Is it safe to call `decodeString()` and then if it throws an exception attempt to `decodeXXX()` agai...

# serialization

[CLOVIS]

Is it safe to call decodeString() and then if it throws an exception attempt to decodeXXX() again?

I have some data that is sometimes encoded in a String.

[ephemient]

not across formats, no

[CLOVIS]

Ok. Is it safe for JSON?

[ephemient]

for JSON specifically, decodeJsonElement and then determine if you want to treat it as a String or not

[CLOVIS]

How would go around deserializing some data across formats that is sometimes encoded slightly differently? (and there is no way to tell other than looking at it)

[ephemient]

unfortunately I think it's going to be format-dependent because not all formats will support that

[CLOVIS]

I see. Thanks!

[ephemient]

actually I guess it's only JSON format which has support now, other formats which could support it, currently don't
https://github.com/Kotlin/kotlinx.serialization/issues/1573

[CLOVIS]

I am planning to support that in my own BSON format, we'll see what happens

[CLOVIS]

But mine goes a bit further, it doesn't parse the sub-thing at all until the user explicitly asks for a specific field