JSONnet

JSONnet is a data templating language that extends JSON. It was developed at Google and is designed to make it easier to manage complex configurations, particularly in cloud-native environments. JSONnet's primary goal is to provide a more powerful and maintainable way to generate JSON, addressing limitations of plain JSON like the lack of variables, functions, and inheritance.

Key features of JSONnet include variables, functions, conditional logic, and object composition. These features allow developers to define reusable configuration snippets and avoid repetition. For instance, you can define a common set of parameters in a variable and use it across multiple parts of your configuration. Functions enable the creation of dynamic configuration values based on inputs. Object composition, or "extrication," is a powerful mechanism where you can merge and extend existing objects, promoting modularity and reducing boilerplate.

JSONnet is often used in conjunction with other tools and platforms. It is particularly popular in the Kubernetes ecosystem, where tools like Jsonnet-Operator and Kustomize can leverage JSONnet for advanced configuration management. Its ability to generate valid JSON makes it a versatile choice for any application that requires structured data output. The language is also designed to be predictable and computationally inexpensive to evaluate, ensuring efficient processing of configurations.