FracturedJson (github.com)

Article summary

FracturedJson is a utility that formats JSON data in a human-readable way while keeping it compact. It offers various formatting options, including inlined, compact multiline array, table, and expanded formats. The tool is available in multiple languages and has a browser-based formatter. FracturedJson also supports comments, which are not allowed in standard JSON, but can be useful for configuration files and debugging.

Main themes

• JSON formatting
• Human-readable data
• Configuration files
• Debugging tools
• Standardization
• Legacy software

What commenters say

• The exclusion of comments from standard JSON is seen as a limitation by some, who argue that comments are useful for configuration files and debugging.
• Others defend the decision to exclude comments, citing the potential for abuse and the importance of keeping the format simple and standardized.
• Some commenters argue that the lack of comments in JSON has led to the proliferation of alternative formats, such as YAML and TOML, which do support comments.
• There is disagreement about the effectiveness of YAML, with some citing its flexibility and others pointing out its potential pitfalls, such as the 'Norway problem'.
• The use of FracturedJson for human-readable config files is seen as potentially problematic due to issues with git diff and realignment.
• Some argue that legacy software and bad certification workflows are the main obstacles to updating and improving software, rather than the software itself.
• The reputation of a technology can be difficult to change, even if its problems have been addressed in newer versions.
• The need for comments in JSON is seen as a trade-off between simplicity and usability, with some arguing that the benefits of comments outweigh the potential drawbacks.