Why not Python?

Typing is bolted on rather than a native concept, for one.

Why is that a problem?

Because types are important and having them be a native part of the language creates opportunities for error checking, editor completions, and LLM bounding.

Invisible scoping and turning complete

Python is better than bash in ops, been using more Go in this space

Config is another beast and separate languages

I’m not sold that config is a complex enough domain to necessitate another language. What problems is CUE solving when compared to python and why are those problems substantial enough to make it worth learning a new language?

That's exactly the thing -- complexity. Cue bounds complexity, like json, yaml, and toml. But it offers more composeability than any of them.

Given that we now have TOML, JSON, INI, CSV, YAML, etc it seems we are converging on either JSON, YAML or TOML. There is too much inertia behind those three and not much behind CUE right now.

CUE works with all of those languages, so it doesn't matter what the tools or others are using. I can always apply CUE at any point to output their required format as needed.

Keep your legacy config and mess if you want, you're the one missing out

Also, I don't see TOML in the wild enough and the others have been around long enough, I must chuckle and not take seriously these claims about "inertia"

I’m not claiming inertia makes TOML ‘best’, just that it’s clearly not blocked by inertia either. Cargo standardized on TOML years ago, and GitLab Runner has relied on it for a long time. If a format can win in major ecosystems, “people won’t adopt anything new” isn’t the whole story.”