Synthesizing JSON Schema Transformers

TL;DR

This paper introduces a program synthesis approach for automatically generating data transformation programs that convert JSON data from one schema to another, simplifying schema evolution in JSON-based systems.

Contribution

It presents a top-down, type-directed synthesis method using rewrite rules to generate safe and efficient JSON schema transformation programs.

Findings

Successfully synthesizes JSON transformation programs

Ensures data integrity during schema modifications

Facilitates quick adaptation of systems to schema changes

Abstract

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a data encoding that allows structured data to be used in a standardized and straightforward manner across systems. Schemas for JSON-formatted data can be constructed using the JSON Schema standard, which describes the data types, structure, and meaning of JSON-formatted data. JSON is commonly used for storing and transmitting information such as program configurations, web API requests and responses, or remote procedure calls; or data records, such as healthcare information or other structured documents. Since JSON is a plaintext format with potentially highly complex definitions, it can be an arduous process to change code which handles structured JSON data when its storage or transmission schemas are modified. Our work describes a program synthesis method to generate a program that accepts data conforming to a given input JSON Schema and automatically converts it to conform to a resulting, target JSON Schema. We use a top-down, type-directed approach to search for programs using a set of rewrite rules which constrain the ways in which a schema can be modified without unintended data loss or corruption. Once a satisfying sequence of rewrites has been found, we pass an intermediate representation of the rewrite sequence to a code generation backend, which synthesizes a program which executes the data transformation. This system allows users to quickly and efficiently modify or augment their existing systems in safe ways at their interfaces.