YAS vs boost.serialization which is faster?

YAS is benchmarked to be significantly faster than boost.serialization, as shown in linked benchmarks, but boost.serialization offers more features and broader community support for complex serialization needs.

How to serialize a custom class in YAS?

Use the YAS_OBJECT macro to define serializable fields in your class, similar to the samples in the README, ensuring all members are supported types like std::vector or primitives.

Does YAS work with C++17 or newer standards?

YAS requires C++11 and supports modern types like std::optional and std::variant, but compatibility with specific C++17 features should be tested with your compiler, as only general compiler support is listed.

Can YAS handle binary data for network protocols?

Yes, YAS supports binary archives that are endian-independent, making it suitable for cross-platform network communication where performance and portability are critical.

Is YAS JSON output valid for web APIs?

No, YAS's JSON is not fully standards-compliant, so it might not work with strict JSON parsers or web APIs that require exact compliance, limiting its use in web-focused applications.

What compilers are officially supported by YAS?

YAS supports GCC, Clang, MSVC, and others as listed in the README, but Intel compiler support is untested, so verification is needed for specific environments.

Open-Awesome

YAS

C++7.1.0

A high-performance, header-only C++11 serialization library designed as a faster alternative to boost.serialization.

GitHub

794 stars101 forks0 contributors

What is YAS?

YAS is a header-only C++ serialization library that enables fast and efficient conversion of C++ objects to and from binary, text, and JSON formats. It solves the problem of slow serialization performance in existing libraries like boost.serialization, offering a lightweight and portable alternative for C++ developers.

Target Audience

C++ developers working on performance-critical applications that require efficient object serialization for data storage, network communication, or inter-process communication.

Value Proposition

Developers choose YAS for its benchmark-proven speed advantages over boost.serialization, its header-only design for easy integration, and its comprehensive support for modern C++ types without external dependencies.

Overview

Yet Another Serialization

Use Cases

Best For

Replacing boost.serialization in performance-sensitive C++ projects
Serializing complex C++ data structures to binary format for storage
Implementing fast network communication protocols in C++
Creating portable serialization that works across different endian architectures
Adding JSON serialization support to C++ applications
Working with Boost container types that need serialization

Not Ideal For

Projects requiring fully standards-compliant JSON for strict interoperability
Systems needing built-in object versioning for schema evolution
Teams preferring established libraries with mature tooling like Protocol Buffers

Pros & Cons

Pros

Header-Only Integration

YAS is a header-only library, making it easy to integrate without separate compilation or linking steps, as emphasized in the README.

Benchmarked Speed

It was created to address performance limitations of boost.serialization and is benchmarked as significantly faster, with links to performance tests provided.

Multi-Format Support

Supports binary, text, and JSON archives, allowing flexibility for different use cases like storage or network communication.

Endian-Independent Portability

Binary archives are endian-independent, ensuring data portability across different architectures without manual conversion.

Extensive Type Coverage

Serializes a wide range of std, Boost, and Qt types, reducing the need for custom serialization code for common containers.

Cons

Non-Standard JSON

The JSON archive format does not fully comply with JSON standards, which could cause issues in systems requiring strict validation or interoperability.

Missing Advanced Features

Lacks object versioning and support for formats like protobuf or MessagePack, as acknowledged in the TODO list, limiting its use in evolving systems.

Macro-Based API

Relies on macros like YAS_OBJECT for serialization, which some developers find less intuitive and more prone to errors compared to template-based approaches.

Sparse Documentation

While examples are provided, comprehensive documentation is limited, potentially increasing the learning curve for complex use cases.

Open Source Alternative To

YAS is an open-source alternative to the following products:

boost.serialization

boost.serialization is a C++ library that provides serialization of C++ data structures to various formats including text, XML, and binary for storage or transmission.

Frequently Asked Questions

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