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$ jq '.[] | messages | .thank_you' < strings.json

wait, maybe it's...

$ jq '. | .messages.thank_you' < strings.json

darn it! how about

$ jq '[].messages.thank_you' < strings.json

!??@@!



Figuring out what garbage to type into jq is the best thing about ChatGPT.


For some reason, I find it kinda funny you don't just ask the LLM to extract the values for you. Practically, your solution makes a lot of sense -- way fewer tokens, less likely to make weird one-off errors, can verify the response makes basic sense or re-use the code off-line or with sensitive data...

But if I were watching Star Trek, they would definitely just ask the computer to grab the fields and it would be a done deal!


I'm rarely just using jq once. It's almost always going into a script, often where I only have placeholder data to test it with.

Plus, you know, I actually learn how jq works and will need to ask the Magic Sky Oracle less often, in the future.


> Plus, you know, I actually learn how jq works

What's wrong with the docs? Relatedly, do you actually look up every filter and argument used in your AI-generated sample code in the jq docs?


jq's syntax is different, but well worth remembering.

i have some flash cards if you'd like. a teensy amount of effort pays huge dividends with swiss knife software like this (and things like matplotlib, tar CLI options, etc)




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