The Basic Structure

Every MON file is a single “labeled container” called an Object. This is the most fundamental rule. An object starts with a { and ends with a }. Inside this container, you organize your facts into key: value pairs, similar to how JSON and TOML structure their data. See how MON compares.

How to Write a key: value Pair

1. Key: The label for your fact. For simple, one-word keys, you can write them directly. For keys with spaces or special characters, enclose them in double quotes "".
2. Colon (:): Separates the key from the value.
3. Value: The actual piece of information.
4. Comma (,): Separates one pair from the next. A comma after the last pair is optional but recommended!

// A MON file must start with { and end with }
{
    // A simple key-value pair with a string value
    service_name: "My Awesome App",

    // You can add notes with comments like this
    port: 8080, // A number value

    "is-enabled": on, // A boolean value (yes/no)
}

Types of Values (Primitives)

• String: Text, enclosed in double quotes (e.g., "Hello, World!").
• Number: Numbers, with or without decimals (e.g., 100, -42.5).
• Boolean: A “yes/no” value. Use on/true for yes and off/false for no.
• Null: Represents “nothing” or an empty value. Use null.

Challenge 1: Create Your Profile

Create a file named profile.mon. Inside it, create a single object that contains at least three facts about yourself, such as your name, age, and a boolean indicating if you like to code.

---

Answer to Challenge 1

{
    name: "Alex",
    age: 30,
    likes_coding: on,
}

Great! You’ve mastered the basic structure. Next, we’ll learn how to manage lists of items.