config options mini parser thing

config_options.rb

# Convert an array of nested key parts into a nested Hash and convert the
# value to a proper Ruby object.
#
# keyparts - An Array of String parts of the nested Hash. For instance, the
#            list ['a', 'b', 'c'] would lead to a nested hash that looks like
#            {'a' => {'b' => {'c' => X}}}.
# val      - The String value that will be converted into the proper Boolean,
#            Integer, or String.
#
# Returns the nested Hash.
def config_options(keyparts, val)
  if keyparts.empty?
    case val
      when 'true'  then true
      when 'false' then false
      when /^\d+$/ then val.to_i
      else val
    end
  else
    part = keyparts.shift
    hash = {}
    hash[part] = config_options(keyparts, val)
    hash
  end
end