Ed SummersFeb 10, 2024

JSON-LD can be nice to work with as a JSON object, for example:

https://kolektiva.social/@anarchivist/111905336837934109.json

But it can also be very difficult to work with, for example:

https://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85079255.jsonld

Since you don't really know what you're going to get you need to use heavy RDF processing tools just to work with some JSON data. I think that's why people don't like JSON-LD.

Show threadPatrick HochstenbachFeb 10, 2024
@edsu This just depends on the tooks loc.gov used to create the JSON-LD, right. It just could be a JSON file, pretty readable, with a context inline or known to exists. I'm not a big fan of JSON-LD but this is not the reason. It is a compromise solution. As ugly and use-full as XML.
Show threadEd SummersFeb 10, 2024

@hochstenbach yes, they could have chosen to publish it differently, but they didn't, and it's still valid JSON-LD. Uncertainty about how its going to be structured raises the bar for everyone who wants to use it.

But I guess different communities on the web could have norms of usage, that take some of the guess work out of parsing.

Show threadPatrick Hochstenbach
@edsu Indeed, it would have taken LOC 10 minutes of work to produce an output that is much easier to consume using a JSON-LD frame at their side. E.g. https://gist.github.com/phochste/39562b6cf51585d983208eaab61af22f
sh85079255.frame

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Feb 10, 2024 at 6:45pmWeb
Show threadEd SummersFeb 10, 2024
@hochstenbach Yeah, I guess that's what I'm trying to say, that using JSON-LD requires a stack of software to process it (in addition to the usual JSON support).
Show threadJakob VoßFeb 10, 2024
@edsu @hochstenbach JSON-LD is misunderstood. Data providers should start with a clear JSON format to be usable without any knowledge or interest in RDF. Then add JSON-LD context on top, to make it RDF as well. In practice, it's often done the other way round, without any benefit compared to other RDF serializations.
Show threadAdrianFeb 10, 2024
@nichtich @edsu @hochstenbach Yes! That is an essential part of Linked Open Usable Data and we try to do this with #lobid . Creating nice nested JSON to be easily consumed and – indexed in elasticsearch – queryable (rather intuitively if you make yourself a bit familiar with the JSON's fields and structure) via HTTP in complex ways on every level (though not as complex as SPARQL).
Show threadEd SummersFeb 11, 2024
@acka47 @nichtich @hochstenbach yes, agreed!