jless vs JSONBuddy

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.

JSONBuddy provides tools for editing, validating, formatting, transforming, and automating JSON and JSON Schema work. Its Windows editor offers text and grid views, schema-aware completion, and validation results. Schema tools include authoring assistance, reference navigation, diagnostics, debugging, analysis, tests, and documentation. Validation checks JSON syntax and schema constraints, with reports linking failing data to relevant rules. The product converts among JSON, CSV, XML, and HTML, including CSV imports and JSON-to-CSV output. Streaming validation can process large JSON without loading the entire document into memory; streaming JSON Schema validation through -jsv requires a JSONBuddy Large Data license. Windows command-line tools support repeatable checks in scripts and CI, and the published Core API v1 supports formatting, minifying, JSON Patch, validation, and schema documentation. ValBuddy CLI performs file operations locally on Windows and can return selected diagnostics to an AI agent, though selected content or diagnostics may be sent to its model provider. Licenses include free personal and educational use and paid perpetual options, starting at $15 for JSONBuddy Swift. The portable package requires 64-bit Windows 10 or 11.