let's deprecate scala.util.parsing.json

[SethTisue]

it was never intended for production use; it's really more of a code sample demonstrating how to use parser combinators. unfortunately, over the years a huge volume of Scala newcomers have slid down the slippery maw of this gaudy, carnivorous plant and dissolved.

probably it would have been derpecated (typo, but I'll let it stand) years ago, but we have historically been reluctant to deprecate things when we couldn't clearly provide and recommend a specific replacement. but that isn't going to happen anytime soon. perhaps eventually there will be a JSON parser in the Scala Platform, but there isn't even a proposal for that yet. (@mdedetrich's well-known Scala Platform proposal is about JSON ASTs, not a parser.)

so let's go ahead and just deprecate the scala.util.parsing.json package in its entirety, in a release which would be bundled with some Scala 2.12.x release.

by the time Scala 2.13 rolls around, either we will no longer be bundling this library at all, or if for some reason we still are, we can bundle a version that does not include the JSON parsers.

the only real difficulty that I see is crafting a suitable deprecation message. is there something better we can tell people, or do we just have to say something like "seek third party alternatives"?

[dwijnand]

Maybe we can use the Scaladex? "Seek alternatives on index.scala-lang.org"?

[SethTisue]

so, this seems popular. would anyone like volunteer to actually do the deprecation and submit a PR?

[gourlaysama]

Fixed in #103 :)

[SethTisue]

yay!

@gourlaysama were you thinking of rolling a release anytime soon? this could still get into Scala 2.12.2. (though if that doesn't happen, it's no tragedy)

[gourlaysama]

@SethTisue sure. I'll tag 1.0.6 after #106 is in :)

[SethTisue]

@gourlaysama ping... let me know if there's anything I (/ the community) could help with?

[SethTisue]

my other motivation for hoping for a release in a not-too-distant future is so I can finish off #97 for Scala 2.13.0-M1

[SethTisue]

Another newcomer swallowed: https://users.scala-lang.org/t/find-value-in-nested-map-parsed-from-json/505/6

[SethTisue]

for anyone visiting this ticket: the deprecation is in 1.0.6, which will ship with Scala 2.12.3