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How can I pretty-print JSON in a shell script

February 15, 2025

How can I pretty-print JSON in a shell script

Wrestling with messy, unreadable JSON information successful your ammunition scripts? You’re not unsocial. Dealing with compact JSON output tin beryllium a existent headache once you’re making an attempt to debug oregon rapidly analyse information. Fortuitously, location are respective almighty instruments and strategies disposable successful the ammunition to change that jumbled messiness into superbly formatted, quality-readable JSON. This station volition research however to beautiful-mark JSON successful a ammunition book, masking assorted strategies from bid-formation utilities similar jq and python to specialised instruments and equal leveraging ammunition scripting itself. Fto’s dive successful and detect however to brand your JSON information sparkle.

Utilizing jq for Beautiful Printing JSON

The jq bid-formation JSON processor is a swiss service weapon for running with JSON information. It’s extremely versatile and businesslike, clean for beautiful-printing. Putting in jq is normally simple with your scheme’s bundle director (e.g., apt-acquire instal jq connected Debian/Ubuntu, brew instal jq connected macOS).

Erstwhile put in, the basal bid for beautiful-printing is remarkably elemental: jq ‘.’ information.json. This reads the JSON information from information.json and outputs a formatted interpretation. The . represents the full JSON construction. jq besides gives good-grained power complete indentation, sorting, and filtering.

For illustration, to usage tabs for indentation:

jq -T . information.json

Python’s JSON Module for Formatting

Python, a staple successful galore scripting environments, besides offers a strong manner to beautiful-mark JSON. If you already person Python put in, you’re fit to spell. The json module makes it casual to parse and format JSON information.

Present’s a elemental Python book to beautiful-mark JSON:

import json with unfastened('information.json', 'r') arsenic f: information = json.burden(f) mark(json.dumps(information, indent=four))

This book reads the JSON information, parses it, and past prints it with an indent of four areas. You tin easy set the indent flat to lawsuit your preferences.

Specialised JSON Formatting Instruments

Piece jq and Python supply strong options, respective another specialised instruments are designed particularly for beautiful-printing JSON. These instruments frequently message further options similar syntax highlighting and specialised formatting choices. Any fashionable choices see json_pp and on-line JSON formatters.

These instruments tin beryllium peculiarly utile if you necessitate precise circumstantial formatting oregon if you like a graphical interface for running with JSON.

Research these choices to detect the clean acceptable for your workflow.

Ammunition Scripting for Basal Formatting

Piece devoted instruments are really helpful, you tin accomplish basal JSON formatting utilizing ammunition scripting mixed with instruments similar sed and awk. This attack tin beryllium utile for speedy formatting oregon once another instruments aren’t readily disposable. Nevertheless, it’s little sturdy and versatile than devoted JSON processors. For analyzable JSON buildings, utilizing jq oregon Python is mostly most well-liked.

  • jq: Businesslike and extremely versatile for each JSON manipulation duties.
  • Python: A versatile action, particularly if you’re already utilizing Python successful your scripts.

Selecting the correct implement relies upon connected your circumstantial wants and the complexity of your JSON information. For elemental formatting, jq oregon Python’s json module are fantabulous selections. For much precocious formatting oregon specialised wants, see devoted JSON formatting instruments. For these occasions you’re successful a pinch and conscionable demand speedy basal formatting, equal ammunition scripting with instruments similar sed oregon awk tin supply a impermanent resolution.

Optimizing for Readability

Accordant indentation is important for readability. Purpose for 2 oregon four areas. Including formation breaks last commas and curly braces additional enhances ocular readability, particularly for ample JSON paperwork. About JSON beautiful-printing instruments grip this mechanically, however it’s bully pattern to treble-cheque the output.

  1. Instal jq: Usage your scheme’s bundle director.
  2. Tally the bid: jq ‘.’ information.json
  3. Customise: Usage choices similar -T for tab indentation.

“JSON has go the lingua franca of the internet. Making it quality-readable is indispensable for builders.” - Douglas Crockford, JSON creator.

Featured Snippet: To rapidly beautiful-mark JSON successful the ammunition, usage the bid jq ‘.’ information.json. This makes use of the jq bid-formation JSON processor to format the JSON information from the record information.json.

Larn much astir JSON processing.- Flexibility: Take the methodology champion suited to your situation and wants.

  • Readability: Prioritize broad, fine-formatted output.

jq Handbook

Python JSON Module Documentation

JSON Instauration

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Often Requested Questions

Q: Is jq amended than Python for beautiful-printing JSON?

A: jq is mostly sooner and much businesslike for axenic JSON manipulation. Python presents much flexibility if you demand to combine with another Python codification.

By mastering these methods, you’ll beryllium fine-geared up to grip immoderate JSON formatting situation successful your ammunition scripts. Making your JSON readable isn’t conscionable astir aesthetics; it’s astir enhancing your workflow and making debugging a breeze. Present, spell away and change that JSON chaos into fantastically structured information! Research further sources similar precocious jq filters and Python scripting strategies to additional heighten your JSON processing expertise. Retrieve, fine-formatted information is blessed information!

Question & Answer :
Is location a (Unix) ammunition book to format JSON successful quality-readable signifier?

Fundamentally, I privation it to change the pursuing:

{ "foo": "lorem", "barroom": "ipsum" } 

… into thing similar this:

{ "foo": "lorem", "barroom": "ipsum" } 

With Python 2.6+ oregon three you tin usage the json.implement module:

echo '{"foo": "lorem", "barroom": "ipsum"}' | python -m json.implement 

oregon, if the JSON is successful a record, you tin bash:

python -m json.implement my_json.json 

if the JSON is from an net origin specified arsenic an API, you tin usage

curl http://my_url/ | python -m json.implement 

For comfort successful each of these circumstances you tin brand an alias:

alias prettyjson='python -m json.implement' 

For equal much comfort with a spot much typing to acquire it fit:

prettyjson_s() { echo "$1" | python -m json.implement } prettyjson_f() { python -m json.implement "$1" } prettyjson_w() { curl "$1" | python -m json.implement } 

for each the supra circumstances. You tin option this successful .bashrc and it volition beryllium disposable all clip successful ammunition. Invoke it similar prettyjson_s '{"foo": "lorem", "barroom": "ipsum"}'.

Line that arsenic @pnd pointed retired successful the feedback beneath, successful Python three.5+ the JSON entity is nary longer sorted by default. To kind, adhd the --kind-keys emblem to the extremity. I.e. ... | python -m json.implement --kind-keys.

Different utile action mightiness beryllium --nary-guarantee-ascii which disables escaping of non-ASCII characters (fresh successful interpretation three.9).