JAT (JSON API TOOLKIT)

JAT is a toolkit for handling objects serialization to JSON format in Ruby applications

Supported Formats

• JSON:API - official JSON:API format. JSON:API README.
• SIMPLE:API - regular nested structs. SIMPLE:API README.

Key Features

• Configurable exposing of attributes By default we we will serialize only direct attributes of serialized objects and exposing relationships is configurable.

• Auto preload of relationships with :activerecord plugin. For those who have no activerecord, there are :preloads plugin that shows nested hash with all relationships.

• Modular design – plugin system allows you to load only functionality you need

Quick Examples

JSON:API format example

class JsonapiSerializer < Jat
  plugin :json_api
end

class UserSerializer < JsonapiSerializer
  type :user

  attribute :id
  attribute(:name) { |user| [user.first_name, user.last_name].join(" ") }

  relationship :profile, serializer: -> { ProfileSerializer }, exposed: true
  relationship :roles, serializer: -> { RoleSerializer }, exposed: true
end

class ProfileSerializer < JsonapiSerializer
  type :profile

  attribute :id
  attribute(:location) { |profile| profile.location || "Gotham City" }
  attribute :followers_count
end

class RoleSerializer < JsonapiSerializer
  type :role

  attribute :id
  attribute :name
end

role1 = OpenStruct.new(id: 4, name: "superhero")
role2 = OpenStruct.new(id: 3, name: "reporter")
profile = OpenStruct.new(id: 2, followers_count: 999, location: nil)
user = OpenStruct.new(id: 1, first_name: "Clark", last_name: "Kent", profile: profile, roles: [role1, role2])

response = UserSerializer.to_h(user)
puts JSON.pretty_generate(response)

{
  "data": {
    "type": "user",
    "id": 1,
    "attributes": {
      "name": "Clark Kent"
    },
    "relationships": {
      "profile": {
        "data": {
          "type": "profile",
          "id": 2
        }
      },
      "roles": {
        "data": [
          {
            "type": "role",
            "id": 4
          },
          {
            "type": "role",
            "id": 3
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  },
  "included": [
    {
      "type": "profile",
      "id": 2,
      "attributes": {
        "location": "Gotham City",
        "followers_count": 999
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "role",
      "id": 4,
      "attributes": {
        "name": "superhero"
      }
    },
    {
      "type": "role",
      "id": 3,
      "attributes": {
        "name": "reporter"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Simple:API format example

class SimpleSerializer < Jat
  plugin :simple_api
end

class UserSerializer < SimpleSerializer
  root :users

  attribute :id
  attribute(:name) { |user| [user.first_name, user.last_name].join(" ") }

  relationship :profile, serializer: -> { ProfileSerializer }, exposed: true
  relationship :roles, serializer: -> { RoleSerializer }, exposed: true
end

class ProfileSerializer < SimpleSerializer
  attribute :id
  attribute(:location) { |profile| profile.location || "Gotham City" }
  attribute :followers_count
end

class RoleSerializer < SimpleSerializer
  attribute :id
  attribute :name
end

role1 = OpenStruct.new(id: 4, name: "superhero")
role2 = OpenStruct.new(id: 3, name: "reporter")
profile = OpenStruct.new(id: 2, followers_count: 999, location: nil)
user = OpenStruct.new(id: 1, first_name: "Clark", last_name: "Kent", profile: profile, roles: [role1, role2])

response = UserSerializer.to_h(user)
puts JSON.pretty_generate(response)

{
  "users": {
    "id": 1,
    "name": "Clark Kent",
    "profile": {
      "id": 2,
      "location": "Gotham City",
      "followers_count": 999
    },
    "roles": [
      {
        "id": 4,
        "name": "superhero"
      },
      {
        "id": 3,
        "name": "reporter"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Supported rubies

Ruby versions:

• MRI 2.5
• MRI 2.6
• MRI 2.7
• MRI 3.0
• MRI 3.1
• jruby 9.3.2
• truffleruby 21.3.0

ActiveRecord versions:

• 5.2
• 6.1
• 7.0