How do I filter JSON data using fx?

Pipe JSON into fx and use a JavaScript function, e.g., `cat data.json | fx '.filter(item => item.active)'`. This applies the filter interactively or in a script. See the documentation for more examples on mapping and reducing data.

What's the difference between fx and jq?

fx focuses on interactive exploration with a JavaScript-based interface, while jq uses a specialized query language optimized for performance and complex transformations. Choose fx for quick, interactive tweaks and jq for scriptable, high-performance processing.

Can fx handle streaming JSON input?

No, fx processes JSON as a whole and does not support streaming. For large or continuous data streams, consider tools like jq or specialized streaming libraries that can handle incremental processing.

How to install fx on macOS?

Use Homebrew: run `brew install fx`. Alternatively, download the standalone binary from the GitHub releases page and add it to your PATH for quick terminal access.

Is there a way to save output from fx to a file?

Yes, pipe the transformed JSON to a file, e.g., `cat input.json | fx 'yourFunction' > output.json`. This works with both interactive and non-interactive modes, ensuring processed data can be stored for later use.

What keyboard shortcuts are available in fx's interactive mode?

Common shortcuts include arrow keys for navigation, Enter to expand/collapse nodes, and Esc to exit. Refer to the online documentation at fx.wtf for a full list and customization options.

Open-Awesome

fx

MITGo39.2.0

A terminal-based JSON viewer and processor with interactive exploration and JavaScript processing capabilities.

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20.4k stars478 forks0 contributors

What is fx?

fx is a terminal-based JSON viewer and processor that allows developers to interactively explore and manipulate JSON data directly from the command line. It provides an intuitive interface for navigating complex JSON structures and enables real-time data transformation using JavaScript expressions.

Target Audience

Developers, system administrators, and data engineers who work with JSON data in terminal environments and need quick inspection, filtering, or transformation capabilities.

Value Proposition

fx combines the convenience of a visual JSON explorer with the power of programmatic processing, offering a faster alternative to traditional command-line JSON tools like jq while maintaining an interactive workflow.

Overview

Terminal JSON viewer & processor

Use Cases

Best For

Quickly inspecting API responses in terminal workflows
Filtering and transforming JSON logs during debugging sessions
Exploring complex nested JSON configurations
Piping JSON data through custom JavaScript transformations
Interactive JSON exploration without leaving the terminal
Teaching JSON structure navigation in command-line environments

Not Ideal For

Automated batch processing pipelines requiring non-interactive JSON manipulation
Teams needing advanced JSON query capabilities with a dedicated DSL like jq
Environments handling extremely large JSON files where performance is critical

Pros & Cons

Pros

Interactive Keyboard Navigation

Provides intuitive keyboard shortcuts for exploring nested JSON structures directly in the terminal, reducing the need for manual scrolling or external tools.

JavaScript Processing Flexibility

Allows applying custom JavaScript functions to filter and transform JSON on the fly, leveraging familiar syntax for complex operations beyond basic queries.

Standalone Binary Simplicity

Distributed as a single executable with no external dependencies, making installation straightforward and avoiding runtime setup hassles.

Terminal Integration

Seamlessly works with pipes and command-line workflows, enabling quick integration into existing shell scripts and data processing chains.

Cons

Performance Overhead

Using JavaScript for processing can be slower with large JSON files compared to optimized tools like jq, especially in resource-limited environments.

JavaScript Dependency

Requires users to know JavaScript for transformations, which may be a barrier for those preferring simpler, declarative query languages.

Limited Advanced Features

Lacks built-in support for advanced JSON operations like streaming or schema validation, which are available in more specialized tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

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