Summary - Serialization

Combine binary, JSON and versioning to write a config file.

Summary: a configuration file

In this summary you will combine binary, JSON and versioning for a configuration file. You will serialize the name and value fields of a Config struct as JSON and add a version field.

With the JSON library you create a nlohmann::json object. You set the j["name"], j["value"] and j["version"] fields. j.dump() produces the configuration file as a string. This is both human readable and version aware; it is a common approach in real projects.

Exercise Write a versioned JSON configuration

Add #include <nlohmann/json.hpp>. Define nlohmann::json j;. Set j["name"] = "Alex";, j["value"] = 42; and j["version"] = 1;. Print with std::cout << j.dump();.

Show example solution

#include <iostream>
#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>

int main() {
    nlohmann::json j;
    j["name"] = "Alex";
    j["value"] = 42;
    j["version"] = 1;
    std::cout << j.dump();
    return 0;
}

Test yourself

What do JSON + versioning provide?
- Binary only data
- Faster compilation
- Readable and versioned configuration
- Less memory
Show answer

Readable and versioned configuration — JSON is readable, versioning adds version control.

Complete the dump call

std::cout << j.____();

Show answer

std::cout << j.dump();

Match the method to its role

binary write

Writes bytes
text << >>

Writes/reads text
nlohmann::json

JSON object
version field

Version check

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