Jb / json.bash – Command-line tool (and bash library) that creates JSON
jb is a UNIX tool that creates JSON, for shell scripts or interactive use. Its "one thing" is to get shell-native data (environment variables, files, program output) to somewhere else, using JSON encapsulate it robustly. I wrote this because I wanted a robust and ergonomic way to create ad-hoc JSON data from the command line and scripts. I wanted errors to not pass silently, not coerce data types, not put secrets into argv. I wanted to leverage shell features/patterns like process substitution, environment variables, reading/streaming from files and null-terminated data. If you…
Jb / json.bash – Command-line tool (and bash library) that creates JSON launched on July 3, 2024 with 183 votes, #308 of 5,184 launches that month and more than 95% of that year's launches. The site was still online in September 2026, 2 years on.
In plain words
jb is a command-line tool and bash library that converts shell-native data—such as environment variables, files, and program output—into JSON format. Designed for both interactive use and scripts, it prioritizes robustness by treating values as strings by default, requiring explicit type annotations to parse other types, and avoiding silent errors or data coercion. It supports shell patterns like process substitution and null-terminated data, making it useful for developers who need safe, ergonomic JSON creation without exposing secrets through command arguments.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
Command-line tool and bash library that creates JSON - h4l/json.bash
In the maker’s words, at launch
jb is a UNIX tool that creates JSON, for shell scripts or interactive use. Its "one thing" is to get shell-native data (environment variables, files, program output) to somewhere else, using JSON encapsulate it robustly. I wrote this because I wanted a robust and ergonomic way to create ad-hoc JSON data from the…
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