[spokodev]

ini.parse(ini.stringify(obj)) turns a scalar key that ends in [] into an array. stringify writes { 'foo[]': 'bar' } as foo[]=bar, which is the bracketedArray array marker, so parse returns { foo: ['bar'] }. bracketedArray is on by default.

Fix

• stringify writes such a key as "foo[\u005d"=bar. The JSON string decodes to foo[], but the raw key does not end in []".
• parse treats a quoted key as an array only when the raw key ends in []" (or []'). That is the form stringify already uses for array keys that need quoting, such as "[foo[]"=first, so those files parse as before.
• The align width uses the same encoded key.
• The key [] itself and bracketedArray: false are unchanged.

Compatibility

Text written by main parses the same with this change. I encoded 1824 objects with main (19 keys such as [a, a=b, quoted keys and keys with [], times 8 values, as scalar, array and section, with 4 option sets) and parsed the output with both versions: 0 differences. The one change on the parse side is that a quoted key whose final [] is written with escapes, such as "foo[\u005d", is now read as a scalar.

Tests

• Round-trip for { 'foo[]': 'bar' }, { '[foo[]': 'bar' } and { '[foo': ['first', 'second'] }.
• flag[] # note and flag # note[].
• align with a key ending in [].

Breaking any part of the change fails at least one of them (checked with 7 targeted mutations). npm test passes with 100% coverage.

[Copilot]

🟡 Changes recommended

Unresolved serialization and parsing regressions can lose array values, misclassify commented keys, and break the documented alignment option.

3 open issues

• Alignment width omits scalar-key quotes · New
• Array suffix detection includes trailing comments · New
• Quoted array keys fail to round-trip · New

What changed in this PR

This PR addresses scalar keys ending in [] being mistaken for arrays during INI stringify/parse round trips.

Changes:

• Quote scalar keys ending in [] when bracketed-array mode is enabled.
• Treat quoted keys literally during parsing.
• Add a round-trip regression case for a scalar key ending in [].

File	Description
test/​bar.js	Adds a scalar-key round-trip regression case.
lib/​ini.js	Updates key quoting and array-marker detection.

_{Review effort: Balanced}

[spokodev]

Fixed in 673df11. The width now comes from the same encoded key that is written, so stringify({ 'foo[]': 'bar', x: 'y' }, { align: true }) puts both = in one column. Added a test for it.

[spokodev]

Fixed in 673df11. The array suffix is checked on the decoded key again, as on main, so flag[] # note gives { flag: [true] } and flag # note[] gives { flag: true }. Both are now tests.

[spokodev]

Fixed in 673df11. Quoted array keys keep the format main writes ("[foo[]"=first) and still parse as arrays. A scalar key ending in [] is now written as "foo[\u005d", which JSON-decodes to foo[] but does not end in []", so the parser can tell the two apart. Added round-trip cases for { '[foo': ['first', 'second'] } and { '[foo[]': 'bar' }.