ntypu

ntypu is a fictional data-serialization format created for educational and speculative design purposes. It is not an established standard and there is no official specification or canonical implementation.

Origin and purpose: The concept emerged in computer science teaching materials as a thought exercise to compare compactness, readability, and parsing complexity across formats such as JSON and YAML. It is used to illustrate how minor design choices affect tooling and interoperability.

Design and syntax: ntyp y u is defined as a text-based, line-oriented format intended to be human-friendly. It supports basic data types such as strings, numbers, booleans, and nulls, along with composite types for lists and maps. Nesting is expressed through indentation and simple markers, while each top-level item is separated by a newline. The syntax emphasizes minimal punctuation and predictable parsing, aiming to balance readability with compactness.

Usage in education: In classroom exercises, ntypu serves as a neutral comparison point when discussing data interchange. In exercises, students implement parsers and serializers to explore how design choices impact error handling, schema evolution, and performance.

Implementation status: There is no official repository or standard; hobbyist parsers and reference grammars appear only in teaching materials or speculative articles.

Related formats include JSON, YAML, and XML, which provide real-world benchmarks for readability and tooling.