JSON isn't simple when you're building production systems

JSON displaced XML through architectural shift, not simplification.

Where XML bundled validation (XSD), protocols (SOAP), and security into one monolithic specification, JSON provided a minimal core and let independent solutions emerge: JSON Schema, JSON-RPC, JWT.

This architectural shift explains JSON's dominance.

But modular ecosystems create a discovery problem: many developers use JSON for years without learning the patterns that make it production-ready.

In this book you'll learn:

• Schema validation that catches errors before production
• Binary formats (MessagePack, CBOR, Protocol Buffers) and when to use them
• API design patterns that scale to millions of requests
• Data pipeline architectures that process billions of events reliably
• Security strategies that prevent JWT attacks and injection vulnerabilities
• Testing approaches that build confidence in production
• Decision frameworks for choosing JSON vs. alternatives
• Architectural thinking that explains why JSON succeeded where XML failed

Whether you're a backend developer designing APIs, a data engineer building pipelines, or an architect choosing technologies, this book provides the systematic understanding to build JSON systems that don't fail under pressure.