Invalid keys in command when using colon (:) or shart (#) in echo statement

[fabarea]

Summary

Task-go fails to parse a Taskfile.yml when the echo command contains certain special characters like colons (:) or hash symbols (#) in the string, throwing parsing errors.

Steps to Reproduce

Case 1: Colon in echo string

1. Create a Taskfile.yml with the following content:

version: '3'

tasks:
  default:
    desc: Affiche Hello World
    silent: true
    cmds:
      - echo "Say: Hello World"

2. Run task command. Notice the problematic ":" - Replace "Say:" by "Say"

Case 2: Hash symbol in echo string

1. Create a Taskfile.yml with the following content:

version: '3'

tasks:
  default:
    desc: Affiche Hello World
    silent: true
    cmds:
      - echo "# Hello World"

2. Run task command

Case 3: Hash symbol with spaces in echo string

1. Create a Taskfile.yml with the following content:

version: '3'

tasks:
  default:
    desc: Affiche Hello World
    silent: true
    cmds:
      - echo "  # Hello World"

2. Run task command

Expected Behavior

The task should execute successfully and output the respective strings:

• Case 1: "Say: Hello World"
• Case 2: "# Hello World"
• Case 3: " # Hello World"

Actual Behavior

Case 1: Colon in echo string

err:  invalid keys in command
file: /home/k6r2j9/work/hacks/infra/benchmark/debug/Taskfile.yml:8:9
  6 |     silent: true
  7 |     cmds:
> 8 |       - echo "Say: Hello World"
    |         ^

Case 2: Hash symbol in echo string

task: Failed to run task "default": 1:6: reached EOF without closing quote "

Case 3: Hash symbol with spaces in echo string

task: Failed to run task "default": 1:6: reached EOF without closing quote "

Additional Information

• The issue appears to be related to YAML parsing where special characters are being incorrectly interpreted
• Colons (:) cause "invalid keys in command" errors, suggesting YAML parsing issues
• Hash symbols (#) cause "reached EOF without closing quote" errors, suggesting quote parsing issues
• This affects any echo command containing these special characters in the string
• The error messages suggest both YAML parsing and quote parsing problems

Impact

This bug prevents users from using common special characters like colons (:) and hash symbols (#) in echo statements within Taskfile.yml.

Version

3.44.1

Operating system

Linux 6.8.0-60-generic

Experiments Enabled

No response

Example Taskfile

[pd93]

@fabarea All of these scenarios are expected behavior with YAML parsing and not issues with Task. See this StackOverflow post on YAML strings.

Correct versions of these Taskfiles look as follows:

1. You need to quote the command as it contains a :

version: "3"

tasks:
  default:
    desc: Affiche Hello World
    silent: true
    cmds:
      - 'echo "Say: Hello World"'

2. The example you gave works fine for me. No issues

3. You need to quote the command is it contains a #

version: "3"

tasks:
  default:
    desc: Affiche Hello World
    silent: true
    cmds:
      - 'echo " # Hello World"'

[fabarea]

Thanks for your reply. This makes all sense