Choosing a Data Format: APIs, Storage, and Config
Use a structured decision framework to choose between data formats for REST APIs, event streams, file storage, and developer-facing configuration.
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Tags: data, architecture, formats
Choosing a Data Format: Decision Framework for APIs, Storage, and Config Format choice is one of those decisions that feels minor until it isn't. Switching from JSON to Protobuf in a high-throughput service is a substantial migration. Choosing YAML for a config file that gets generated programmatically creates ongoing friction. Picking CSV for hierarchical data means writing custom escape logic forever. This guide gives you a decision framework organized by use case — not by format. If you know what you're building, you can find the right format directly. --- The Core Tradeoff Dimensions Before the use-case breakdown, here are the six dimensions that determine format fitness: | Dimension | What it means | |-----------|--------------| | Human readability | Can a developer read and edit the…
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