Question 1

How do I parse JSON with Marshal in Swift?

Accepted Answer

Marshal lets you extract values from JSON dictionaries using type-safe key paths. For example, use `let name: String = try json.value(for: "name")` for top-level fields or nested ones like `user.website`. Handle errors with try-catch or optional try? for simpler cases.

Question 2

Marshal vs Codable: which is better for JSON parsing?

Accepted Answer

Marshal offers explicit control and avoids reflection, making it performant and flexible for custom parsing logic. Codable is built into Swift and requires less code for standard cases. Choose Marshal if you need full control over serialization formats or custom type handling.

Question 3

How to handle dates with Marshal?

Accepted Answer

Marshal doesn't support Date out of the box. Extend Date to conform to ValueType and implement custom parsing, such as from ISO8601 strings, as shown in the README example with `Date.fromISO8601String`.

Question 4

Can Marshal work with plist files?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Marshal is designed for any [String: Any] dictionary, including plists. Use the same value extraction methods, like `try json.value(for: "key")`, to parse plist data into Swift models seamlessly.

Question 5

What's the error handling like in Marshal?

Accepted Answer

Marshal provides detailed errors for type mismatches and missing keys. You can wrap code in do-catch blocks for precise error details or use try? for optional values, making it easy to manage parsing failures gracefully.

Question 6

How to convert a Swift model back to a dictionary with Marshal?

Accepted Answer

Conform your model to the Marshaling protocol and implement the `marshaled()` method to return a [String: Any] dictionary. This gives explicit control over serialization, as shown in the User extension example with keys like "id" and "name".

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