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My rule has always been that once a shell script gets too complex, it's time to rewrite it in real language. This library is way, way beyond that threshold.

My recommendation for rewrite is "python with only stdlib". Using pip-installed libraries brings in the famous packaging problems, but you don't have to use it! Python's stdlib is fully "batteries included", and it has lots of useful things like ini file parser. And if your system has bash, it often has python as well, or at least it's easy to install. Things might get a bit more verbose, but they would be much more reliable and debuggable.

For similar functionality have a look at crudini, which is a utility designed for interacting with ini files from shell scripts:

https://github.com/pixelb/crudini

OT:

There is a initiative around bringing Indian languages into today's tech.

Named BHASHINI.

I initially thought the title was referring to that project given the similarity in name.

(Bhasha = Language)

An ini->JSON converter + jq should be enough.

Definitely one of those "if you're using it you've made a big mistake somewhere" pieces of software.

Hint: for cicd usage you can parse ini files with git, often present in such situations.