Why isn't the json data written as binary data?

[axelf4]

Is it not a bit counter-intuitive considering that your goal is to be simple and fast?

[fabrobinet]

Take a browser nowadays, all the JSON parsing is done for you. So it is simple AND fast. Also the big payload isn't in the JSON... Yes, you could certainly load a big binary blob and parse it using typed array API to be fast but I wouldn't call that so "simple".

We actually considered another form of binary JSON can you remind me @pjcozzi ? but that's post v1.0.

[axelf4]

Well, I'm programming in C/C++ so JSON is a big hassle. Guess this file format isn't for me. Sorry if I've bothered you.

I just think it's strange - a format for OpenGL, where native applications are more widespread.

[fabrobinet]

@pwnedary there are tons of C++ JSON library, not to mention that they are part of SDK if you use iOS (and probably Android too). But it is true that the first version of glTF is targeting more web and mobile than desktop.

[pjcozzi]

@fabrobinet for binary, we considered http://msgpack.org/. @tfili and I are actually looking at this now.

[isral]

@fabrobinet for binary, we considered http://msgpack.org/. @tfili and I are actually looking at this now.

Is it already implemented or already rejected?
I'm looking for pure binary gltf (no textual json) and I stumble to this issue.

[donmccurdy]

@isral glTF remains a JSON-based format today. If you need a good C loader, I would suggest cgltf. Or if you do prefer to avoid JSON entirely, you could reformat a .gltf file with MessagePack and deserialize the binary data in your application.

[emackey]

We've had good results from tinygltf which is a header-only library for C++