Add support for dumping build system state in JSON format (GH issue #182)

Specifically:

1. New --dump-format option. Valid values are `buildfile` and `json-v0.1`.

2. The --dump option now recognizes two additional values: `match-pre` and
   `match-post` to dump the state of pre/post-operations. The `match` value
   now only triggers dumping of the main operation.

12 files changed, 1151 insertions, 110 deletions

diff --git a/build2/b.cxx b/build2/b.cxx
index add27d4..163a89e 100644
--- a/build2/b.cxx
+++ b/build2/b.cxx
@@ -148,32 +148,20 @@ namespace build2
 
       s.begin_object ();
 
-      // Target.
+      // Display target.
       //
-      {
-        // Change the stream verbosity (see print_lines() for details).
-        //
-        ostringstream os;
-        stream_verb (os, stream_verbosity (1, 0));
-        os << t;
-        s.member ("target", os.str ());
-      }
+      s.member_name ("target");
+      dump_display_target_name (s, t);
 
       // Quoted target.
       //
-      {
-        names ns (t.as_name ()); // Note: potentially adds an extension.
+      s.member_name ("quoted_target");
+      dump_quoted_target_name (s, t);
 
-        ostringstream os;
-        stream_verb (os, stream_verbosity (1, 0));
-        to_stream (os, ns, quote_mode::effective, '@');
-        s.member ("quoted_target", os.str ());
-      }
-
-      s.member ("target_type", t.key ().type->name, false /* check */);
+      s.member ("target_type", t.type ().name, false /* check */);
 
       if (t.is_a<dir> ())
-        s.member ("target_path", t.key ().dir->string ());
+        s.member ("target_path", t.dir.string ());
       else if (const auto* pt = t.is_a<path_target> ())
         s.member ("target_path", pt->path ().string ());
 
@@ -497,20 +485,47 @@ main (int argc, char* argv[])
 
     bool dump_load (false);
     bool dump_match (false);
+    bool dump_match_pre (false);
+    bool dump_match_post (false);
     for (const string& p: ops.dump ())
     {
-      if      (p == "load")  dump_load = true;
-      else if (p == "match") dump_match = true;
+      if      (p == "load")       dump_load = true;
+      else if (p == "match")      dump_match = true;
+      else if (p == "match-pre")  dump_match_pre = true;
+      else if (p == "match-post") dump_match_post = true;
       else fail << "unknown phase '" << p << "' specified with --dump";
     }
 
-    auto dump = [&trace, &ops] (context& ctx, optional<action> a)
+    dump_format dump_fmt (dump_format::buildfile);
+    if (ops.dump_format_specified ())
+    {
+      const string& f (ops.dump_format ());
+
+      if (f == "json-v0.1")
+      {
+#ifdef BUILD2_BOOTSTRAP
+        fail << "json dump not supported in bootstrap build system";
+#endif
+        dump_fmt = dump_format::json;
+      }
+      else if (f != "buildfile")
+      {
+        diag_record dr (fail);
+
+        dr << "unsupported format '" << f << "' specified with --dump-format";
+
+        if (f.compare (0, 4, "json") == 0)
+          dr << info << "supported json format version is json-v0.1";
+      }
+    }
+
+    auto dump = [&trace, &ops, dump_fmt] (context& ctx, optional<action> a)
     {
       const dir_paths& scopes (ops.dump_scope ());
       const vector<pair<name, optional<name>>>& targets (ops.dump_target ());
 
       if (scopes.empty () && targets.empty ())
-        build2::dump (ctx, a);
+        build2::dump (ctx, a, dump_fmt);
       else
       {
         auto comp_norm = [] (dir_path& d, const char* what)
@@ -557,7 +572,7 @@ main (int argc, char* argv[])
             l5 ([&]{trace << "unknown target scope " << d
                           << " specified with --dump-scope";});
 
-          build2::dump (s, a);
+          build2::dump (s, a, dump_fmt);
         }
 
         // Dump targets.
@@ -623,7 +638,7 @@ main (int argc, char* argv[])
             l5 ([&]{trace << "unknown target scope " << d
                           << " specified with --dump-target";});
 
