gojq vs jless

gojq is a free, MIT-licensed Go implementation of the jq command, with a library for embedding queries in Go products. The command-line tool applies jq-style queries to JSON, including filtering, field selection, updates, and multiple input values. It reads YAML and can produce YAML output. Integer arithmetic uses arbitrary precision for addition, subtraction, multiplication, modulo, and divisible division. The project describes gojq as portable and supports Linux, macOS, Windows, and self-hosted use. Documented installation routes include Homebrew, mise, Zero Install, source builds, and Docker images. Go applications can parse and run queries, compile them for reuse, and configure custom functions and iterators. Environment-variable access and module loading are disabled by default for library queries and require configured loaders. gojq does not preserve object key order and lacks some jq extensions, flags, functions, and regular-expression behavior.

jless is a free command-line viewer for reading and exploring JSON and YAML on macOS and Linux. It formats JSON with indentation and syntax highlighting, and lets users open or close objects and arrays using vim-inspired commands. Search supports both full-text and regular-expression queries. jless reads files or standard input, including newline-delimited JSON; it can detect YAML from a file extension or read it with the --yaml flag. YAML comments and anchors are not shown. Users can copy values, keys, and paths to the system clipboard, or print them in the terminal, including a jq-style path for the focused node. It does not provide jq querying. Data mode gives a streamlined view, while line mode shows formatted JSON. Installation choices include Homebrew, MacPorts, Linux package managers, Cargo, downloadable binaries, and building from source with Rust. The project is MIT-licensed and available as a standalone binary. Its maker suggests it for exploring external APIs or debugging request payloads.