hdSl6jmveQw8ScByd3AaNHNk51RhbTazdqtTty+NFw=
+github.com/elliotchance/orderedmap v1.4.0/go.mod h1:wsDwEaX5jEoyhbs7x93zk2H/qv0zwuhg4inXhDkYqys=
 github.com/fatih/color v1.7.0/go.mod h1:Zm6kSWBoL9eyXnKyktHP6abPY2pDugNf5KwzbycvMj4=
 github.com/fatih/color v1.10.0 h1:s36xzo75JdqLaaWoiEHk767eHiwo0598uUxyfiPkDsg=
 github.com/fatih/color v1.10.0/go.mod h1:ELkj/draVOlAH/xkhN6mQ50Qd0MPOk5AAr3maGEBuJM=
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ github.com/go-playground/locales v0.13.0/go.mod h1:taPMhCMXrRLJO55olJkUXHZBHCxTM
 github.com/go-playground/universal-translator v0.17.0/go.mod h1:UkSxE5sNxxRwHyU+Scu5vgOQjsIJAF8j9muTVoKLVtA=
 github.com/go-playground/validator/v10 v10.4.1/go.mod h1:nlOn6nFhuKACm19sB/8EGNn9GlaMV7XkbRSipzJ0Ii4=
 github.com/go-stack/stack v1.8.0/go.mod h1:v0f6uXyyMGvRgIKkXu+yp6POWl0qKG85gN/melR3HDY=
-github.com/goccy/go-yaml v1.8.4 h1:AOEdR7aQgbgwHznGe3BLkDQVujxCPUpHOZZcQcp8Y3M=
+github.com/goccy/go-yaml v1.8.8 h1:MGfRB1GeSn/hWXYWS2Pt67iC2GJNnebdIro01ddyucA=
-github.com/goccy/go-yaml v1.8.4/go.mod h1:U/jl18uSupI5rdI2jmuCswEA2htH9eXfferR3KfscvA=
+github.com/goccy/go-yaml v1.8.8/go.mod h1:U/jl18uSupI5rdI2jmuCswEA2htH9eXfferR3KfscvA=
 github.com/gogo/protobuf v1.1.1/go.mod h1:r8qH/GZQm5c6nD/R0oafs1akxWv10x8SbQlK7atdtwQ=
 github.com/gogo/protobuf v1.2.1/go.mod h1:hp+jE20tsWTFYpLwKvXlhS1hjn+gTNwPg2I6zVXpSg4=
 github.com/golang/glog v0.0.0-20160126235308-23def4e6c14b/go.mod h1:SBH7ygxi8pfUlaOkMMuAQtPIUF8ecWP5IEl/CR7VP2Q=
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@ github.com/hashicorp/memberlist v0.1.3/go.mod h1:ajVTdAv/9Im8oMAAj5G31PhhMCZJV2p
 github.com/hashicorp/serf v0.8.2/go.mod h1:6hOLApaqBFA1NXqRQAsxw9QxuDEvNxSQRwA/JwenrHc=
 github.com/inconshreveable/mousetrap v1.0.0 h1:Z8tu5sraLXCXIcARxBp/8cbvlwVa7Z1NHg9XEKhtSvM=
 github.com/inconshreveable/mousetrap v1.0.0/go.mod h1:PxqpIevigyE2G7u3NXJIT2ANytuPF1OarO4DADm73n8=
-github.com/jinzhu/copier v0.1.0 h1:Vh8xALtH3rrKGB/XIRe5d0yCTHPZFauWPLvdpDAbi88=
+github.com/jinzhu/copier v0.2.3 h1:Oe09ju+9qft7TffZ7l/04AB2f8u1+V4ZMxmp/nnqeOs=
-github.com/jinzhu/copier v0.1.0/go.mod h1:24xnZezI2Yqac9J61UC6/dG/k76ttpq0DdJI3QmUvro=
+github.com/jinzhu/copier v0.2.3/go.mod h1:24xnZezI2Yqac9J61UC6/dG/k76ttpq0DdJI3QmUvro=
 github.com/jonboulle/clockwork v0.1.0/go.mod h1:Ii8DK3G1RaLaWxj9trq07+26W01tbo22gdxWY5EU2bo=
 github.com/json-iterator/go v1.1.6/go.mod h1:+SdeFBvtyEkXs7REEP0seUULqWtbJapLOCVDaaPEHmU=
 github.com/jstemmer/go-junit-report v0.0.0-20190106144839-af01ea7f8024/go.mod h1:6v2b51hI/fHJwM22ozAgKL4VKDeJcHhJFhtBdhmNjmU=
@@ -182,6 +182,8 @@ github.com/stretchr/testify v1.2.2/go.mod h1:a8OnRcib4nhh0OaRAV+Yts87kKdq0PP7pXf
 github.com/stretchr/testify v1.3.0/go.mod h1:M5WIy9Dh21IEIfnGCwXGc5bZfKNJtfHm1UVUgZn+9EI=
 github.com/stretchr/testify v1.4.0 h1:2E4SXV/wtOkTonXsotYi4li6zVWxYlZuYNCXe9XRJyk=
 github.com/stretchr/testify v1.4.0/go.mod h1:j7eGeouHqKxXV5pUuKE4zz7dFj8WfuZ+81PSLYec5m4=
+github.com/stretchr/testify v1.7.0 h1:nwc3DEeHmmLAfoZucVR881uASk0Mfjw8xYJ99tb5CcY=
+github.com/stretchr/testify v1.7.0/go.mod h1:6Fq8oRcR53rry900zMqJjRRixrwX3KX962/h/Wwjteg=
 github.com/subosito/gotenv v1.2.0/go.mod h1:N0PQaV/YGNqwC0u51sEeR/aUtSLEXKX9iv69rRypqCw=
 github.com/timtadh/data-structures v0.5.3 h1:F2tEjoG9qWIyUjbvXVgJqEOGJPMIiYn7U5W5mE+i/vQ=
 github.com/timtadh/data-structures v0.5.3/go.mod h1:9R4XODhJ8JdWFEI8P/HJKqxuJctfBQw6fDibMQny2oU=
@@ -257,8 +259,8 @@ golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20190624142023-c5567b49c5d0/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7w
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20200116001909-b77594299b42/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20200223170610-d5e6a3e2c0ae h1:/WDfKMnPU+m5M4xB+6x4kaepxRw6jWvR5iDRdvjHgy8=
 golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20200223170610-d5e6a3e2c0ae/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210105210732-16f7687f5001 h1:/dSxr6gT0FNI1MO5WLJo8mTmItROeOKTkDn+7OwWBos=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210124154548-22da62e12c0c h1:VwygUrnw9jn88c4u8GD3rZQbqrP/tgas88tPUbBxQrk=
-golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210105210732-16f7687f5001/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
+golang.org/x/sys v0.0.0-20210124154548-22da62e12c0c/go.mod h1:h1NjWce9XRLGQEsW7wpKNCjG9DtNlClVuFLEZdDNbEs=
 golang.org/x/text v0.3.0/go.mod h1:NqM8EUOU14njkJ3fqMW+pc6Ldnwhi/IjpwHt7yyuwOQ=
 golang.org/x/text v0.3.1-0.20180807135948-17ff2d5776d2/go.mod h1:NqM8EUOU14njkJ3fqMW+pc6Ldnwhi/IjpwHt7yyuwOQ=
 golang.org/x/text v0.3.2/go.mod h1:bEr9sfX3Q8Zfm5fL9x+3itogRgK3+ptLWKqgva+5dAk=
@@ -324,6 +326,7 @@ gopkg.in/yaml.v2 v2.2.2/go.mod h1:hI93XBmqTisBFMUTm0b8Fm+jr3Dg1NNxqwp+5A1VGuI=
 gopkg.in/yaml.v2 v2.2.4/go.mod h1:hI93XBmqTisBFMUTm0b8Fm+jr3Dg1NNxqwp+5A1VGuI=
 gopkg.in/yaml.v2 v2.2.8 h1:obN1ZagJSUGI0Ek/LBmuj4SNLPfIny3KsKFopxRdj10=
 gopkg.in/yaml.v2 v2.2.8/go.mod h1:hI93XBmqTisBFMUTm0b8Fm+jr3Dg1NNxqwp+5A1VGuI=
+gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.0-20200313102051-9f266ea9e77c/go.mod h1:K4uyk7z7BCEPqu6E+C64Yfv1cQ7kz7rIZviUmN+EgEM=
 gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.0-20210107192922-496545a6307b h1:h8qDotaEPuJATrMmW04NCwg7v22aHH28wwpauUhK9Oo=
 gopkg.in/yaml.v3 v3.0.0-20210107192922-496545a6307b/go.mod h1:K4uyk7z7BCEPqu6E+C64Yfv1cQ7kz7rIZviUmN+EgEM=
 honnef.co/go/tools v0.0.0-20190102054323-c2f93a96b099/go.mod h1:rf3lG4BRIbNafJWhAfAdb/ePZxsR/4RtNHQocxwk9r4=

