Readable compact format

[nyurik]

Is there a "compact but readable" format for HJSON? Something like https://github.com/lydell/json-stringify-pretty-compact for JSON?

Thanks!

[laktak]

You are talking about

{
  "bool": true,
  "short array": [1, 2, 3],
  "long array": [
    {"x": 1, "y": 2},
    {"x": 2, "y": 1},
    {"x": 1, "y": 1},
    {"x": 2, "y": 2}
  ]
}

That would only work for Hjson if none of the elements inside are quoteless strings (they require a new line each).

If it was only allowed in combination with the "quote all strings" option it would probably be easy to implement here, otherwise no.

[nyurik]

@laktak would it make sense to have a "mixed" approach - if multiple values can fit on the same line, encode them as regular JSON (just like compact json formatter does). Otherwise, follow HJSON rules

[laktak]

Like I said, that won't be easy to do. What is your use case? How would you define "fit on the same line"?

[nyurik]

@laktak I was hoping to adapt HJSON to Vega (JSON) editing -- HJSON should make this code much more readable (BTW, is there a HJSON support for Monaco text editor?). A small set of values in a list should be on the same line -- e.g. key: [1, 2, "3", false]. Same with a small object: key: {"a":1, "b":2}.

[laktak]

After thinking about why this can't work I experimented a bit and found it to be working quite well :) Thanks for the idea!

You need to call

    result = Hjson.stringify(obj, { condense: 60 });

Let me know if this works for you.

[laktak]

Monaco: see https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=laktak.hjson

[nyurik]

@laktak this is an awesome start! Here is an example of a compact( len=65 ) json and hjson representation of a Vega diagram with your new changes. The compact JSON is still more compact and readable, because the eyes do not stumble on each "{" and "[" that occupies a separate line: https://gist.github.com/nyurik/96ab0d0d19d4c3aee83b0250fbb9335c/revisions

Do you think the initial (not trailing) [ and { can be placed on the same line as : ?

Thanks for your hard work!!!

[laktak]

Happy to help with your project. Looks very cool btw!

There's actually a switch for controlling the braces:

    result = Hjson.stringify(obj, { condense: 60, bracesSameLine: true });

[nyurik]

This is awesome, thanks!!!