A Developer's Deep Dive into TOON: Advanced Techniques

In our previous post, we introduced TOON and explained why it's a game-changer for working with LLMs. In this post, we'll take a deeper dive into some of the more advanced features of TOON and explore how you can use them to maximize your token savings.

Handling Complex JSON

While TOON is great for simple JSON objects, it really shines when it comes to handling complex, nested data structures. Because TOON is a superset of JSON, you can use the same techniques you're already familiar with to work with complex data.

Advanced Techniques for Maximizing Token Reduction

Here are some advanced techniques you can use to maximize your token reduction when working with TOON:

• Use Shorthand Syntax: TOON includes several shorthand syntax features that can help you reduce your token usage. For example, you can use the @ symbol to represent the root of your data structure, and you can use the .. operator to access nested properties.
• Use Custom Encoders: If you're working with a specific data format, you can create a custom encoder to convert it to TOON. This can help you achieve even greater token savings by optimizing the output for your specific use case.
• Use a Combination of Techniques: The best way to maximize your token reduction is to use a combination of different techniques. Experiment with different approaches and see what works best for your data.

Token Count Comparison: TOON vs. JSON vs. YAML

To give you a better idea of how much you can save with TOON, here's a comparison of the token counts for a sample JSON object in TOON, JSON, and YAML:

Real-World Code Examples for Backend Integration

Here are some real-world code examples that demonstrate how to integrate TOON into your backend:

// Node.js example
import { encode } from '@toon-format/toon';

app.post('/api/data', (req, res) => {
  const toon = encode(req.body);
  // Do something with the TOON data
});

# Python example
from toon import encode

@app.route('/api/data', methods=['POST'])
def process_data():
  toon = encode(request.json)
  # Do something with the TOON data

Conclusion

TOON is a powerful tool that can help you save money and improve performance when working with LLMs. By using the advanced techniques we've discussed in this post, you can maximize your token savings and get the most out of your LLM.