pkg/yqlib/candidate_node.go

@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@ package yqlib
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"strconv"
-	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/jinzhu/copier"
 	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
@@ -18,10 +16,15 @@ type CandidateNode struct {
 	// when performing op against all nodes given, this will treat all the nodes as one
 	// (e.g. top level cross document merge). This property does not propegate to child nodes.
 	EvaluateTogether bool
+	IsMapKey         bool
 }
 
 func (n *CandidateNode) GetKey() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("%v - %v", n.Document, n.Path)
+	keyPrefix := ""
+	if n.IsMapKey {
+		keyPrefix = "key-"
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%v%v - %v", keyPrefix, n.Document, n.Path)
 }
 
 func (n *CandidateNode) CreateChild(path interface{}, node *yaml.Node) *CandidateNode {
@@ -63,11 +66,10 @@ func (n *CandidateNode) UpdateFrom(other *CandidateNode) {
 	n.UpdateAttributesFrom(other)
 	n.Node.Content = other.Node.Content
 	n.Node.Value = other.Node.Value
-	n.Node.Alias = other.Node.Alias
-	n.Node.Anchor = other.Node.Anchor
 }
 
 func (n *CandidateNode) UpdateAttributesFrom(other *CandidateNode) {
+	log.Debug("UpdateAttributesFrom: n: %v other: %v", n.GetKey(), other.GetKey())
 	if n.Node.Kind != other.Node.Kind {
 		// clear out the contents when switching to a different type
 		// e.g. map to array
@@ -76,6 +78,8 @@ func (n *CandidateNode) UpdateAttributesFrom(other *CandidateNode) {
 	}
 	n.Node.Kind = other.Node.Kind
 	n.Node.Tag = other.Node.Tag
+	n.Node.Alias = other.Node.Alias
+	n.Node.Anchor = other.Node.Anchor
 
 	// merge will pickup the style of the new thing
 	// when autocreating nodes
@@ -86,46 +90,3 @@ func (n *CandidateNode) UpdateAttributesFrom(other *CandidateNode) {
 	n.Node.HeadComment = n.Node.HeadComment + other.Node.HeadComment
 	n.Node.LineComment = n.Node.LineComment + other.Node.LineComment
 }
-
-func (n *CandidateNode) PathStackToString() string {
-	return mergePathStackToString(n.Path)
-}
-
-func mergePathStackToString(pathStack []interface{}) string {
-	var sb strings.Builder
-	for index, path := range pathStack {
-		switch path.(type) {
-		case int, int64:
-			// if arrayMergeStrategy == AppendArrayMergeStrategy {
-			// sb.WriteString("[+]")
-			// } else {
-			sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("[%v]", path))
-			// }
-
-		default:
-			s := fmt.Sprintf("%v", path)
-			var _, errParsingInt = strconv.ParseInt(s, 10, 64) // nolint
-
-			hasSpecial := strings.Contains(s, ".") || strings.Contains(s, "[") || strings.Contains(s, "]") || strings.Contains(s, "\"")
-			hasDoubleQuotes := strings.Contains(s, "\"")
-			wrappingCharacterStart := "\""
-			wrappingCharacterEnd := "\""
-			if hasDoubleQuotes {
-				wrappingCharacterStart = "("
-				wrappingCharacterEnd = ")"
-			}
-			if hasSpecial || errParsingInt == nil {
-				sb.WriteString(wrappingCharacterStart)
-			}
-			sb.WriteString(s)
-			if hasSpecial || errParsingInt == nil {
-				sb.WriteString(wrappingCharacterEnd)
-			}
-		}
-
-		if index < len(pathStack)-1 {
-			sb.WriteString(".")
-		}
-	}
-	return sb.String()
-}

pkg/yqlib/context.go

@@ -18,6 +18,20 @@ func (n *Context) SingleChildContext(candidate *CandidateNode) Context {
 	return n.ChildContext(list)
 }
 
+func (n *Context) GetVariable(name string) *list.List {
+	if n.Variables == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return n.Variables[name]
+}
+
+func (n *Context) SetVariable(name string, value *list.List) {
+	if n.Variables == nil {
+		n.Variables = make(map[string]*list.List)
+	}
+	n.Variables[name] = value
+}
+
 func (n *Context) ChildContext(results *list.List) Context {
 	clone := Context{}
 	err := copier.Copy(&clone, n)
@@ -28,3 +42,13 @@ func (n *Context) ChildContext(results *list.List) Context {
 	clone.MatchingNodes = results
 	return clone
 }
+
+func (n *Context) Clone() Context {
+	clone := Context{}
+	err := copier.Copy(&clone, n)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Error("Error cloning context :(")
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	return clone
+}

pkg/yqlib/doc/Equals.md

@@ -29,6 +29,24 @@ true
 false
 ```
 
+## Don't match string
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- cat
+- goat
+- dog
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq eval '.[] | (. != "*at")' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+false
+false
+true
+```
+
 ## Match number
 Given a sample.yml file of:
 ```yaml
@@ -47,6 +65,24 @@ true
 false
 ```
 
+## Dont match number
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- 3
+- 4
+- 5
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq eval '.[] | (. != 4)' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+true
+false
+true
+```
+
 ## Match nulls
 Running
 ```bash

pkg/yqlib/doc/Multiply.md

@@ -71,7 +71,6 @@ Given a sample.yml file of:
 a: {things: great}
 b:
   also: "me"
-
 ```
 then
 ```bash

pkg/yqlib/doc/Traverse (Read).md

@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ c: banana
 ```
 
 ## Special characters
-Use quotes around path elements with special characters
+Use quotes with brackets around path elements with special characters
 
 Given a sample.yml file of:
 ```yaml
@@ -41,7 +41,23 @@ Given a sample.yml file of:
 ```
 then
 ```bash
-yq eval '."{}"' sample.yml
+yq eval '.["{}"]' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+frog
+```
+
+## Keys with spaces
+Use quotes with brackets around path elements with special characters
+
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+"red rabbit": frog
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq eval '.["red rabbit"]' sample.yml
 ```
 will output
 ```yaml

pkg/yqlib/doc/Variable Operators.md

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+For more complex scenarios, variables can be used to hold values of expression to be used in other expressions.
+
+## Single value variable
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+a: cat
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq eval '.a as $foo | $foo' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+cat
+```
+
+## Multi value variable
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- cat
+- dog
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq eval '.[] as $foo | $foo' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+cat
+dog
+```
+
+## Using variables as a lookup
+Example taken from [jq](https://stedolan.github.io/jq/manual/#Variable/SymbolicBindingOperator:...as$identifier|...)
+
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+"posts":
+  - "title": Frist psot
+    "author": anon
+  - "title": A well-written article
+    "author": person1
+"realnames":
+  "anon": Anonymous Coward
+  "person1": Person McPherson
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq eval '.realnames as $names | .posts[] | {"title":.title, "author": $names[.author]}' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+title: Frist psot
+author: Anonymous Coward
+title: A well-written article
+author: Person McPherson
+```
+

pkg/yqlib/doc/headers/Variable Operators.md

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+For more complex scenarios, variables can be used to hold values of expression to be used in other expressions.

