# Ditching jq with Lisp: A New Contender in JSON Processing

## Ditching jq with Lisp: A New Contender in JSON Processing

The realm of JSON processing tools is constantly evolving, with developers continually seeking faster, more flexible, and more integrated solutions. A recent blog post on world-playground-deceit.net, penned by user “tmtvl,” introduces a potential contender: a Common Lisp implementation aiming to rival the ubiquitous `jq`.

While the initial submission on Hacker News didn’t exactly set the world on fire, garnering a modest score of 3 and no comments, the idea itself is intriguing. `jq` has become the de facto standard for querying and transforming JSON data on the command line, lauded for its concise syntax and powerful filtering capabilities. However, its reliance on its own query language can be a barrier to entry for developers already familiar with other programming paradigms.

The appeal of a Common Lisp alternative lies in several potential advantages. Firstly, Common Lisp is a highly expressive and programmable language. This could lead to more sophisticated and customizable JSON manipulation compared to `jq`’s DSL. Imagine being able to leverage Lisp’s macro system to create highly specialized JSON processing workflows or embedding the JSON tool directly within a larger Lisp application.

Secondly, for Lisp developers, using a native Lisp solution eliminates the need to switch between languages and toolsets. This streamlines development and allows for deeper integration with existing Lisp codebases. No more juggling different syntaxes or worrying about inter-process communication overhead when piping data between `jq` and a Lisp program.

While the original blog post isn’t directly accessible from the provided metadata, we can speculate on the potential features and implementation strategies of such a tool. It might involve:

* **A Lisp-native JSON parser:** Leveraging existing Lisp libraries like `cl-json` or building a custom parser for improved performance or specific parsing requirements.
* **A query language or a set of functions:** Providing a way to select, filter, and transform JSON data. This could either be a custom Lisp DSL tailored to JSON manipulation or a set of readily available functions using standard Lisp constructs.
* **Seamless integration with Lisp data structures:** Allowing easy manipulation of JSON data as Lisp lists, hash tables, or custom data structures.
* **A command-line interface:** Providing a way to use the tool from the terminal, similar to `jq`.

Whether this Common Lisp `jq` replacement will gain traction remains to be seen. Its success will depend on its performance, usability, and adoption by the Lisp community. However, the mere existence of such an alternative highlights the ongoing search for better, more integrated solutions for handling the ever-growing volume of JSON data in the modern software landscape. It serves as a reminder that even well-established tools like `jq` are not immune to disruption and that Lisp, with its power and flexibility, remains a relevant force in the world of software development.