---
id: smithy-json
version: "0.2.3"
license: Apache License 2.0
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# smithy-json — JSON serialization and deserialization support for Smithy tooling.

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 423.4K/mo

## What it is and what it does

smithy-json is a low-level JSON handling module for the Smithy Python code generation ecosystem. It provides the serialization and deserialization layer that generated service clients use to handle JSON payloads. The package is part of a larger toolchain (Smithy Python) that generates asynchronous Python service clients from Smithy service models; this module specifically handles the JSON protocol support.

The package is in early development (pre-alpha) and is not intended for production use. It depends on ijson and smithy-core to perform its work. Most developers will encounter this package indirectly as a runtime dependency of generated Smithy clients rather than using it directly in their own code.

Use it for:

- Runtime dependency for generated Smithy service clients that communicate over restJson1 protocol
- Part of the Smithy Python code generation pipeline when building clients for custom Smithy-defined services
- JSON payload handling in asynchronous service client implementations generated from Smithy models

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Provides JSON serialization and deserialization support for Smithy-based service client code generation in Python.

Yes, if you are using generated Smithy Python clients or actively developing with the Smithy Python code generation toolchain. No, if you need stable production-ready JSON handling—the pre-alpha status and unstable interfaces make this unsuitable for production systems. Install only as a transitive dependency of a generated client or as part of active Smithy development.

## Install

pip install smithy-json
uv add smithy-json
poetry add smithy-json

## Installing smithy-json

Before you install: Active maintenance with recent releases; low install friction. Pre-alpha status means interfaces remain unstable and the package is not recommended for production use yet.

License in practice: Apache License 2.0 (permissive) allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions.

Quickstart:

# Install
pip install smithy-json

# Import and use (typically within generated Smithy client code)
from smithy_json import SomeJsonHandler  # exact API depends on generated client

# Usage is typically indirect via generated service clients

Requires Python 3.12 or newer; pre-alpha interfaces subject to change without notice.

Verify before relying:

- Whether this package can be used standalone or only as part of the full Smithy Python code generation workflow
- Performance characteristics or throughput limits for JSON serialization with ijson and smithy-core
- Stability timeline or roadmap for moving beyond pre-alpha status

## Package facts

- License: Apache License 2.0 (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 423.4K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

smithy json serialization, json support smithy python, smithy codegen json, sdk json handling, smithy service client json, smithy-ecosystem, code-generation, pre-alpha

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