pkg/yqlib/expression_parser.go

@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ func (p *expressionParserImpl) createExpressionTree(postFixPath []*Operation) (*
 		stack = append(stack, &newNode)
 	}
 	if len(stack) != 1 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("expected end of expression but found '%v', please check expression syntax", strings.TrimSpace(stack[1].Operation.StringValue))
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Bad expression, please check expression syntax")
 	}
 	return stack[0], nil
 }

pkg/yqlib/expression_parser_test.go

@@ -38,5 +38,5 @@ func TestPathTreeOneArgForOneArgOp(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestPathTreeExtraArgs(t *testing.T) {
 	_, err := NewExpressionParser().ParseExpression("sortKeys(.) explode(.)")
-	test.AssertResultComplex(t, "expected end of expression but found 'explode', please check expression syntax", err.Error())
+	test.AssertResultComplex(t, "Bad expression, please check expression syntax", err.Error())
 }

pkg/yqlib/expression_postfix.go

@@ -20,20 +20,22 @@ func newExpressionPostFixer() expressionPostFixer {
 func popOpToResult(opStack []*token, result []*Operation) ([]*token, []*Operation) {
 	var newOp *token
 	opStack, newOp = opStack[0:len(opStack)-1], opStack[len(opStack)-1]
+	log.Debugf("popped %v from opstack to results", newOp.toString(true))
 	return opStack, append(result, newOp.Operation)
 }
 
 func (p *expressionPostFixerImpl) ConvertToPostfix(infixTokens []*token) ([]*Operation, error) {
 	var result []*Operation
-	// surround the whole thing with quotes
+	// surround the whole thing with brackets
-	var opStack = []*token{&token{TokenType: openBracket}}
+	var opStack = []*token{{TokenType: openBracket}}
 	var tokens = append(infixTokens, &token{TokenType: closeBracket})
 
 	for _, currentToken := range tokens {
-		log.Debugf("postfix processing currentToken %v, %v", currentToken.toString(), currentToken.Operation)
+		log.Debugf("postfix processing currentToken %v", currentToken.toString(true))
 		switch currentToken.TokenType {
 		case openBracket, openCollect, openCollectObject:
 			opStack = append(opStack, currentToken)
+			log.Debugf("put %v onto the opstack", currentToken.toString(true))
 		case closeCollect, closeCollectObject:
 			var opener tokenType = openCollect
 			var collectOperator *operationType = collectOpType
@@ -41,23 +43,23 @@ func (p *expressionPostFixerImpl) ConvertToPostfix(infixTokens []*token) ([]*Ope
 				opener = openCollectObject
 				collectOperator = collectObjectOpType
 			}
-			itemsInMiddle := false
+
 			for len(opStack) > 0 && opStack[len(opStack)-1].TokenType != opener {
 				opStack, result = popOpToResult(opStack, result)
-				itemsInMiddle = true
-			}
-			if !itemsInMiddle {
-				// must be an empty collection, add the empty object as a LHS parameter
-				result = append(result, &Operation{OperationType: emptyOpType})
 			}
 			if len(opStack) == 0 {
 				return nil, errors.New("Bad path expression, got close collect brackets without matching opening bracket")
 			}
-			// now we should have [] as the last element on the opStack, get rid of it
+			// now we should have [ as the last element on the opStack, get rid of it
 			opStack = opStack[0 : len(opStack)-1]
+			log.Debugf("deleteing open bracket from opstack")
+
 			//and append a collect to the opStack
-			opStack = append(opStack, &token{TokenType: operationToken, Operation: &Operation{OperationType: shortPipeOpType}})
+			result = append(result, &Operation{OperationType: collectOperator})
-			opStack = append(opStack, &token{TokenType: operationToken, Operation: &Operation{OperationType: collectOperator}})
+			log.Debugf("put collect onto the result")
+			result = append(result, &Operation{OperationType: shortPipeOpType})
+			log.Debugf("put shortpipe onto the result")
+
 		case closeBracket:
 			for len(opStack) > 0 && opStack[len(opStack)-1].TokenType != openBracket {
 				opStack, result = popOpToResult(opStack, result)
@@ -73,11 +75,12 @@ func (p *expressionPostFixerImpl) ConvertToPostfix(infixTokens []*token) ([]*Ope
 			// pop off higher precedent operators onto the result
 			for len(opStack) > 0 &&
 				opStack[len(opStack)-1].TokenType == operationToken &&
-				opStack[len(opStack)-1].Operation.OperationType.Precedence >= currentPrecedence {
+				opStack[len(opStack)-1].Operation.OperationType.Precedence > currentPrecedence {
 				opStack, result = popOpToResult(opStack, result)
 			}
 			// add this operator to the opStack
 			opStack = append(opStack, currentToken)
+			log.Debugf("put %v onto the opstack", currentToken.toString(true))
 		}
 	}
 

