Use cases of JSON

[bobzhang]

• Data serialize used to need deal with schema evolution
  • new program handle old data
  • old program handle new data

Common use case of serialization/deserialization

• Marshal (the same language full stack)
  • temporary data storing, quick prototype
• Type based safe marshal (the same language full stack)
  • quick prototype does not need deal schema evolution
  • challenge: deal with schema evolution
  • Use IDL or not, most languages
    construct don't have data migration in mind, either we make
    heavy use of attribute annotations or introduce IDL
• Type based safe marshal with a requirement of how encoding works
  • deal with schema evolution
  • There are a few cases it is mandatory how a record should be encoded
• Arbitrary JSON decoding
  • Use BuckleScript as client side language only
  • JSON type provider could not handle complex cases

[chenglou]

Data serialize used to need deal with schema evolution

I think this can be a non-goal, for now or maybe ever. JSON isn't the right format for it; we're providing good support for interop and convenience. I think Evan's article is mostly right. Wanting schema evolution but settling on JSON seems like neglecting the bigger problem.

Marshal

Yes please, quick prototypes

Type based safe marshal

That too, if possible. One-upping JSON.parse. No need for schema evolution (thus no need for IDL either right?)

Type based safe marshal with a requirement of how encoding works

That'd be nice. Serializing records/variants. Variants currently can't be serialized & deserialized correctly because the tag on the array is gone after serialization

Arbitrary JSON decoding

That's prolly the biggest use-case right now. Good for gradually converting JS over

[jaredly]

for migration, you could always just define new types & convert between them, and serialization doesn't have to be involved at all.

let value = if (serialized_version === 1) {
  convert1to2(decode_typev1(data)) 
} else { decode_typev2(data) }

[stale]

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