FsPickler
A fast, multi-format .NET serialization library with comprehensive type support, including F# types.
What is FsPickler?
FsPickler is a fast multi-format message serializer for .NET that facilitates the distribution of .NET objects. It focuses on performance and completeness in supported types, including F# types, and supports pluggable serialization formats like Binary, XML, JSON, and BSON. The library solves the problem of efficiently serializing complex .NET type graphs across different formats.
.NET developers, especially those using F#, who need high-performance serialization with broad type support. It is also suitable for projects requiring flexible format choices (e.g., Binary for speed, JSON for interoperability).
Developers choose FsPickler for its combination of speed, comprehensive type support (including F#-specific types), and multi-format flexibility. Its unique pickler combinators approach, adapted from functional programming, provides a robust and extensible foundation not commonly found in other .NET serializers.
Overview
A fast multi-format message serializer for .NET
Use Cases
Best For
- Serializing F# types (e.g., discriminated unions, records) in .NET applications
- High-performance binary serialization for .NET object graphs
- Applications requiring interchangeable serialization formats (Binary, JSON, XML, BSON)
- Distributing .NET objects across services or processes
- Scenarios where type completeness and correctness are critical
- Projects leveraging functional programming concepts in .NET
Not Ideal For
- Projects requiring simple JSON serialization for REST APIs without complex .NET type graphs
- Teams that prioritize ease of use and minimal configuration over performance and type completeness
- Environments where serialization must be interoperable with non-.NET languages without additional adaptation
Pros & Cons
Pros
Supports pluggable formats like Binary, XML, JSON, and BSON, allowing developers to switch based on use case, as highlighted in the README's key features.
Comprehensively supports F# types such as discriminated unions and records, making it ideal for F# projects, as emphasized in the description.
Optimized for speed in serialization and deserialization, with benchmarks available for .NET Core, confirming its efficiency focus.
Based on pickler combinators adapted from functional programming, enabling custom serialization logic for complex type graphs, as described in the philosophy.
Cons
The functional programming approach and pickler combinators require more understanding and setup than conventional .NET serializers, which can deter newcomers.
Compared to mainstream serializers like Newtonsoft.Json, FsPickler has fewer third-party libraries and community resources, potentially increasing development time.
For basic serialization needs, the comprehensive feature set might introduce unnecessary complexity and configuration, as noted in the focus on performance and type completeness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Projects
FSharp.SystemTextJsonSystem.Text.Json extensions for F# types
FSharp.JsonF# JSON Reflection based serialization library
FleeceJson mapper for F#
FsCodecF# Event-Union Contract Encoding with versioning tolerant converters supporting System.Text.Json and Newtonsoft.Json
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