Serialization in Ruby

Serialization in Ruby

• Serialization converts Ruby objects into byte strings and vice-versa. This is crucial for network communication and data storage.
• Common serialization methods in Ruby include YAML, JSON, and MessagePack.

YAML

• YAML (YAML Ain't Markup Language) is a human-readable serialization format. It's also used for configurations (like in Rails).
• YAML syntax resembles Ruby hashes. Colons represent key-value pairs, tabs create nested hashes, and hyphens denote lists.
• YAML is easily translated to and from Ruby hashes.
• To serialize a Ruby hash to YAML, use to_yaml.
• To deserialize a YAML string to a Ruby object, convert the YAML string to a Ruby hash, then use the hash data to create a new object.

JSON

• JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is also human-readable and often used for configurations and communication.
• JSON syntax is similar to Javascript objects and Ruby hashes. Key-value pairs use colons.
• Easily converted to and from Ruby hashes.
• JSON is commonly used for AJAX communication due to its wide Javascript support.

MessagePack

• MessagePack is a binary format, focused on speed and low latency.
• It's not human-readable, which avoids issues with interpretation but requires a dedicated package.
• MessagePack generally occupies less space than YAML or JSON.
• MessagePack is suited for high-throughput and low-latency systems.

Modular Serialization Approach (Mixins)

• Use mixins for a dynamic and flexible approach to serialization.
• Create a common BasicSerializable module with serialize and unserialize methods.
• The @@serializer class variable stores the chosen serialization method.
• Add include BasicSerializable to your classes to handle serialization.
• For more complex scenarios (e.g., nested objects), override serialize/unserialize methods for the object itself.

Choosing a Serialization Method

• Use YAML for configurations.
• Use JSON for Javascript communication.
• Use MessagePack for speed and space efficiency in fast systems.