-          build2::dump (t, a);
+          build2::dump (t, a, dump_fmt);
         }
       }
     };
@@ -644,7 +659,10 @@ main (int argc, char* argv[])
     // Note that this constructor is cheap and so we rather call it always
     // instead of resorting to dynamic allocations.
     //
-    json::stream_serializer js (cout);
+    // Note also that we disable pretty-printing if there is also the JSON
+    // dump and thus we need to combine the two in the JSON Lines format.
+    //
+    json::stream_serializer js (cout, dump_fmt == dump_format::json ? 0 : 2);
 
     if (ops.structured_result_specified () &&
         ops.structured_result () == structured_result_format::json)
@@ -1484,7 +1502,7 @@ main (int argc, char* argv[])
             if (mif->match != nullptr)
               mif->match (mparams, a, tgs, diag, true /* progress */);
 
-            if (dump_match)
+            if (dump_match_pre)
               dump (ctx, a);
 
             if (mif->execute != nullptr && !ctx.match_only)
@@ -1572,7 +1590,7 @@ main (int argc, char* argv[])
             if (mif->match != nullptr)
               mif->match (mparams, a, tgs, diag, true /* progress */);
 
-            if (dump_match)
+            if (dump_match_post)
               dump (ctx, a);
 
             if (mif->execute != nullptr && !ctx.match_only)
diff --git a/doc/cli.sh b/doc/cli.sh
index 7aa1aff..8d7d70a 100755
--- a/doc/cli.sh
+++ b/doc/cli.sh
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ function compile ()
 --generate-html --html-suffix .xhtml \
 --html-prologue-file man-prologue.xhtml \
 --html-epilogue-file man-epilogue.xhtml \
+--link-regex '%b(#.+)?%build2-build-system-manual.xhtml$1%' \
 ../libbuild2/$n.cli
 
   cli -I .. \
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@ function compile ()
 --generate-man --man-suffix .1 --ascii-tree \
 --man-prologue-file man-prologue.1 \
 --man-epilogue-file man-epilogue.1 \
+--link-regex '%b(#.+)?%$1%' \
 ../libbuild2/$n.cli
 }
 
diff --git a/libbuild2/b-options.cxx b/libbuild2/b-options.cxx
index 1fbc5d9..0ff788e 100644
--- a/libbuild2/b-options.cxx
+++ b/libbuild2/b-options.cxx
@@ -361,6 +361,8 @@ namespace build2
     no_mtime_check_ (),
     dump_ (),
     dump_specified_ (false),
+    dump_format_ (),
+    dump_format_specified_ (false),
     dump_scope_ (),
     dump_scope_specified_ (false),
     dump_target_ (),
@@ -618,6 +620,13 @@ namespace build2
       this->dump_specified_ = true;
     }
 
+    if (a.dump_format_specified_)
+    {
+      ::build2::build::cli::parser< string>::merge (
+        this->dump_format_, a.dump_format_);
+      this->dump_format_specified_ = true;
+    }
+
     if (a.dump_scope_specified_)
     {
       ::build2::build::cli::parser< dir_paths>::merge (
@@ -975,11 +984,37 @@ namespace build2
     os << std::endl
        << "\033[1m--dump\033[0m \033[4mphase\033[0m            Dump the build system state after the specified phase." << ::std::endl
        << "                        Valid \033[4mphase\033[0m values are \033[1mload\033[0m (after loading \033[1mbuildfiles\033[0m)" << ::std::endl
-       << "                        and \033[1mmatch\033[0m (after matching rules to targets). Repeat" << ::std::endl
-       << "                        this option to dump the state after multiple phases. By" << ::std::endl
-       << "                        default the entire build state is dumped but this" << ::std::endl
-       << "                        behavior can be altered with the --dump-scope\033[0m and" << ::std::endl
-       << "                        \033[1m--dump-target\033[0m options." << ::std::endl;
+       << "                        and \033[1mmatch\033[0m (after matching rules to targets). The \033[1mmatch\033[0m" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        value also has the \033[1mmatch-pre\033[0m and \033[1mmatch-post\033[0m variants to" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        dump the state for the pre/post-operations (\033[1mmatch\033[0m dumps" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        the main operation only). Repeat this option to dump" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        the state after multiple phases/variants. By default" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        the entire build state is dumped but this behavior can" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        be altered with the \033[1m--dump-scope\033[0m and \033[1m--dump-target\033[0m" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        options." << ::std::endl;
+
+    os << std::endl
+       << "\033[1m--dump-format\033[0m \033[4mformat\033[0m    Representation format and output stream to use when" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        dumping the build system state. Valid values for this" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        option are \033[1mbuildfile\033[0m (a human-readable, Buildfile-like" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        format written to \033[1mstderr\033[0m; this is the default), and" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        \033[1mjson-v0.1\033[0m (machine-readable, JSON-based format written" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        to \033[1mstdout\033[0m). For details on the \033[1mbuildfile\033[0m format, see" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        Diagnostics and Debugging (b#intro-diag-debug). For" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        details on the \033[1mjson-v0.1\033[0m format, see the JSON OUTPUT" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        section below (overall properties) and Build System" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        State JSON Dump Format (b#@@) (format specifics). Note" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        that the JSON format is currently unstable (thus the" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        temporary \033[1m-v0.1\033[0m suffix)." << ::std::endl
+       << ::std::endl
+       << "                        Note that because it's possible to end up with multiple" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        dumps (for example, by specifying the \033[1m--dump-scope\033[0m" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        and/or \033[1m--dump-target\033[0m options multiple times), the JSON" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        output is in the \"JSON Lines\" form, that is, without" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        pretty-printing and with the top-level JSON objects" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        delimited by newlines. Note also that if the JSON dump" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        output is combined with \033[1m--structured-result=json\033[0m, then" << ::std::endl
+       << "                        the structured result is the last line." << ::std::endl;
 
