files-edit-jsonlisted

# Edit JSON with a Python library, never by hand ## Overview Build and edit JSON by round-tripping through a Python data structure, then re-load to confirm it parses. Editing JSON as raw text invites the classic breakages: a trailing comma, an unquoted key, a single quote, a missing brace. A library serialization is valid by construction; re-loading it verifies it. ## Library - **`json`** (stdlib) - the default: `json.load` / `json.dump` (use `indent=2` for human-edited config, `ensure_ascii=False` to keep literal UTF-8 instead of `\uXXXX`, `sort_keys=True` for stable diffs). Correct and always available. - **`orjson`** - when speed/throughput matters (fast, returns `bytes`, strict). `pip install orjson`. JSON has **no comments**. If a file has `//` or `/* */` (JSONC, e.g. tsconfig, VS Code settings) or trailing commas (JSON5), plain `json` will fail - use `pyjson5`/`json5` to load it, but write back as strict JSON unless the consumer requires the relaxed form. See **bitranox:coding-python-use-modern-libraries** for the wider list. Reach for the structured editors for the other formats too: **bitranox:files-edit-toml**, **bitranox:files-edit-xml**, **bitranox:files-edit-yml**. ## Pattern: load -> edit the structure -> dump -> re-load to validate ```python import json from pathlib import Path path = Path("plugins/bitranox/.claude-plugin/plugin.json") data = json.loads(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")) # parse into Python objects data["version"] = "1.5.0"