How to serialize/deserialize with STJ

[brandonh-msft]

I have objects in my application which are "composed" of a JSON object that contains an API object. Said another way, I handle serialize/deserialize of objects that have "extra" data, then a property myObj which is an API object referencing those created by Kiota.

{
  "id": ...,
  "this": ...,
  "that": ...
  "kiotaObject": {
  }
}

The problem I'm having is that I cannot JsonSerializer.Deserialize<MyObject>() and have it properly deserialize the kiotaObject, because Kiota doesn't decorate its generated properties with JsonPropertyName but instead uses a mapping dictionary.

What's the best approach here? Are there any plans to pivot, at least for .NET, to fully using STJ?

Thanks.

[baywet]

Hi @brandonh-msft
Thank you for using kiota and for reaching out.

Models generated by kiota leverage auto-serialization (they describe in a library and format agnostic way how to serialize/deserialize themselves).
This is done this way to enable portability of generated client between serialization libraries, as well as enable reusability of models between formats.

For that reason, the STJ annotations are not emitted, and most models "won't work properly" using STJ's serialization methods directly.

Kiota libraries provide helpers to handle serialization and deserialization outside of the context of communicating with the API. see this method and associated

The challenge in your context is that the model is encapsulated with another type not generated by kiota. I'd suggest you create another model for local JSON serialization and implement conversion between the two instead.

Let us know if you have any additional comments or questions.

[brandonh-msft]

I'd suggest you create another model for local JSON serialization and implement conversion between the two instead.

Can you help me understand this a bit better? Do you mean create another Kiota model for local serialization? Or do you mean create a new Object that implements an implicit converter between Kiota model & something compatible with STJ?

[baywet]

I meant a simple POCO with the JSON annotations that's the reflection of the Kiota class (or has the shape you desire for the JSON serialization) and implements a conversion from the Kiota model