     os << std::endl
        << "\033[1m--dump-scope\033[0m \033[4mdir\033[0m        Dump the build system state for the specified scope" << ::std::endl
@@ -1168,6 +1203,9 @@ namespace build2
       _cli_b_options_map_["--dump"] =
       &::build2::build::cli::thunk< b_options, strings, &b_options::dump_,
         &b_options::dump_specified_ >;
+      _cli_b_options_map_["--dump-format"] =
+      &::build2::build::cli::thunk< b_options, string, &b_options::dump_format_,
+        &b_options::dump_format_specified_ >;
       _cli_b_options_map_["--dump-scope"] =
       &::build2::build::cli::thunk< b_options, dir_paths, &b_options::dump_scope_,
         &b_options::dump_scope_specified_ >;
diff --git a/libbuild2/b-options.hxx b/libbuild2/b-options.hxx
index 9afef25..37239ce 100644
--- a/libbuild2/b-options.hxx
+++ b/libbuild2/b-options.hxx
@@ -171,6 +171,12 @@ namespace build2
     bool
     dump_specified () const;
 
+    const string&
+    dump_format () const;
+
+    bool
+    dump_format_specified () const;
+
     const dir_paths&
     dump_scope () const;
 
@@ -305,6 +311,8 @@ namespace build2
     bool no_mtime_check_;
     strings dump_;
     bool dump_specified_;
+    string dump_format_;
+    bool dump_format_specified_;
     dir_paths dump_scope_;
     bool dump_scope_specified_;
     vector<pair<name, optional<name>>> dump_target_;
diff --git a/libbuild2/b-options.ixx b/libbuild2/b-options.ixx
index d19edb8..99e73d0 100644
--- a/libbuild2/b-options.ixx
+++ b/libbuild2/b-options.ixx
@@ -218,6 +218,18 @@ namespace build2
     return this->dump_specified_;
   }
 
