What would be a good kotlin replacement for Jackso...

# kotlin-native

[aaverin]

What would be a good kotlin replacement for Jackson?
We want to compile our data library to Swift and need to get rid of all Java-based dependencies

[jonnyzzz]

Do you have JSON library in Swift? You may create actual API for all functions you need around JSON and than use different expected parts for each platform - e.g. Jackson on JVM and some another library from Swift on the iOS side

[elizarov]

Take a look at https://github.com/kotlin/kotlinx.serialization

[aaverin]

Well, to be honest, the only thin right now used in our data library are Jackson annotations.
Parsing is implemented by the consumers.
But consumers for now are only Android and Kotlin-SpringBoot

[elizarov]

It is also integrated into ktor http client for JVM and native

[aaverin]

Now that we also want to add iOS as a consumer, I was thinking to add parsing logic into the data library and implement it with some kotlin parser

[elizarov]

That is what kotlinx.serlization does for you. You don’t need to write any of the code. Just annotate your data classes as @Serializable

[aaverin]

What about when fields don’t match json?

[aaverin]

This is, mostly, what we use from Jackson annotations

[elizarov]

We have similar annotations for most needed features - @SerialName, @Transient and @Optional. If you need something else, file a request to https://github.com/kotlin/kotlinx.serialization/issues with your use-cases

[aaverin]

Great, thanks, I’ll take a look

[thevery]

@elizarov hm, I thought that data classes aren't supported yet for native

[christophsturm]

is kotlinx serialization ready for use? last time i checked it was under heavy development and needed a separate plugin

[elizarov]

It is still experimental, but it already supports native. Indeed, you need to use the plugin. That is the whole idea, so that you don’t have to manually or generate serialization code.

[thevery]

This issue should be updated if full serialization is supported for native: https://github.com/Kotlin/kotlinx.serialization/issues/86#issuecomment-412092412

[elizarov]

^ @sandwwraith

[sandwwraith]

I’ve updated information in the issue.