How to create generic JSON serializer/deserializer in Scala? - scala

Question

I wanted to serialize and deserialize some case classes and realized I was repeating code. Unfortunately I cannot figure out a way to keep things DRY. Hoping someone can provide some assistance. Below I will provide a sample problem that is not DRY.
Sample Problem
import org.json4s.jackson.Serialization
import java.time.ZonedDateTime
import java.time.format.DateTimeFormatter
import org.json4s.JsonAST.JString
import org.json4s.{CustomSerializer, DefaultFormats}
case class Bar(bar: String, date: ZonedDateTime)
case class Foo(foo: String)
trait JsonParser {
private case object ZDTSerializer extends CustomSerializer[ZonedDateTime](_ => (
{ case JString(s) => ZonedDateTime.parse(s) },
{ case zdt: ZonedDateTime => JString(zdt.format(DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern("yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ss.SSSXXX"))) }
))
implicit val formats = DefaultFormats + ZDTSerializer
}
object BarParser extends JsonParser {
def deserialize(jsonBar: String): Bar = {
Serialization.read[Bar](jsonBar)
}
def serialize(bar: Bar): String = {
Serialization.write[Bar](bar)
}
}
object FooParser extends JsonParser {
def deserialize(jsonFoo: String): Foo = {
Serialization.read[Foo](jsonFoo)
}
def serialize(foo: Foo): String = {
Serialization.write[Foo](foo)
}
}
object Main {
def main(args: Array[String]): Unit = {
val foo = Foo("foo")
println(FooParser.serialize(foo)) // {"foo":"foo"}
println(FooParser.deserialize(FooParser.serialize(foo))) // Foo(foo)
}
}
Above it is clear that the logic to serialize and deserialize is repeated. This is one of the things I've tried (which doesn't compile).
Attempt to Solve
case class Bar(product: String, date: ZonedDateTime)
case class Foo(title: String)
abstract class GenericJsonParser[T] {
private case object ZDTSerializer extends CustomSerializer[ZonedDateTime](_ => (
{ case JString(s) => ZonedDateTime.parse(s) },
{ case zdt: ZonedDateTime => JString(zdt.format(DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern("yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ss.SSSXXX"))) }
))
implicit val formats = DefaultFormats + ZDTSerializer
def deserialize(json: String): T = {
Serialization.read[T](json) // No Manifest available for T
}
def serialize(thing: T): String = {
Serialization.write[T](thing) // type arguments [A] conform to the bounds of none of the overloaded alternatives ...
}
}
object BarJsonParser extends GenericJsonParser[Bar]
object FooParser extends GenericJsonParser[Foo]
Any guidance would be appreciated.

Answer 1

I think you can use Json.format[ACaseClass], for example:
import play.api.libs.json.{Format, Json}
case class ACaseClass(value: String, anotherValue: Int)
implicit val formatACaseClass = Json.format[ACaseClass]
I guess for Seralization.read and write you still have to pass an implicit value, jvm need must know how to read/write your object/