Support for RESTCONF-like URL expressions

[wisotzky]

Today, libyang-python only supports XPATH expressions. There is a need to alternatively support RESTCONF compliant path expression, as specified in rfc8040.

XPATH expression example:
/nokia-conf:configure/port[port-id=1/1/1]

Corresponding RESTCONF URL syntax
/nokia-conf:configure/port=1%2F1%2F1

Usage information:

• RESTCONF uses URL encoding for key values
• Only list-key values are provided (no attribute names)
• For lists with multiple keys, comma is used as separator while key values will follow the same order as in the YANG key statement

Example with multiple keys:
In YANG the statement key: "p1 p2 p3 p4" for list mylist occurs. To access an object with p1="bla" and p4="bing" one would use the following URL path statement .../mylist=bla,,,bing/...

Rational:
To convert a RESTCONF URL/PATH to XPATH is rather complex, because one needs to understand the list keys (aka requires to know the corresponding YANG file). As libyang has the knowledge the recommendation is to support URL style (model-path) out-of-the-box.

[rjarry]

Hi,

is that something that libyang supports? If not, it must be first supported by the C library. This project is only a python wrapper/binding on top of it.

[wisotzky]

Okay, will raise this against libyang2. Will keep this item open, so it can be considered as soon the lib feature is available.

[wisotzky]

I've opened this ticket:
CESNET/libyang#1622

[samuel-gauthier]

Hi @wisotzky, it does not seem that the libyang feature is going anywhere, can we close this?