messagepack_vs_json.rb

# A typical piece of data
> mixed_data = {"id"=>18929882, "title"=>"Lorem Ipsum", "author"=>"Sit Dolor"}
# JSON stores the data in a reasonable amount of space...
> mixed_data.to_json.length
=> 58 
# But messagepack does much better
> MessagePack.pack(mixed_data).length
=> 44 
# That's a pretty big difference! But its even more efficient with numbers
> numerical_array = [1223, 2190, 1980092, 8932191892, 98321982189]
> numerical_array.to_json.length
=> 42
> MessagePack.pack(numerical_array).length
=> 30
# Both are pretty fast...
> Benchmark.measure { 2_000_000.times { mixed_data.to_json}  }
 =>  12.550000   0.040000  12.590000 ( 12.567510)
# But message pack is faster...
Benchmark.measure { 2_000_000.times { MessagePack.pack(mixed_data)}  }
 =>   3.250000   0.020000   3.270000 (  3.253008)
# They're compatible as well...
> JSON.parse(mixed_data.to_json) == MessagePack.unpack(MessagePack.pack(mixed_data))
# So, use MessagePack!