in reply to JSON recomendations
If your needs are fairly general, just use JSON, and have JSON::XS installed so that JSON can select it automatically. If you have more specific needs, then look at the niche solutions. Most of the other solutions exist to scratch an itch. JSON::Tiny, for example, was forked from Mojo::JSON to form a light-weight, pure-Perl, easily embedded / easily distributed alternative to the heavier JSON.
Dave
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Seekers of Perl Wisdom