Serialization

This is a reference guide for picking serialization formats in .NET, with a strong opinion: use schema-based formats like Protobuf or MessagePack over reflection-based ones like Newtonsoft.Json. It walks you through System.Text.Json with source generators for AOT compatibility, shows you how to version Protobuf schemas without breaking old readers, and explains when to use what (gRPC gets Protobuf, caching gets MessagePack, REST APIs get System.Text.Json). The migration section from Newtonsoft is solid, covering the attribute differences and polymorphism gotchas. If you're building distributed systems or planning for Native AOT, the wire compatibility patterns alone are worth reading.