JMESPath query helper

Overview

To support building queries from sample JSON and a natural-language request, debugging queries against JSON, and answering syntax questions, use the bundled reference and script as below.

When to use

• User provides JSON (or a sample) and a description of what to extract → build a JMESPath expression that returns that data.
• User has an existing JMESPath expression and JSON and wants to see the result or fix wrong results → run the query and adjust.
• User asks how to express something in JMESPath (e.g. fallback string literal, filter, slice) → answer using the syntax reference.

Building a query from JSON and a request

1. Parse the user’s JSON and their request (which field, list, or structure they want).
2. Use references/syntax.md for correct syntax (identifiers, subexpressions, index/slice, projections, filters, literals, fallbacks).
3. Propose a JMESPath expression. For literals use backtick JSON (e.g. `"active"`) or raw strings (e.g. 'fallback'); for defaults use || (e.g. foo || \"n/a"``).
4. Optionally run the expression with scripts/run_query.py and show the result so the user can confirm.

Debugging an existing query

1. Run the query against the user’s JSON using scripts/run_query.py:
   • From file: python scripts/run_query.py '<query>' path/to/data.json
   • From stdin: cat path/to/data.json | python scripts/run_query.py '<query>'
2. Compare output to what the user expects; if it differs, use references/syntax.md to fix (e.g. projections, filters, literal vs raw string, precedence with ||/&&).
3. Re-run until the result matches expectations.

Answering syntax questions

1. Use references/syntax.md as the primary source for syntax (identifiers, subexpressions, index/slice, wildcards, flatten, literals, raw strings, fallback ||, filters, comparators, multi-select, pipe, @, and function call form).
2. For “how to represent a fallback string literal”: use JSON literal `"text"` or raw string 'text'; for “default if missing” use field || \"default"`orfield || 'default'`.
3. For built-in function names and signatures, point to the JMESPath specification or load the spec only when a detailed function list is needed.

Resources

• references/syntax.md — JMESPath syntax summary (literals, fallbacks, filters, projections, etc.). Read when building or debugging queries or answering syntax questions.
• scripts/run_query.py — Run a JMESPath query against JSON from a file or stdin. Install dependencies with pip install -r requirements.txt.