Convert atoms to strings about jsx

[talentdeficit]

jsx:encode([{foo, <<"bar">>}]) will work but i'm hesitant to allow atoms in string positions because the atoms true, false and null have special meaning as the second value of a 2-tuple. i like simple apis so i don't like exceptions like 'any atom EXCEPT true, false and null will be converted to a json string'

while i agree it's obnoxious that jsx can't just do the obvious thing here it's more obnoxious that people are going to generate json that they expect will be {"key": "true"} but get {"key": true}

[dvv]

oh, i see. i didn't manage to reliably understand the last sentence, sorry. i believed things would be ok if we just excluded these three terminal cases from any further conversion.

[talentdeficit]

i understand it seems stupid to not just make an exception for true, false and null but it's simpler to explain 'all strings must be binaries' than 'all strings must be binaries or atoms unless they are the atoms true, false or null'. i think when dealing with api's you should always do the simplest thing possible

[dvv]

i see. another attempt and i'll retire :) as you're perfectly right on API.

it seems to me like a matter of wording. 'All binaries are converted to strings. All atoms except well-known true/false/null are converted to strings.' seems perfect to me.

my point is that the ability of encoding almost anything with least surprise and without friction is the killer feature of jsx. maybe an option to trigger said conversion?

thank you

[talentdeficit]

i think most users don't really read documentation. they read just enough to think they know what they are doing and then go do it. i'm sorry but i don't think allowing atoms in positions where utf8 binaries are expected is worth it

[dvv]

np :)