SLON format

SLON (Single Line Object Notation) is a lightweight data serialization format designed to compress JSON-like structures into a concise, human-readable syntax. It keeps the familiar concepts of maps and arrays while trimming unnecessary characters, making it easier to scan large payloads in logs or share configuration snippets inline.

Why SLON?

• Compact syntax – Braces and commas are optional when the structure is unambiguous, allowing records to fit on a single line without sacrificing readability.
• JSON-compatible – Every SLON document can be converted to JSON and vice versa, enabling quick interchange between OpenAF helpers that expect JSON and those that accept SLON.
• Human-friendly defaults – Strings can be quoted only when needed, and key-value pairs rely on : separators, so editing data by hand is straightforward.

Working with SLON in OpenAF

OpenAF includes multiple helpers to convert data back and forth between JSON and SLON:

• AF.toSLON() / AF.toCSLON() – render maps or arrays to SLON (optionally with ANSI colors for terminals).
• AF.fromSLON() / AF.fromJSSLON() – parse SLON strings back into OpenAF objects.
• $toSLON, $cslon, $oafp – templating helpers that emit or parse SLON documents inline.

Because SLON is interchangeable with JSON, documentation frequently mentions parameters that accept “JSON/SLON” values. You can freely decide which notation is more convenient for you, and OpenAF will transparently parse the data.

For complete syntax details and reference implementations, visit the SLON GitHub repository.