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JSON vs Swift: What are the differences?
Introduction
Here, we will discuss the key differences between JSON and Swift. JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data interchange format, while Swift is a programming language developed by Apple for the iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS platforms.
Syntax: JSON uses a simple and human-readable syntax that resembles JavaScript object literals. It is composed of key-value pairs wrapped in curly braces {} and data types such as numbers, strings, booleans, arrays, and null. On the other hand, Swift has its own syntax for defining variables, structs, classes, functions, and control flow. It follows a strict and expressive syntax that is specific to the Swift programming language.
Data Types: JSON supports a limited set of data types including numbers, booleans, strings, null, arrays, and objects. It doesn't have built-in support for more complex types like dates and sets. Swift, being a full-fledged programming language, supports a wide range of data types including integers, doubles, booleans, strings, arrays, dictionaries, tuples, sets, and more. It also provides the flexibility to define and use custom data types.
Access and Manipulation: JSON is primarily used for data serialization and transmission and doesn't provide built-in methods for directly accessing or manipulating the data. It requires external libraries or parsers to parse JSON data and extract values. On the other hand, Swift provides a rich set of APIs and methods for easily accessing, manipulating, and transforming data. It offers features like subscripting, key paths, map, filter, and reduce functions, making it convenient to work with data in a structured and type-safe manner.
Typing: JSON is dynamically typed, meaning the data types are determined at runtime. It doesn't enforce strict type checking, allowing for flexibility but potentially leading to type-related issues if not handled carefully. Swift, on the other hand, is statically typed, enforcing type checking at compile-time. This helps catch errors early, improves code reliability, and enables better autocompletion and code suggestions in development environments.
Serialization and Deserialization: JSON is primarily used for serialization and deserialization of data, allowing objects or data structures to be encoded into a JSON string or decoded from a JSON string back into their original form. Swift provides built-in support for both manual and automatic serialization and deserialization of data with the help of Codable protocols. Codable allows developers to define a type's structure and its encoding and decoding requirements in a simple manner, reducing the boilerplate code needed for data conversion.
Platform-specific Features: JSON is a platform-neutral data format and can be used with any programming language or platform that supports its syntax and data types. Swift, being an Apple-developed language, provides native support for iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS development. It offers platform-specific features and frameworks like SwiftUI, UIKit, Core Data, Core Image, and more, enabling developers to build native applications for Apple devices.
In summary, JSON is a lightweight data interchange format with a simple syntax, limited data types, and no built-in access or manipulation methods. On the other hand, Swift is a programming language that supports a wide range of data types, provides rich APIs for data access and manipulation, enforces strict typing, offers serialization and deserialization capabilities, and comes with platform-specific features for Apple development.
Hi. Currently, I have a requirement where I have to create a new JSON file based on the input CSV file, validate the generated JSON file, and upload the JSON file into the application (which runs in AWS) using API. Kindly suggest the best language that can meet the above requirement. I feel Python will be better, but I am not sure with the justification of why python. Can you provide your views on this?
Python is very flexible and definitely up the job (although, in reality, any language will be able to cope with this task!). Python has some good libraries built in, and also some third party libraries that will help here. 1. Convert CSV -> JSON 2. Validate against a schema 3. Deploy to AWS
- The builtins include json and csv libraries, and, depending on the complexity of the csv file, it is fairly simple to convert:
import csv
import json
with open("your_input.csv", "r") as f:
csv_as_dict = list(csv.DictReader(f))[0]
with open("your_output.json", "w") as f:
json.dump(csv_as_dict, f)
The validation part is handled nicely by this library: https://pypi.org/project/jsonschema/ It allows you to create a schema and check whether what you have created works for what you want to do. It is based on the json schema standard, allowing annotation and validation of any json
It as an AWS library to automate the upload - or in fact do pretty much anything with AWS - from within your codebase: https://aws.amazon.com/sdk-for-python/ This will handle authentication to AWS and uploading / deploying the file to wherever it needs to go.
A lot depends on the last two pieces, but the converting itself is really pretty neat.
I would use Go. Since CSV files are flat (no hierarchy), you could use the encoding/csv package to read each row, and write out the values as JSON. See https://medium.com/@ankurraina/reading-a-simple-csv-in-go-36d7a269cecd. You just have to figure out in advance what the key is for each row.
This should be pretty doable in any language. Go with whatever you're most familiar with.
That being said, there's a case to be made for using Node.js since it's trivial to convert an object to JSON and vice versa.
Pros of JSON
- Simple5
- Widely supported4
Pros of Swift
- Ios259
- Elegant180
- Not Objective-C126
- Backed by apple107
- Type inference93
- Generics61
- Playgrounds54
- Semicolon free49
- OSX38
- Tuples offer compound variables36
- Clean Syntax24
- Easy to learn24
- Open Source22
- Beautiful Code21
- Functional20
- Dynamic12
- Linux12
- Protocol-oriented programming11
- Promotes safe, readable code10
- No S-l-o-w JVM9
- Explicit optionals8
- Storyboard designer7
- Optionals6
- Type safety6
- Super addicting language, great people, open, elegant5
- Best UI concept5
- Its friendly4
- Highly Readable codes4
- Fail-safe4
- Powerful4
- Faster and looks better4
- Swift is faster than Objective-C4
- Feels like a better C++4
- Easy to learn and work3
- Much more fun3
- Protocol extensions3
- Native3
- Its fun and damn fast3
- Strong Type safety3
- Easy to Maintain3
- Protocol as type2
- All Cons C# and Java Swift Already has2
- Esay2
- MacOS2
- Type Safe2
- Protocol oriented programming2
- Can interface with C easily1
- Actually don't have to own a mac1
- Free from Memory Leak1
- Swift is easier to understand for non-iOS developers.1
- Numbers with underbar1
- Optional chain1
- Great for Multi-Threaded Programming1
- Runs Python 8 times faster1
- Objec1
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Cons of JSON
Cons of Swift
- Must own a mac5
- Memory leaks are not uncommon2
- Very irritatingly picky about things that’s1
- Complicated process for exporting modules1
- Its classes compile to roughly 300 lines of assembly1
- Is a lot more effort than lua to make simple functions1
- Overly complex options makes it easy to create bad code0
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