pkg/yqlib/expression_processing_test.go

@@ -12,40 +12,65 @@ var pathTests = []struct {
 	expectedTokens  []interface{}
 	expectedPostFix []interface{}
 }{
+	{
+		`.a | .b | .c`,
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "PIPE", "b", "PIPE", "c"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "b", "c", "PIPE", "PIPE"),
+	},
 	{
 		`[]`,
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "[", "]"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "[", "EMPTY", "]"),
 		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "EMPTY", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE"),
 	},
+	{
+		`{}`,
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "{", "EMPTY", "}"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "EMPTY", "COLLECT_OBJECT", "SHORT_PIPE"),
+	},
+	{
+		`[{}]`,
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "[", "{", "EMPTY", "}", "]"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "EMPTY", "COLLECT_OBJECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE"),
+	},
+	{
+		`.realnames as $names | $names["anon"]`,
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "realnames", "ASSIGN_VARIABLE", "GET_VARIABLE", "PIPE", "GET_VARIABLE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "anon (string)", "]"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "realnames", "GET_VARIABLE", "ASSIGN_VARIABLE", "GET_VARIABLE", "anon (string)", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "PIPE"),
+	},
+	{
+		`.b[.a]`,
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "b", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "a", "]"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "b", "a", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY"),
+	},
 	{
 		`.[]`,
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "]"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "SELF", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "EMPTY", "]"),
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "EMPTY", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "SELF", "EMPTY", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY"),
 	},
 	{
 		`.a[]`,
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "]"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "EMPTY", "]"),
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "EMPTY", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "SHORT_PIPE"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "EMPTY", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY"),
 	},
 	{
 		`.a.[]`,
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "]"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "EMPTY", "]"),
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "EMPTY", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "SHORT_PIPE"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "EMPTY", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY"),
 	},
 	{
 		`.a[0]`,
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "0 (int64)", "]"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "0 (int64)", "]"),
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "0 (int64)", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "SHORT_PIPE"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "0 (int64)", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY"),
 	},
 	{
 		`.a.[0]`,
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "0 (int64)", "]"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "0 (int64)", "]"),
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "0 (int64)", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "SHORT_PIPE"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "0 (int64)", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY"),
 	},
 	{
 		`.a[].c`,
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "]", "SHORT_PIPE", "c"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "EMPTY", "]", "SHORT_PIPE", "c"),
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "EMPTY", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "SHORT_PIPE", "c", "SHORT_PIPE"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "EMPTY", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "c", "SHORT_PIPE"),
 	},
 	{
 		`[3]`,
@@ -69,18 +94,18 @@ var pathTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		`.a | .[].b == "apple"`,
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "]", "SHORT_PIPE", "b", "EQUALS", "apple (string)"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "PIPE", "SELF", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "EMPTY", "]", "SHORT_PIPE", "b", "EQUALS", "apple (string)"),
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "EMPTY", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "b", "SHORT_PIPE", "apple (string)", "EQUALS", "PIPE"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "SELF", "EMPTY", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "b", "SHORT_PIPE", "apple (string)", "EQUALS", "PIPE"),
 	},
 	{
 		`(.a | .[].b) == "apple"`,
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "(", "a", "PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "]", "SHORT_PIPE", "b", ")", "EQUALS", "apple (string)"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "(", "a", "PIPE", "SELF", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "EMPTY", "]", "SHORT_PIPE", "b", ")", "EQUALS", "apple (string)"),
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "EMPTY", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "b", "SHORT_PIPE", "PIPE", "apple (string)", "EQUALS"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "SELF", "EMPTY", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "b", "SHORT_PIPE", "PIPE", "apple (string)", "EQUALS"),
 	},
 	{
 		`.[] | select(. == "*at")`,
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "]", "PIPE", "SELECT", "(", "SELF", "EQUALS", "*at (string)", ")"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "SELF", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "EMPTY", "]", "PIPE", "SELECT", "(", "SELF", "EQUALS", "*at (string)", ")"),
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "EMPTY", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "SELF", "*at (string)", "EQUALS", "SELECT", "PIPE"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "SELF", "EMPTY", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "SELF", "*at (string)", "EQUALS", "SELECT", "PIPE"),
 	},
 	{
 		`[true]`,
@@ -113,9 +138,9 @@ var pathTests = []struct {
 		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "mike (string)", "CREATE_MAP", "COLLECT_OBJECT", "SHORT_PIPE"),
 	},
 	{
-		`{.a: .c, .b.[]: .f.g.[]}`,
+		`{.a: .c, .b.[]: .f.g[]}`,
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "{", "a", "CREATE_MAP", "c", "UNION", "b", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "]", "CREATE_MAP", "f", "SHORT_PIPE", "g", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "]", "}"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "{", "a", "CREATE_MAP", "c", "UNION", "b", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "EMPTY", "]", "CREATE_MAP", "f", "SHORT_PIPE", "g", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "[", "EMPTY", "]", "}"),
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "c", "CREATE_MAP", "b", "EMPTY", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "SHORT_PIPE", "f", "g", "SHORT_PIPE", "EMPTY", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "SHORT_PIPE", "CREATE_MAP", "UNION", "COLLECT_OBJECT", "SHORT_PIPE"),
+		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "a", "c", "CREATE_MAP", "b", "EMPTY", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "f", "g", "EMPTY", "COLLECT", "SHORT_PIPE", "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", "SHORT_PIPE", "CREATE_MAP", "UNION", "COLLECT_OBJECT", "SHORT_PIPE"),
 	},
 	{
 		`explode(.a.b)`,
@@ -167,11 +192,6 @@ var pathTests = []struct {
 		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "foo*", "PIPE", "(", "SELF", "ASSIGN_STYLE", "flow (string)", ")"),
 		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "foo*", "SELF", "flow (string)", "ASSIGN_STYLE", "PIPE"),
 	},
-	{
-		`{}`,
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "{", "}"),
-		append(make([]interface{}, 0), "EMPTY", "COLLECT_OBJECT", "SHORT_PIPE"),
-	},
 }
 
 var tokeniser = newExpressionTokeniser()
@@ -185,7 +205,7 @@ func TestPathParsing(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 		var tokenValues []interface{}
 		for _, token := range tokens {
-			tokenValues = append(tokenValues, token.toString())
+			tokenValues = append(tokenValues, token.toString(false))
 		}
 		test.AssertResultComplexWithContext(t, tt.expectedTokens, tokenValues, fmt.Sprintf("tokenise: %v", tt.path))
 

pkg/yqlib/expression_tokeniser.go

@@ -34,9 +34,11 @@ type token struct {
 
 }
 
-func (t *token) toString() string {
+func (t *token) toString(detail bool) string {
 	if t.TokenType == operationToken {
-		log.Debug("toString, its an op")
+		if detail {
+			return fmt.Sprintf("%v (%v)", t.Operation.toString(), t.Operation.OperationType.Precedence)
+		}
 		return t.Operation.toString()
 	} else if t.TokenType == openBracket {
 		return "("
@@ -180,6 +182,19 @@ func stringValue(wrapped bool) lex.Action {
 	}
 }
 
+func getVariableOpToken() lex.Action {
+	return func(s *lex.Scanner, m *machines.Match) (interface{}, error) {
+		value := string(m.Bytes)
+
+		value = value[1 : len(value)-1]
+
+		getVarOperation := createValueOperation(value, value)
+		getVarOperation.OperationType = getVariableOpType
+
+		return &token{TokenType: operationToken, Operation: getVarOperation, CheckForPostTraverse: true}, nil
+	}
+}
+
 func envOp(strenv bool) lex.Action {
 	return func(s *lex.Scanner, m *machines.Match) (interface{}, error) {
 		value := string(m.Bytes)
@@ -269,6 +284,7 @@ func initLexer() (*lex.Lexer, error) {
 	lexer.Add([]byte(`collect`), opToken(collectOpType))
 
 	lexer.Add([]byte(`\s*==\s*`), opToken(equalsOpType))
+	lexer.Add([]byte(`\s*!=\s*`), opToken(notEqualsOpType))
 	lexer.Add([]byte(`\s*=\s*`), assignOpToken(false))
 
 	lexer.Add([]byte(`del`), opToken(deleteChildOpType))
@@ -304,6 +320,8 @@ func initLexer() (*lex.Lexer, error) {
 	lexer.Add([]byte(`\*[\+|\?]*`), multiplyWithPrefs())
 	lexer.Add([]byte(`\+`), opToken(addOpType))
 	lexer.Add([]byte(`\+=`), opToken(addAssignOpType))
+	lexer.Add([]byte(`\$[a-zA-Z_-0-9]+`), getVariableOpToken())
+	lexer.Add([]byte(`as`), opToken(assignVariableOpType))
 
 	err := lexer.Compile()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -339,7 +357,7 @@ func (p *expressionTokeniserImpl) Tokenise(expression string) ([]*token, error)
 
 		if tok != nil {
 			currentToken := tok.(*token)
-			log.Debugf("Tokenising %v", currentToken.toString())
+			log.Debugf("Tokenising %v", currentToken.toString(true))
 			tokens = append(tokens, currentToken)
 		}
 		if err != nil {
@@ -369,6 +387,12 @@ func (p *expressionTokeniserImpl) handleToken(tokens []*token, index int, postPr
 		//need to put a traverse array then a collect currentToken
 		// do this by adding traverse then converting currentToken to collect
 
+		if index == 0 || tokens[index-1].TokenType != operationToken ||
+			tokens[index-1].Operation.OperationType != traversePathOpType {
+			op := &Operation{OperationType: selfReferenceOpType, StringValue: "SELF"}
+			postProcessedTokens = append(postProcessedTokens, &token{TokenType: operationToken, Operation: op})
+		}
+
 		op := &Operation{OperationType: traverseArrayOpType, StringValue: "TRAVERSE_ARRAY"}
 		postProcessedTokens = append(postProcessedTokens, &token{TokenType: operationToken, Operation: op})
 
@@ -386,6 +410,14 @@ func (p *expressionTokeniserImpl) handleToken(tokens []*token, index int, postPr
 
 	postProcessedTokens = append(postProcessedTokens, currentToken)
 
