OutWit.Common.MessagePack

A utility library for the MessagePack-CSharp serializer. It simplifies common serialization tasks, provides helpful extension methods, and includes a set of pre-configured, serializable data structures for common use cases.

Features

• Simple Serialization/Deserialization: Extension methods (ToMessagePackBytes, FromMessagePackBytes) to serialize and deserialize any object with a single line of code.
• Built-in Compression: Easily enable or disable LZ4 compression via a boolean flag.
• Deep Cloning: A convenient .MessagePackClone() extension method to perform a deep copy of any serializable object.
• Centralized Configuration: A simple static class MessagePackUtils for registering custom formatters and resolvers globally.
• Custom Formatters Included:
  • TypeFormatter: Serializes System.Type objects.
  • PropertyChangedEventArgsFormatter: Serializes System.ComponentModel.PropertyChangedEventArgs.
• File I/O Helpers: Methods to easily export and load collections to/from a MessagePack file.

Installation

Install the package via the .NET CLI:

dotnet add package OutWit.Common.MessagePack

Quick Start

The library is configured with sensible defaults and is ready to use immediately after installation.

Basic Serialization and Deserialization

The MessagePackUtils class provides extension methods for any object.

using OutWit.Common.MessagePack; public class MyData { public int Id { get; set; } public string Name { get; set; } } var myObject = new MyData { Id = 1, Name = "Test" }; // Serialize the object to a byte array (with LZ4 compression by default) byte[] msgPackBytes = myObject.ToMessagePackBytes(); // Deserialize it back MyData deserializedObject = msgPackBytes.FromMessagePackBytes<MyData>();

Disabling Compression

To serialize without compression, pass false to the withCompression parameter.

// Serialize without compression byte[] plainBytes = myObject.ToMessagePackBytes(withCompression: false); // Deserialize without compression MyData deserializedObject = plainBytes.FromMessagePackBytes<MyData>(withCompression: false);

Cloning an Object

You can create a deep clone of any serializable object using the MessagePackClone extension method.

var originalObject = new MyData { Id = 10, Name = "Original" }; var clonedObject = originalObject.MessagePackClone(); // clonedObject is a new instance with the same values // but is not the same reference as originalObject.

Registering a Custom Formatter

The library uses a central resolver. You can easily register your own formatters at application startup.

using OutWit.Common.MessagePack; using MessagePack; using MessagePack.Formatters; // 1. Define your custom formatter public class MyCustomObjectFormatter : IMessagePackFormatter<MyCustomObject> { public void Serialize(ref MessagePackWriter writer, MyCustomObject value, MessagePackSerializerOptions options) { // ... serialization logic } public MyCustomObject Deserialize(ref MessagePackReader reader, MessagePackSerializerOptions options) { // ... deserialization logic } } // 2. Register it at startup public static class Program { public static void Main(string[] args) { // Register the formatter for MyCustomObject MessagePackUtils.Register<MyCustomObjectFormatter>(); // ... rest of your application } }

License

Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0. See LICENSE.

Attribution (optional)

If you use OutWit.Common.MessagePack in a product, a mention is appreciated (but not required), for example: "Powered by OutWit.Common.MessagePack (https://ratner.io/)".

Trademark / Project name

"OutWit" and the OutWit logo are used to identify the official project by Dmitry Ratner.

You may:

• refer to the project name in a factual way (e.g., "built with OutWit.Common.MessagePack");
• use the name to indicate compatibility (e.g., "OutWit.Common.MessagePack-compatible").

You may not:

• use "OutWit.Common.MessagePack" as the name of a fork or a derived product in a way that implies it is the official project;
• use the OutWit.Common.MessagePack logo to promote forks or derived products without permission.