Data: JSON Modification Tools (Medium Priority)

[jwesleye]

Overview

Add targeted JSON modification tools to complement the existing token-saving read functions. Enable precise updates without loading/rewriting entire structures.

Motivation

We have 10 JSON inspection/reading tools (get_json_value_at_path, filter_json_array, etc.) but no targeted modification tools. Agents often need to update specific values, append to arrays, or merge objects without loading entire JSON structures.

Proposed Functions

High Priority - Targeted Updates

• update_json_value_at_path - Update single value at path without full load (with skip_confirm)
• delete_json_key_at_path - Remove specific key at path (with skip_confirm)
• append_to_json_array - Add item to array at path (with skip_confirm)

Medium Priority - Structural Operations

• merge_json_objects - Deep merge multiple JSON objects
• sort_json_array - Sort array by key (in-place or return new)
• flatten_json_object - Flatten nested object to single level with dot-notation keys
• unflatten_json_object - Expand flat object with dot-notation keys to nested structure

Lower Priority - Bulk Operations

• transform_json_values - Apply transformation function to values matching criteria
• deduplicate_json_array - Remove duplicate items from array

Design Principles

• Google ADK compliant (JSON-serializable types, no defaults)
• @strands_tool decorator
• Include skip_confirm parameter for destructive operations
• Use dot notation for path access (consistent with get_json_value_at_path)
• Return operation feedback strings
• Memory-efficient where possible

Related

• Complements existing data/json_tools.py read functions
• Related to issue Data: Future Enhancement Features #57 (Data Future Enhancements)
• Similar confirmation pattern to write_json_file

Module

data/json_tools.py