+	if index != len(tokens)-1 &&
+		((currentToken.TokenType == openCollect && tokens[index+1].TokenType == closeCollect) ||
+			(currentToken.TokenType == openCollectObject && tokens[index+1].TokenType == closeCollectObject)) {
+
+		op := &Operation{OperationType: emptyOpType, StringValue: "EMPTY"}
+		postProcessedTokens = append(postProcessedTokens, &token{TokenType: operationToken, Operation: op})
+	}
+
 	if index != len(tokens)-1 && currentToken.CheckForPostTraverse &&
 		tokens[index+1].TokenType == operationToken &&
 		tokens[index+1].Operation.OperationType == traversePathOpType {
@@ -395,18 +427,8 @@ func (p *expressionTokeniserImpl) handleToken(tokens []*token, index int, postPr
 	if index != len(tokens)-1 && currentToken.CheckForPostTraverse &&
 		tokens[index+1].TokenType == openCollect {
 
-		op := &Operation{OperationType: shortPipeOpType, Value: "PIPE"}
+		op := &Operation{OperationType: traverseArrayOpType}
 		postProcessedTokens = append(postProcessedTokens, &token{TokenType: operationToken, Operation: op})
-
-		op = &Operation{OperationType: traverseArrayOpType}
-		postProcessedTokens = append(postProcessedTokens, &token{TokenType: operationToken, Operation: op})
-	}
-	if index != len(tokens)-1 && currentToken.CheckForPostTraverse &&
-		tokens[index+1].TokenType == traverseArrayCollect {
-
-		op := &Operation{OperationType: shortPipeOpType, Value: "PIPE"}
-		postProcessedTokens = append(postProcessedTokens, &token{TokenType: operationToken, Operation: op})
-
 	}
 	return postProcessedTokens, skipNextToken
 }

pkg/yqlib/lib.go

@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ var addAssignOpType = &operationType{Type: "ADD_ASSIGN", NumArgs: 2, Precedence:
 
 var assignAttributesOpType = &operationType{Type: "ASSIGN_ATTRIBUTES", NumArgs: 2, Precedence: 40, Handler: assignAttributesOperator}
 var assignStyleOpType = &operationType{Type: "ASSIGN_STYLE", NumArgs: 2, Precedence: 40, Handler: assignStyleOperator}
+var assignVariableOpType = &operationType{Type: "ASSIGN_VARIABLE", NumArgs: 2, Precedence: 40, Handler: assignVariableOperator}
 var assignTagOpType = &operationType{Type: "ASSIGN_TAG", NumArgs: 2, Precedence: 40, Handler: assignTagOperator}
 var assignCommentOpType = &operationType{Type: "ASSIGN_COMMENT", NumArgs: 2, Precedence: 40, Handler: assignCommentsOperator}
 var assignAnchorOpType = &operationType{Type: "ASSIGN_ANCHOR", NumArgs: 2, Precedence: 40, Handler: assignAnchorOperator}
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ var addOpType = &operationType{Type: "ADD", NumArgs: 2, Precedence: 42, Handler:
 var alternativeOpType = &operationType{Type: "ALTERNATIVE", NumArgs: 2, Precedence: 42, Handler: alternativeOperator}
 
 var equalsOpType = &operationType{Type: "EQUALS", NumArgs: 2, Precedence: 40, Handler: equalsOperator}
+var notEqualsOpType = &operationType{Type: "EQUALS", NumArgs: 2, Precedence: 40, Handler: notEqualsOperator}
 var createMapOpType = &operationType{Type: "CREATE_MAP", NumArgs: 2, Precedence: 40, Handler: createMapOperator}
 
 var shortPipeOpType = &operationType{Type: "SHORT_PIPE", NumArgs: 2, Precedence: 45, Handler: pipeOperator}
@@ -52,6 +54,7 @@ var shortPipeOpType = &operationType{Type: "SHORT_PIPE", NumArgs: 2, Precedence:
 var lengthOpType = &operationType{Type: "LENGTH", NumArgs: 0, Precedence: 50, Handler: lengthOperator}
 var collectOpType = &operationType{Type: "COLLECT", NumArgs: 0, Precedence: 50, Handler: collectOperator}
 var splitDocumentOpType = &operationType{Type: "SPLIT_DOC", NumArgs: 0, Precedence: 50, Handler: splitDocumentOperator}
+var getVariableOpType = &operationType{Type: "GET_VARIABLE", NumArgs: 0, Precedence: 55, Handler: getVariableOperator}
 var getStyleOpType = &operationType{Type: "GET_STYLE", NumArgs: 0, Precedence: 50, Handler: getStyleOperator}
 var getTagOpType = &operationType{Type: "GET_TAG", NumArgs: 0, Precedence: 50, Handler: getTagOperator}
 var getCommentOpType = &operationType{Type: "GET_COMMENT", NumArgs: 0, Precedence: 50, Handler: getCommentsOperator}
@@ -70,10 +73,10 @@ var splitStringOpType = &operationType{Type: "SPLIT", NumArgs: 1, Precedence: 50
 var keysOpType = &operationType{Type: "KEYS", NumArgs: 0, Precedence: 50, Handler: keysOperator}
 
 var collectObjectOpType = &operationType{Type: "COLLECT_OBJECT", NumArgs: 0, Precedence: 50, Handler: collectObjectOperator}
-var traversePathOpType = &operationType{Type: "TRAVERSE_PATH", NumArgs: 0, Precedence: 50, Handler: traversePathOperator}
+var traversePathOpType = &operationType{Type: "TRAVERSE_PATH", NumArgs: 0, Precedence: 55, Handler: traversePathOperator}
-var traverseArrayOpType = &operationType{Type: "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", NumArgs: 1, Precedence: 50, Handler: traverseArrayOperator}
+var traverseArrayOpType = &operationType{Type: "TRAVERSE_ARRAY", NumArgs: 2, Precedence: 50, Handler: traverseArrayOperator}
 
-var selfReferenceOpType = &operationType{Type: "SELF", NumArgs: 0, Precedence: 50, Handler: selfOperator}
+var selfReferenceOpType = &operationType{Type: "SELF", NumArgs: 0, Precedence: 55, Handler: selfOperator}
 var valueOpType = &operationType{Type: "VALUE", NumArgs: 0, Precedence: 50, Handler: valueOperator}
 var envOpType = &operationType{Type: "ENV", NumArgs: 0, Precedence: 50, Handler: envOperator}
 var notOpType = &operationType{Type: "NOT", NumArgs: 0, Precedence: 50, Handler: notOperator}

pkg/yqlib/operator_assign.go

@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ func assignUpdateOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode
 
 // does not update content or values
 func assignAttributesOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
+	log.Debug("getting lhs matching nodes for update")
 	lhs, err := d.GetMatchingNodes(context, expressionNode.Lhs)
 	if err != nil {
 		return Context{}, err

pkg/yqlib/operator_delete.go

@@ -7,29 +7,32 @@ import (
 )
 
 func deleteChildOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
-
+	contextToUse := context.Clone()
-	nodesToDelete, err := d.GetMatchingNodes(context, expressionNode.Rhs)
+	contextToUse.DontAutoCreate = true
+	nodesToDelete, err := d.GetMatchingNodes(contextToUse, expressionNode.Rhs)
 
 	if err != nil {
 		return Context{}, err
 	}
-
+	//need to iterate backwards to ensure correct indices when deleting multiple
-	for el := nodesToDelete.MatchingNodes.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
+	for el := nodesToDelete.MatchingNodes.Back(); el != nil; el = el.Prev() {
 		candidate := el.Value.(*CandidateNode)
 
-		deleteImmediateChildOp := &Operation{
+		if len(candidate.Path) > 0 {
-			OperationType: deleteImmediateChildOpType,
+			deleteImmediateChildOp := &Operation{
-			Value:         candidate.Path[len(candidate.Path)-1],
+				OperationType: deleteImmediateChildOpType,
-		}
+				Value:         candidate.Path[len(candidate.Path)-1],
+			}
 
