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Lite³ is a binary serialization format that encodes data as a B-tree in a single buffer, allowing for direct access and modification without traditional parsing. It is schemaless, self-describing, and outperforms many existing formats in speed and efficiency. The library is minimalistic and offers both a Buffer API and a more user-friendly Context API for ease of use.
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Lite³ is a binary serialization format designed for efficiency. By utilizing a B-tree structure within a single contiguous buffer, it allows for zero-copy access and modifications to data fields in logarithmic time. This means that traditional steps of parsing or serializing data are eliminated. Instead, Lite³ operates similarly to hashmaps or binary trees, enabling immediate reading and writing of data without the overhead of serialization processes. The format is schemaless and self-describing, which simplifies integration with existing systems and aids in debugging.
Performance-wise, Lite³ stands out with a minimalistic implementation size of 9.3 kB, outperforming even the fastest JSON libraries by up to 120 times, depending on the benchmark. It beats schema-only formats like Google Flatbuffers by a staggering 242 times. The structure supports easy conversion to and from JSON, maintaining compatibility with various datasets and APIs. With features like built-in pointer validation and low memory usage, Lite³ delivers predictable latency and efficiency.
The library offers two APIs: the Buffer API and the Context API. The Buffer API gives users full control over memory management, suitable for custom allocation needs. The Context API abstracts memory handling, making it more user-friendly. Error handling can be enabled during development for better feedback. The documentation provides comprehensive guidance on building and using Lite³, including examples for both APIs. Installation is straightforward, requiring a simple `make` command followed by installation steps that refresh the pkg-config cache.
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