# Compress netlab Lab Topologies with Dot Notation

DevFeed: [Compress netlab Lab Topologies with Dot Notation](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/compress-netlab-lab-topologies-with-dot-notation-11427.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://blog.ipspace.net/2026/08/netlab-compress-lab-topology/>)

Published: 2026-08-12T05:55:00Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [ipSpace.net blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/ipspace-net-blog.md>)

Topics: [Python](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/python.md>), [YAML](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/yaml.md>), [BGP](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/bgp.md>)

Tags: [bgp](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/bgp.md>), [blog](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/blog.md>), [blog-post](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/blog-post.md>), [netlab](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/netlab.md>), [post](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/post.md>), [python](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/python.md>)

## AI overview

An article about using Python Box dotted notation to make netlab lab topology definitions easier to read and more concise, including examples in YAML for BGP routers and IPv4 links.

## Source excerpt

netlab is using the Python Box library to make the code easier to read1. When I started the project, I hated the way you fetch values from Python dictionaries with stuff like node['ospf']['area']; Python Box lets you write node.ospf.area. Even better2, you can tell Python Box to create intermediate dictionaries as needed. node.ospf.area = 1 will automatically create the node.ospf dictionary. But wait, there's more (yes, we're getting to the topic of today's blog post): Box lets you use the same dotted notation in YAML files. Read more ...