Basic Concepts

Basic Concepts

Overview

FLEXON CLI is built around several core concepts that make it powerful and efficient. This guide will help you understand these fundamental concepts.

Binary Format

FLEXON uses a custom binary format that offers several advantages over text-based formats like JSON:

• Compact size
• Faster parsing
• Type safety
• Efficient serialization/deserialization

Key Concepts

1. Schema

• Defines the structure of your data
• Enforces type safety
• Enables validation
• Supports versioning

2. Types

FLEXON supports various data types:

• Primitive types (int, float, string, etc.)
• Complex types (arrays, objects)
• Custom types
• Binary data
• Timestamps
• GUIDs

3. Serialization

• Convert objects to binary format
• Optimize for size and speed
• Handle complex data structures
• Support for streaming

4. Validation

• Schema-based validation
• Runtime type checking
• Custom validation rules
• Error reporting

Common Use Cases

1. Data Storage

   • Efficient file storage
   • Database serialization
   • Cache systems

2. Network Communication

   • API responses
   • Real-time data transfer
   • Message queuing

3. Configuration

   • App settings
   • User preferences
   • System configuration

Best Practices

1. Always define a schema
2. Use appropriate types
3. Implement validation
4. Handle errors properly
5. Consider performance implications

Next Steps

• Read the Installation Guide
• Follow the Quick Start Guide
• Explore Examples
• Learn about Schema Validation