TL;DR
FracturedJson is a suite of formatting utilities that produces compact, human-readable JSON by keeping simple arrays and objects on single lines and aligning similar items in table-like layouts. It offers multiple output modes, many configuration options, optional preservation of comments, and implementations for several platforms including .NET, JavaScript/TypeScript, a browser formatter and a Visual Studio Code extension.
What happened
FracturedJson is presented as a family of tools designed to format JSON in a way that balances compactness and readability. Instead of the two common extremes—minified JSON and heavily indented pretty-printed JSON—FracturedJson keeps arrays and objects inline when they are neither too long nor too complex. When several inlineable items share structure, the formatter aligns fields into a table-like presentation. Long arrays can be arranged with multiple items per line across several lines. The project exposes numerous settings to tune behavior (for example, limits on inline complexity and table depth) but claims sensible defaults that usually require no user tweaking. The tool can optionally preserve non-standard comments and tries to associate them with the elements they relate to. Implementations and integration points include a browser formatter, a .NET command-line/library, a JavaScript/TypeScript package, and a Visual Studio Code extension; Python options are also referenced.
Why it matters
- Provides a middle ground between minified and fully expanded JSON for quicker visual scanning and comprehension.
- Aligning similar items into tables can make comparisons across records easier at a glance.
- Optional comment preservation helps when working with annotated JSON even though comments are not part of the JSON standard.
- Cross-platform availability (browser, .NET, JS/TS, VS Code) makes the formatter accessible in multiple development workflows.
Key facts
- FracturedJson formats arrays and objects on single lines when they are not too long or too complex.
- When multiple inlineable items have similar structure, fields are aligned so they appear like a table.
- Long arrays can be written with multiple items per line across multiple lines (compact multiline arrays).
- The formatter can optionally preserve comments and associates them with related elements.
- Available implementations include a browser formatter page, a .NET library/command-line app, a JavaScript/TypeScript package, and a Visual Studio Code extension.
- Python options for FracturedJson are referenced on the project pages.
- Formatting is controlled by several settings, including MaxInlineComplexity, MaxCompactArrayComplexity, MaxTableRowComplexity and TableCommaPlacement.
- FracturedJson supports four formatting styles: inlined, compact multiline array, table, and expanded.
What to watch next
- Future feature additions, release cadence, or roadmap details: not confirmed in the source
- Adoption in popular editor integrations or build tooling beyond the listed extensions: not confirmed in the source
- Any performance and scalability benchmarks for very large JSON documents: not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- JSON: A lightweight data interchange format using attribute–value pairs and arrays, commonly used for APIs and configuration files.
- Minified JSON: JSON with all unnecessary whitespace removed to minimize size for storage or transmission, making it harder for humans to read.
- Pretty-printed (beautified) JSON: JSON formatted with indentation and line breaks to be easier for humans to read, often at the cost of increased vertical space.
- Inline formatting: A style where small or simple arrays and objects are kept on a single line to reduce vertical space and improve scanability.
- Table formatting: An arrangement that lines up fields from similar objects or arrays so values line up in columns for easier comparison.
Reader FAQ
Does FracturedJson preserve comments in JSON?
Yes. The formatter can optionally preserve non-standard comments and attempts to keep them with related elements.
Which platforms and integrations are available?
The project provides a browser formatter page, a .NET command-line app and library, a JavaScript/TypeScript package, a Visual Studio Code extension, and references Python options.
Can I configure how aggressively it inlines or tables JSON?
Yes. Several settings control behavior, such as MaxInlineComplexity, MaxCompactArrayComplexity, MaxTableRowComplexity and TableCommaPlacement.
Is FracturedJson actively maintained or what its support status is?
not confirmed in the source
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Sources
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