Serialization

gRPC and Protocol Buffers for Efficient APIs gRPC is a modern framework for remote procedure calls. It uses Protocol Buffers as its default data format. Together, they help teams build fast, reliable APIs for microservices and cloud apps. The binary messages are smaller and faster to parse than JSON, and HTTP/2 brings multiplexing, streaming, and strong flow control. This makes gRPC a good choice when speed, consistency, and cross-language support matter. ...

Communication Protocols Every Developer Should Know Protocols are the rules that govern how apps talk to each other. They define message formats, how connections start and stay open, and how errors are reported. For developers, a solid grasp of a few core protocols helps you design reliable APIs, diagnose issues faster, and build scalable services. HTTP and HTTP/2 Most web apps rely on HTTP. HTTP/1.1 uses a text-based request/response model with headers. HTTP/2 adds multiplexing, header compression, and server push, which reduce latency in many apps. When you call a public API or load a web page, HTTP is usually the carrier. TLS (HTTPS) protects the data in transit. ...

Data Serialization Formats and Protocols Data is data only when it can move between systems. Serialization formats define how objects become a string or a binary blob that can be stored, sent, and later reconstructed. Protocols describe how those bytes travel and are organized in networks. Understanding both helps you design cleaner APIs, reliable data lakes, and scalable messaging. Common formats for payloads JSON: text-based, human readable, widely supported. Good for open APIs and quick prototyping. XML: verbose but strong in structure, with namespaces and schemas. YAML: readable and friendly for configuration, but can be tricky to parse precisely. MessagePack: binary, compact, drop-in for JSON with similar data types. Protobuf: compact binary, schema-driven, fast; requires a .proto file and code generation. CBOR: binary, compact like JSON, suitable for low-bandwidth apps. Avro: schema-based, good for streaming and data lakes, with forward/backward compatibility. Parquet: columnar format for analytics; less common for API payloads but popular in data warehousing. Protocols and where formats fit ...

The Shape of APIs: REST, GraphQL, and gRPC Uncovered APIs are the quiet plumbing of modern software. They let apps, services, and devices talk to each other. REST, GraphQL, and gRPC offer different ways to shape that conversation. Understanding their core ideas helps teams pick the right tool for the job. REST helps you work with resources using standard HTTP. Each endpoint represents a resource and uses methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE. Because HTTP is widely understood, REST endpoints are easy to explore with simple tools, and they often benefit from built‑in caching and clear status codes. A typical REST call might fetch a user with GET /users/42 and return JSON like { “id”: 42, “name”: “Alex” }. REST shines when you want predictable URLs and broad client support. ...