Java POJO/Beans instead of generic JSONObject

[sergio-mate-edo]

Currently, the Contentstack Java SDK uses generic JSONObjects for handling data. This approach presents several challenges and potential error sources due to the lack of type safety and structure. It requires developers to manually parse and validate data, increasing the risk of inconsistencies and runtime errors.

This proposal suggests introducing specific Plain Old Java Objects (POJOs) or Beans to represent different Contentstack data structures (e.g., Entry, Asset, Content Type, etc.). This would provide several benefits:

• Improved Type Safety: Using POJOs allows the Java compiler to enforce data types, catching errors at compile time rather than runtime. This reduces the likelihood of unexpected behavior and improves the overall reliability of applications using the SDK.
• Enhanced Code Readability and Maintainability: Working with well-defined POJOs makes the code easier to understand and maintain. Developers can clearly see the structure of the data they are working with, reducing the cognitive overhead associated with parsing JSONObjects.
• Reduced Boilerplate Code: POJOs can be easily serialized and deserialized, eliminating the need for developers to write manual parsing logic. This reduces the amount of boilerplate code required and allows developers to focus on the core logic of their applications.
• Better IDE Support: IDE features like code completion and refactoring work more effectively with POJOs, improving the developer experience.
• Clearer API: Overloading existing methods to accept both JSONObject and POJO parameters would allow for a smoother transition and maintain backward compatibility. New code could leverage the type safety of POJOs, while existing code using JSONObjects would continue to function.

Proposed Implementation:

• Define POJOs for key Contentstack entities (e.g., Entry, Asset, ContentType, etc.).
• Implement data mapping between JSONObjects and these POJOs. Consider using a library like Jackson or Gson for this.
• Overload existing methods to accept both JSONObject and the new POJO types.
• Gradually migrate usage to POJOs in examples and documentation.

Benefits:

• More robust and reliable SDK.
• Improved developer experience.
• Reduced development time and effort.
• Easier maintenance and debugging.

[reeshika-h]

Hey @sergio-mate-edo thank you for the suggestion. We will take this under consideration and let you know further.