-		deleteImmediateChildOpNode := &ExpressionNode{
+			deleteImmediateChildOpNode := &ExpressionNode{
-			Operation: deleteImmediateChildOp,
+				Operation: deleteImmediateChildOp,
-			Rhs:       createTraversalTree(candidate.Path[0:len(candidate.Path)-1], traversePreferences{}),
+				Rhs:       createTraversalTree(candidate.Path[0:len(candidate.Path)-1], traversePreferences{}, false),
-		}
+			}
 
-		_, err := d.GetMatchingNodes(context, deleteImmediateChildOpNode)
+			_, err := d.GetMatchingNodes(contextToUse, deleteImmediateChildOpNode)
-		if err != nil {
+			if err != nil {
-			return Context{}, err
+				return Context{}, err
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	return context, nil

pkg/yqlib/operator_delete_test.go

@@ -37,6 +37,38 @@ var deleteOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 			"D0, P[], (doc)::[1, 3]\n",
 		},
 	},
+	{
+		skipDoc:    true,
+		document:   `a: [1,2,3]`,
+		expression: `del(.a[])`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[], (doc)::a: []\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		skipDoc:    true,
+		document:   `a: [10,x,10, 10, x, 10]`,
+		expression: `del(.a[] | select(. == 10))`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[], (doc)::a: [x, x]\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		skipDoc:    true,
+		document:   `a: {thing1: yep, thing2: cool, thing3: hi, b: {thing1: cool, great: huh}}`,
+		expression: `del(..)`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[], (!!map)::{}\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		skipDoc:    true,
+		document:   `a: {thing1: yep, thing2: cool, thing3: hi, b: {thing1: cool, great: huh}}`,
+		expression: `del(.. | select(tag == "!!map") | (.b.thing1,.thing2))`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[], (!!map)::a: {thing1: yep, thing3: hi, b: {great: huh}}\n",
+		},
+	},
 	{
 		description: "Delete nested entry in array",
 		document:    `[{a: cat, b: dog}]`,

pkg/yqlib/operator_equals.go

@@ -1,21 +1,33 @@
 package yqlib
 
+import "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
+
 func equalsOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
 	log.Debugf("-- equalsOperation")
-	return crossFunction(d, context, expressionNode, isEquals)
+	return crossFunction(d, context, expressionNode, isEquals(false))
 }
 
-func isEquals(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, lhs *CandidateNode, rhs *CandidateNode) (*CandidateNode, error) {
+func isEquals(flip bool) func(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, lhs *CandidateNode, rhs *CandidateNode) (*CandidateNode, error) {
-	value := false
+	return func(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, lhs *CandidateNode, rhs *CandidateNode) (*CandidateNode, error) {
+		value := false
 
-	lhsNode := unwrapDoc(lhs.Node)
+		lhsNode := unwrapDoc(lhs.Node)
-	rhsNode := unwrapDoc(rhs.Node)
+		rhsNode := unwrapDoc(rhs.Node)
 
-	if lhsNode.Tag == "!!null" {
+		if lhsNode.Tag == "!!null" {
-		value = (rhsNode.Tag == "!!null")
+			value = (rhsNode.Tag == "!!null")
-	} else {
+		} else if lhsNode.Kind == yaml.ScalarNode && rhsNode.Kind == yaml.ScalarNode {
-		value = matchKey(lhsNode.Value, rhsNode.Value)
+			value = matchKey(lhsNode.Value, rhsNode.Value)
+		}
+		log.Debugf("%v == %v ? %v", NodeToString(lhs), NodeToString(rhs), value)
+		if flip {
+			value = !value
+		}
+		return createBooleanCandidate(lhs, value), nil
 	}
-	log.Debugf("%v == %v ? %v", NodeToString(lhs), NodeToString(rhs), value)
+}
-	return createBooleanCandidate(lhs, value), nil
+
+func notEqualsOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
+	log.Debugf("-- equalsOperation")
+	return crossFunction(d, context, expressionNode, isEquals(true))
 }

pkg/yqlib/operator_equals_test.go

@@ -14,6 +14,14 @@ var equalsOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 			"D0, P[], (!!bool)::false\n",
 		},
 	},
+	{
+		skipDoc:    true,
+		document:   "{a: { b: {things: \"\"}, f: [1], g: [] }}",
+		expression: ".. | select(. == \"\")",
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[a b things], (!!str)::\"\"\n",
+		},
+	},
 	{
 		description: "Match string",
 		document:    `[cat,goat,dog]`,
@@ -23,7 +31,18 @@ var equalsOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 			"D0, P[1], (!!bool)::true\n",
 			"D0, P[2], (!!bool)::false\n",
 		},
-	}, {
+	},
+	{
+		description: "Don't match string",
+		document:    `[cat,goat,dog]`,
+		expression:  `.[] | (. != "*at")`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[0], (!!bool)::false\n",
+			"D0, P[1], (!!bool)::false\n",
+			"D0, P[2], (!!bool)::true\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
 		description: "Match number",
 		document:    `[3, 4, 5]`,
 		expression:  `.[] | (. == 4)`,
@@ -32,7 +51,18 @@ var equalsOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 			"D0, P[1], (!!bool)::true\n",
 			"D0, P[2], (!!bool)::false\n",
 		},
-	}, {
+	},
+	{
+		description: "Dont match number",
+		document:    `[3, 4, 5]`,
+		expression:  `.[] | (. != 4)`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[0], (!!bool)::true\n",
+			"D0, P[1], (!!bool)::false\n",
+			"D0, P[2], (!!bool)::true\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
 		skipDoc:    true,
 		document:   `a: { cat: {b: apple, c: whatever}, pat: {b: banana} }`,
 		expression: `.a | (.[].b == "apple")`,

pkg/yqlib/operator_multiply.go

@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ func mergeObjects(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, lhs *CandidateNode, rhs
 
 	// shouldn't recurse arrays if appending
 	prefs := recursiveDescentPreferences{RecurseArray: !shouldAppendArrays,
-		TraversePreferences: traversePreferences{DontFollowAlias: true}}
+		TraversePreferences: traversePreferences{DontFollowAlias: true, IncludeMapKeys: true}}
 	err := recursiveDecent(d, results, context.SingleChildContext(rhs), prefs)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -78,7 +78,12 @@ func mergeObjects(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, lhs *CandidateNode, rhs
 	}
 
 	for el := results.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
-		err := applyAssignment(d, context, pathIndexToStartFrom, lhs, el.Value.(*CandidateNode), preferences)
+		candidate := el.Value.(*CandidateNode)
+		if candidate.Node.Tag == "!!merge" {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		err := applyAssignment(d, context, pathIndexToStartFrom, lhs, candidate, preferences)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -88,7 +93,7 @@ func mergeObjects(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, lhs *CandidateNode, rhs
 
 func applyAssignment(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, pathIndexToStartFrom int, lhs *CandidateNode, rhs *CandidateNode, preferences multiplyPreferences) error {
 	shouldAppendArrays := preferences.AppendArrays
-	log.Debugf("merge - applyAssignment lhs %v, rhs: %v", NodeToString(lhs), NodeToString(rhs))
+	log.Debugf("merge - applyAssignment lhs %v, rhs: %v", lhs.GetKey(), rhs.GetKey())
 
 	lhsPath := rhs.Path[pathIndexToStartFrom:]
 
@@ -101,7 +106,7 @@ func applyAssignment(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, pathIndexToStartFrom
 	}
 	rhsOp := &Operation{OperationType: valueOpType, CandidateNode: rhs}
 
-	assignmentOpNode := &ExpressionNode{Operation: assignmentOp, Lhs: createTraversalTree(lhsPath, preferences.TraversePrefs), Rhs: &ExpressionNode{Operation: rhsOp}}
+	assignmentOpNode := &ExpressionNode{Operation: assignmentOp, Lhs: createTraversalTree(lhsPath, preferences.TraversePrefs, rhs.IsMapKey), Rhs: &ExpressionNode{Operation: rhsOp}}
 
