Apache Fory 1.7.0 Introduces High-Performance JSON for Kotlin and Scala
The serialization framework adds a thread-safe JSON codec that significantly outperforms Jackson and Gson in early benchmarks.
The Apache Fory community has released version 1.7.0 of its multi-language serialization framework, introducing a high-performance JSON codec. This update enables Java, Kotlin, and Scala developers to exchange standard JSON with external APIs and browsers without sacrificing the throughput typically associated with binary protocols.
Known as "Fory JSON," the new capability operates as a separate data format from the framework's existing binary native and xlang protocols. According to official documentation, the codec is thread-safe and provides comprehensive support for language-specific features, including Kotlin data classes, nullability, defaults, and value types, as well as Scala case classes, collections, and enums.
Performance Benchmarks
To demonstrate the efficiency of the new codec, Apache Fory released benchmark data conducted on an Apple M4 Pro running JDK 26.0.1. The results show that Fory JSON's UTF-8 byte serialization reached 10,375,498 operations per second. This figure represents a substantial leap over established industry standards; for comparison, Jackson recorded 1,868,614 ops/sec and Gson recorded 1,037,211 ops/sec under the same conditions.
Bridging Binary and Web Standards
Historically, Apache Fory has focused on ultra-fast binary encoding via its xlang and native modes, utilizing a Schema IDL to ensure high object graph fidelity during cross-language data exchange. While these binary protocols are optimized for internal service-to-service communication, they are not compatible with the standard web APIs and configuration files that rely on JSON.
By integrating a JSON codec that rivals or exceeds the performance of legacy JVM libraries, Fory removes a significant friction point for developers. Engineers can now utilize a single framework to handle both the high-speed internal requirements of a microservices architecture and the interoperability requirements of external-facing web interfaces.
Industry Implications
This release positions Apache Fory as a more versatile tool for the JVM ecosystem. The ability to maintain high throughput while switching between binary and text-based formats reduces the need for developers to maintain multiple serialization libraries, which often leads to increased dependency overhead and potential compatibility bugs.
As the industry continues to push for lower latency in cloud-native environments, the introduction of a codec capable of exceeding 10 million operations per second provides a new baseline for JSON processing on modern hardware. Developers will likely watch how these benchmarks translate to diverse production environments and whether the framework expands this support to other supported languages beyond the JVM.