Meme transcription: Panel 1. Two images of JSON, one is the empty object, one is an object in which the key name maps to the value null. Caption: “Corporate needs you to find the difference between this picture and this picture”

Panel 2. The Java backend dev answers, “They’re the same picture.”

  • ladEnglish
    -1•2 days ago

    Except, if you use any library for deserialization of JSONs there is a chance that it will not distinguish between null and absent, and that will be absolutely standard compliant. This is also an issue with protobuf that inserts default values for plain types and enums. Those standards are just not fit too well for patching

    • @[email protected]English
      1•2 days ago

      I’ve never once seen a JSON serializer misjudge null and absent fields, I’ve just seen developers do that.

      • ladEnglish
        0•2 days ago

        Well, Jackson before 2.9 did not differentiate, and although this was more than five years ago now, this is somewhat of a counter example

        Also, you sound like serializers are not made by developers

        • @[email protected]English
          0•1 day ago

          Bruh, there’s a difference between the one or two serializing packages used in each language, and the thousands and thousands and thousands of developers who miscode contracts after that point.