 	_, err := d.GetMatchingNodes(context.SingleChildContext(lhs), assignmentOpNode)
 

pkg/yqlib/operator_multiply_test.go

@@ -13,6 +13,30 @@ var multiplyOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 			"D0, P[], (!!map)::{a: {also: me}, b: {also: me}}\n",
 		},
 	},
+	{
+		skipDoc:    true,
+		document:   "# b\nb:\n  # a\n  a: cat",
+		expression: "{} * .",
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[], (!!map)::# b\nb:\n    # a\n    a: cat\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		skipDoc:    true,
+		document:   "# b\nb:\n  # a\n  a: cat",
+		expression: ". * {}",
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[], (!!map)::# b\nb:\n    # a\n    a: cat\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		skipDoc:    true,
+		document:   `{a: &a { b: &b { c: &c cat } } }`,
+		expression: `{} * .`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[], (!!map)::{a: &a {b: &b {c: &c cat}}}\n",
+		},
+	},
 	{
 		skipDoc:    true,
 		document:   `{a: 2, b: 5}`,
@@ -92,7 +116,7 @@ var multiplyOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 	{
 		skipDoc:    true,
 		document:   `{a: {things: great}, b: {also: me}}`,
-		expression: `. * {"a":.b}`,
+		expression: `. * {"a": .b}`,
 		expected: []string{
 			"D0, P[], (!!map)::{a: {things: great, also: me}, b: {also: me}}\n",
 		},
@@ -100,16 +124,10 @@ var multiplyOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 	{
 		description:           "Merge keeps style of LHS",
 		dontFormatInputForDoc: true,
-		document: `a: {things: great}
+		document:              "a: {things: great}\nb:\n  also: \"me\"",
-b:
+		expression:            `. * {"a":.b}`,
-  also: "me"
-`,
-		expression: `. * {"a":.b}`,
 		expected: []string{
-			`D0, P[], (!!map)::a: {things: great, also: "me"}
+			"D0, P[], (!!map)::a: {things: great, also: \"me\"}\nb:\n    also: \"me\"\n",
-b:
-    also: "me"
-`,
 		},
 	},
 	{

pkg/yqlib/operator_traverse_path.go

@@ -10,9 +10,10 @@ import (
 )
 
 type traversePreferences struct {
-	DontFollowAlias bool
+	DontFollowAlias      bool
-	IncludeMapKeys  bool
+	IncludeMapKeys       bool
-	DontAutoCreate  bool // by default, we automatically create entries on the fly.
+	DontAutoCreate       bool // by default, we automatically create entries on the fly.
+	DontIncludeMapValues bool
 }
 
 func splat(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, prefs traversePreferences) (Context, error) {
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ func splat(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, prefs traversePreferences) (Co
 }
 
 func traversePathOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
-	log.Debugf("-- Traversing")
+	log.Debugf("-- traversePathOperator")
 	var matches = list.New()
 
 	for el := context.MatchingNodes.Front(); el != nil; el = el.Next() {
@@ -75,6 +76,16 @@ func traverse(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, matchingNode *CandidateNode
 }
 
 func traverseArrayOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
+
+	//lhs may update the variable context, we should pass that into the RHS
+	// BUT we still return the original context back (see jq)
+	// https://stedolan.github.io/jq/manual/#Variable/SymbolicBindingOperator:...as$identifier|...
+
+	lhs, err := d.GetMatchingNodes(context, expressionNode.Lhs)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Context{}, err
+	}
+
 	// rhs is a collect expression that will yield indexes to retreive of the arrays
 
 	rhs, err := d.GetMatchingNodes(context, expressionNode.Rhs)
@@ -83,7 +94,13 @@ func traverseArrayOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode
 	}
 
 	var indicesToTraverse = rhs.MatchingNodes.Front().Value.(*CandidateNode).Node.Content
-	return traverseNodesWithArrayIndices(context, indicesToTraverse, traversePreferences{})
+
+	//now we traverse the result of the lhs against the indices we found
+	result, err := traverseNodesWithArrayIndices(lhs, indicesToTraverse, traversePreferences{})
+	if err != nil {
+		return Context{}, err
+	}
+	return context.ChildContext(result.MatchingNodes), nil
 }
 
 func traverseNodesWithArrayIndices(context Context, indicesToTraverse []*yaml.Node, prefs traversePreferences) (Context, error) {
@@ -198,10 +215,21 @@ func traverseMap(context Context, matchingNode *CandidateNode, key string, prefs
 	if !prefs.DontAutoCreate && !context.DontAutoCreate && newMatches.Len() == 0 {
 		//no matches, create one automagically
 		valueNode := &yaml.Node{Tag: "!!null", Kind: yaml.ScalarNode, Value: "null"}
+		keyNode := &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.ScalarNode, Value: key}
 		node := matchingNode.Node
-		node.Content = append(node.Content, &yaml.Node{Kind: yaml.ScalarNode, Value: key}, valueNode)
+		node.Content = append(node.Content, keyNode, valueNode)
-		candidateNode := matchingNode.CreateChild(key, valueNode)
+
-		newMatches.Set(candidateNode.GetKey(), candidateNode)
+		if prefs.IncludeMapKeys {
+			log.Debug("including key")
+			candidateNode := matchingNode.CreateChild(key, keyNode)
+			candidateNode.IsMapKey = true
+			newMatches.Set(fmt.Sprintf("keyOf-%v", candidateNode.GetKey()), candidateNode)
+		}
+		if !prefs.DontIncludeMapValues {
+			log.Debug("including value")
+			candidateNode := matchingNode.CreateChild(key, valueNode)
+			newMatches.Set(candidateNode.GetKey(), candidateNode)
+		}
 	}
 
 	results := list.New()
@@ -237,11 +265,16 @@ func doTraverseMap(newMatches *orderedmap.OrderedMap, candidate *CandidateNode,
 		} else if splat || keyMatches(key, wantedKey) {
 			log.Debug("MATCHED")
 			if prefs.IncludeMapKeys {
+				log.Debug("including key")
 				candidateNode := candidate.CreateChild(key.Value, key)
+				candidateNode.IsMapKey = true
 				newMatches.Set(fmt.Sprintf("keyOf-%v", candidateNode.GetKey()), candidateNode)
 			}
-			candidateNode := candidate.CreateChild(key.Value, value)
+			if !prefs.DontIncludeMapValues {
-			newMatches.Set(candidateNode.GetKey(), candidateNode)
+				log.Debug("including value")
+				candidateNode := candidate.CreateChild(key.Value, value)
+				newMatches.Set(candidateNode.GetKey(), candidateNode)
+			}
 		}
 	}
 

