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[Sebastian Kostuch <>]

Hi again,
I have commited some changes on Issue145 branch where you can see my first attempt to convert currently sent
messages as JSON ones. At this moment only tests specific methods have been changed so there are still messages
that need converting what is my next goal. Meantime please feel free to review current code and every feedback
will be very appreciated.

Please note that messages will be sent as JSON only if client sends extended login message, otherwise it will still
use old format (C client is implemented to support it so you can test changes and verify that it works how it should).

I have used Jansson library for encoding/decoding messages so it is required to install it on your system in order
to compile program without errors.

Regards
Sebastian

On 23.04.2014 14:02, Sebastian Kostuch wrote:

Hi
according to last discussion about changing messages to JSON I have created appropriated
ticket related to it. I would like to propose little more detailed information about format of
such message.

I think that it would be good idea to change all possible messages to use JSON (not
only the ones we expect will change in future).
While watching currently sent messages I have observed that they could be
divided into three sections:
1. Empty or containing only one value messages (such as the ones sent along with finalize
message or these with port numbers/error values)
2. Messages formatted with pairs <variable name>: <variable value> used mainly when
sending single Web100/10g variable
3. Messages containing more than one variables formatted as above or containing only
number values separated by specific character

My idea is to format these messages using JSON as follows:
1. Empty message will contain empty object ("{}") and these with only one value will look
like this: "{ msg : value }" and clients will obtain it using "msg" key. This way it would be easy
to add another values to such message in future if necessary.
2. Something similar as to { msg : value } map but keys will be named the same as
<variable name> and "value" will contain only actual variable's value.
3. Here I think it would be good idea to separate each variable value and contain it
within JSON as separated key/value pair (simply divide it to look like this presented in point 2).
With messages containing variables names it is easy but what about when message looks like
this (in middlebox test it is used such way): value1;value2;value3 ? Then we don't have variable's
names so it isn't obvious how to store such value in map (which key to use?). So what about naming
such values with appropriated keys which will be documented in our wiki? I dislike idea of formatting
such messages as they are currently as it would bring troubles in future similar to the one I was
facing when trying to add next value to such string.

What do you think about such transition? Is it proper way to encode our current messages within JSON
or do you see it another way? Looking forward to your feedback and feel free to ask if anything isn't
clear :).

Regards
Sebastian