[3np]

You have some incumbent competition already, in case you're not aware, and I'd say many of these are closer to what you're describing than text configuration files.

You would do well to learn by past and current attempts. This book should be enlightenig (and yes, Elektra is very much alive): https://www.libelektra.org/ftp/elektra/publications/raab2017...

Would also be a useful excercice to write a new configuration UI for existing configuration backend(s) (preferably something already in use by some software you're already in want of better configuration for) - even if you do end up aiming at your own standard (xkcd.com/927), it should give you some clarity on ways to approach it.

[thomastjeffery]

The irony here is that the problem you have proposed - the complexity introduced by creating a new solution - is the same problem that each solution is intended to solve.

That means that any adequate solution should recursively resolve the problem it introduces.

oh, and also thank you for introducing me to Elektra. That was very helpful of you.