pkg/yqlib/operator_traverse_path_test.go

@@ -47,13 +47,30 @@ var traversePathOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 	},
 	{
 		description:    "Special characters",
-		subdescription: "Use quotes around path elements with special characters",
+		subdescription: "Use quotes with brackets around path elements with special characters",
 		document:       `{"{}": frog}`,
-		expression:     `."{}"`,
+		expression:     `.["{}"]`,
 		expected: []string{
 			"D0, P[{}], (!!str)::frog\n",
 		},
 	},
+	{
+		description:    "Keys with spaces",
+		subdescription: "Use quotes with brackets around path elements with special characters",
+		document:       `{"red rabbit": frog}`,
+		expression:     `.["red rabbit"]`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[red rabbit], (!!str)::frog\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		skipDoc:    true,
+		document:   `{"flying fox": frog}`,
+		expression: `.["flying fox"]`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[flying fox], (!!str)::frog\n",
+		},
+	},
 	{
 		description:    "Dynamic keys",
 		subdescription: `Expressions within [] can be used to dynamically lookup / calculate keys`,
@@ -63,6 +80,14 @@ var traversePathOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 			"D0, P[apple], (!!str)::crispy yum\n",
 		},
 	},
+	{
+		skipDoc:    true,
+		document:   `{b: apple, fruit: {apple: yum, banana: smooth}}`,
+		expression: `.fruit[.b]`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[fruit apple], (!!str)::yum\n",
+		},
+	},
 	{
 		description:    "Children don't exist",
 		subdescription: "Nodes are added dynamically while traversing",
@@ -83,7 +108,7 @@ var traversePathOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 	{
 		skipDoc:    true,
 		document:   `{}`,
-		expression: `.a.[1]`,
+		expression: `.a[1]`,
 		expected: []string{
 			"D0, P[a 1], (!!null)::null\n",
 		},
@@ -154,7 +179,7 @@ var traversePathOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 	{
 		skipDoc:    true,
 		document:   `{a: &cat {c: frog}, b: *cat}`,
-		expression: `.b.[]`,
+		expression: `.b[]`,
 		expected: []string{
 			"D0, P[b c], (!!str)::frog\n",
 		},
@@ -236,7 +261,7 @@ var traversePathOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 	{
 		skipDoc:    true,
 		document:   mergeDocSample,
-		expression: `.foobar.[]`,
+		expression: `.foobar[]`,
 		expected: []string{
 			"D0, P[foobar c], (!!str)::foo_c\n",
 			"D0, P[foobar a], (!!str)::foo_a\n",
@@ -298,7 +323,7 @@ var traversePathOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 	{
 		skipDoc:    true,
 		document:   mergeDocSample,
-		expression: `.foobarList.[]`,
+		expression: `.foobarList[]`,
 		expected: []string{
 			"D0, P[foobarList b], (!!str)::bar_b\n",
 			"D0, P[foobarList a], (!!str)::foo_a\n",
@@ -344,7 +369,7 @@ var traversePathOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 	{
 		skipDoc:    true,
 		document:   `{a: [a,b,c]}`,
-		expression: `.a.[0, 2]`,
+		expression: `.a[0, 2]`,
 		expected: []string{
 			"D0, P[a 0], (!!str)::a\n",
 			"D0, P[a 2], (!!str)::c\n",
@@ -361,7 +386,7 @@ var traversePathOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 	{
 		skipDoc:    true,
 		document:   `{a: [a,b,c]}`,
-		expression: `.a.[-1]`,
+		expression: `.a[-1]`,
 		expected: []string{
 			"D0, P[a -1], (!!str)::c\n",
 		},
@@ -377,7 +402,7 @@ var traversePathOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 	{
 		skipDoc:    true,
 		document:   `{a: [a,b,c]}`,
-		expression: `.a.[-2]`,
+		expression: `.a[-2]`,
 		expected: []string{
 			"D0, P[a -2], (!!str)::b\n",
 		},
@@ -395,7 +420,7 @@ var traversePathOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 	{
 		skipDoc:    true,
 		document:   `{a: [a,b,c]}`,
-		expression: `.a.[]`,
+		expression: `.a[]`,
 		expected: []string{
 			"D0, P[a 0], (!!str)::a\n",
 			"D0, P[a 1], (!!str)::b\n",
@@ -418,5 +443,5 @@ func TestTraversePathOperatorScenarios(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range traversePathOperatorScenarios {
 		testScenario(t, &tt)
 	}
-	documentScenarios(t, "Traverse", traversePathOperatorScenarios)
+	documentScenarios(t, "Traverse (Read)", traversePathOperatorScenarios)
 }

pkg/yqlib/operator_variables.go

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+package yqlib
+
+import (
+	"container/list"
+	"fmt"
+)
+
+func getVariableOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
+	variableName := expressionNode.Operation.StringValue
+	log.Debug("getVariableOperator %v", variableName)
+	result := context.GetVariable(variableName)
+	if result == nil {
+		result = list.New()
+	}
+	return context.ChildContext(result), nil
+}
+
+func assignVariableOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
+	lhs, err := d.GetMatchingNodes(context, expressionNode.Lhs)
+	if err != nil {
+		return Context{}, nil
+	}
+	if expressionNode.Rhs.Operation.OperationType.Type != "GET_VARIABLE" {
+		return Context{}, fmt.Errorf("RHS of 'as' operator must be a variable name e.g. $foo")
+	}
+	variableName := expressionNode.Rhs.Operation.StringValue
+	context.SetVariable(variableName, lhs.MatchingNodes)
+	return context, nil
+}

pkg/yqlib/operator_variables_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+package yqlib
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+)
+
+var variableOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
+	{
+		description: "Single value variable",
+		document:    `a: cat`,
+		expression:  `.a as $foo | $foo`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[a], (!!str)::cat\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		description: "Multi value variable",
+		document:    `[cat, dog]`,
+		expression:  `.[] as $foo | $foo`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[0], (!!str)::cat\n",
+			"D0, P[1], (!!str)::dog\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
+		description:    "Using variables as a lookup",
+		subdescription: "Example taken from [jq](https://stedolan.github.io/jq/manual/#Variable/SymbolicBindingOperator:...as$identifier|...)",
+		document: `{"posts": [{"title": "Frist psot", "author": "anon"},
+		{"title": "A well-written article", "author": "person1"}],
+"realnames": {"anon": "Anonymous Coward",
+				"person1": "Person McPherson"}}`,
+		expression: `.realnames as $names | .posts[] | {"title":.title, "author": $names[.author]}`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[], (!!map)::title: \"Frist psot\"\nauthor: \"Anonymous Coward\"\n",
+			"D0, P[], (!!map)::title: \"A well-written article\"\nauthor: \"Person McPherson\"\n",
+		},
+	},
+}
+
+func TestVariableOperatorScenarios(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, tt := range variableOperatorScenarios {
+		testScenario(t, &tt)
+	}
+	documentScenarios(t, "Variable Operators", variableOperatorScenarios)
+}

pkg/yqlib/operators.go

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"container/list"
 	"fmt"
 
+	"github.com/jinzhu/copier"
 	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
@@ -88,16 +89,25 @@ func createBooleanCandidate(owner *CandidateNode, value bool) *CandidateNode {
 	return owner.CreateChild(nil, node)
 }
 
-func createTraversalTree(path []interface{}, traversePrefs traversePreferences) *ExpressionNode {
+func createTraversalTree(path []interface{}, traversePrefs traversePreferences, targetKey bool) *ExpressionNode {
 	if len(path) == 0 {
 		return &ExpressionNode{Operation: &Operation{OperationType: selfReferenceOpType}}
 	} else if len(path) == 1 {
-		return &ExpressionNode{Operation: &Operation{OperationType: traversePathOpType, Preferences: traversePrefs, Value: path[0], StringValue: fmt.Sprintf("%v", path[0])}}
+		lastPrefs := traversePrefs
+		if targetKey {
+			err := copier.Copy(&lastPrefs, traversePrefs)
+			if err != nil {
+				panic(err)
+			}
+			lastPrefs.IncludeMapKeys = true
+			lastPrefs.DontIncludeMapValues = true
+		}
+		return &ExpressionNode{Operation: &Operation{OperationType: traversePathOpType, Preferences: lastPrefs, Value: path[0], StringValue: fmt.Sprintf("%v", path[0])}}
 	}
 
 	return &ExpressionNode{
 		Operation: &Operation{OperationType: shortPipeOpType},
-		Lhs:       createTraversalTree(path[0:1], traversePrefs),
+		Lhs:       createTraversalTree(path[0:1], traversePrefs, false),
-		Rhs:       createTraversalTree(path[1:], traversePrefs),
+		Rhs:       createTraversalTree(path[1:], traversePrefs, targetKey),
 	}
 }

release_instructions.txt

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 - increment version in snapcraft.yaml
 - increment version in github-action/Dockerfile
 - make sure local build passes
+- commit version update changes
 - tag git with same version number
 - commit vX tag - this will trigger github actions
 - use github actions to publish docker and make github release

snap/snapcraft.yaml

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name: yq
-version: '4.4.1'
+version: '4.5.0'
 summary: A lightweight and portable command-line YAML processor
 description: |
   The aim of the project is to be the jq or sed of yaml files.