+  inline const string& b_options::
+  dump_format () const
+  {
+    return this->dump_format_;
+  }
+
+  inline bool b_options::
+  dump_format_specified () const
+  {
+    return this->dump_format_specified_;
+  }
+
   inline const dir_paths& b_options::
   dump_scope () const
   {
diff --git a/libbuild2/b.cli b/libbuild2/b.cli
index 768bcd0..deb6a26 100644
--- a/libbuild2/b.cli
+++ b/libbuild2/b.cli
@@ -777,10 +777,37 @@ namespace build2
       "<phase>",
       "Dump the build system state after the specified phase. Valid <phase>
        values are \cb{load} (after loading \cb{buildfiles}) and \cb{match}
-       (after matching rules to targets). Repeat this option to dump the state
-       after multiple phases. By default the entire build state is dumped but
-       this behavior can be altered with the \c{--dump-scope} and
-       \cb{--dump-target} options."
+       (after matching rules to targets). The \cb{match} value also has the
+       \cb{match-pre} and \cb{match-post} variants to dump the state for the
+       pre/post-operations (\cb{match} dumps the main operation only). Repeat
+       this option to dump the state after multiple phases/variants. By
+       default the entire build state is dumped but this behavior can be
+       altered with the \cb{--dump-scope} and \cb{--dump-target} options."
+    }
+
+    string --dump-format
+    {
+      // NOTE: fix all references to json-v0.1
+      //
+      "<format>",
+      "Representation format and output stream to use when dumping the build
+       system state. Valid values for this option are \cb{buildfile} (a
+       human-readable, Buildfile-like format written to \cb{stderr}; this is
+       the default), and \cb{json-v0.1} (machine-readable, JSON-based format
+       written to \cb{stdout}). For details on the \cb{buildfile} format, see
+       \l{b#intro-diag-debug Diagnostics and Debugging}. For details on the
+       \cb{json-v0.1} format, see the JSON OUTPUT section below (overall
+       properties) and \l{b#@@ Build System State JSON Dump Format} (format
+       specifics). Note that the JSON format is currently unstable (thus
+       the temporary \cb{-v0.1} suffix).
+
+       Note that because it's possible to end up with multiple dumps (for
+       example, by specifying the \cb{--dump-scope} and/or \cb{--dump-target}
+       options multiple times), the JSON output is in the \"JSON Lines\" form,
+       that is, without pretty-printing and with the top-level JSON objects
+       delimited by newlines. Note also that if the JSON dump output is
+       combined with \cb{--structured-result=json}, then the structured
+       result is the last line."
     }
 
     dir_paths --dump-scope
diff --git a/libbuild2/dump.cxx b/libbuild2/dump.cxx
index e00d1b9..ca7254a 100644
--- a/libbuild2/dump.cxx
+++ b/libbuild2/dump.cxx
@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@
 
 #include <libbuild2/dump.hxx>
 
+#ifndef BUILD2_BOOTSTRAP
+#  include <iostream>  // cout
+#  include <unordered_map>
+#endif
+
 #include <libbuild2/rule.hxx>
 #include <libbuild2/scope.hxx>
 #include <libbuild2/target.hxx>
@@ -11,6 +16,7 @@
 #include <libbuild2/diagnostics.hxx>
 
 using namespace std;
+using namespace butl;
 
 namespace build2
 {
@@ -53,6 +59,317 @@ namespace build2
     }
   }
 
+#ifndef BUILD2_BOOTSTRAP
+
+  static string
+  quoted_target_name (const names_view& ns, bool rel)
+  {
+    ostringstream os;
+    stream_verb (os, stream_verbosity (rel ? 0 : 1, 0));
+    to_stream (os, ns, quote_mode::effective, '@');
+    return os.str ();
+  }
+
+  static void
+  dump_quoted_target_name (json::stream_serializer& j,
+                           const names_view& ns,
+                           bool rel)
+  {
+    j.value (quoted_target_name (ns, rel));
+  }
+
+  static string
+  quoted_target_name (const target& t, bool rel)
+  {
+    names ns (t.as_name ()); // Note: potentially adds an extension.
+
+    // Don't print target names relative if the target is in src and out!=src.
+    // Failed that, we will end up with pointless ../../../... paths.
+    //
+    // It may also seem that we can omit @-qualification in this case, since
+    // it is implied by the containing scope. However, keep in mind that the
+    // target may not be directly in this scope. We could make it relative,
+    // though.
+    //
+    if (rel && !t.out.empty ())
+    {
+      // Make the out relative ourselves and then disable relative for src.
+      //
+      dir_path& o (ns.back ().dir);
+      o = relative (o); // Note: may return empty path.
+      if (o.empty ())
+        o = dir_path (".");
+
+      rel = false;
+    }
+
+    return quoted_target_name (ns, rel);
+  }
+
+  void
+  dump_quoted_target_name (json::stream_serializer& j,
+                           const target& t,
+                           bool rel)
+  {
+    j.value (quoted_target_name (t, rel));
+  }
+
+  using target_name_cache = unordered_map<const target*, string>;
+
+  static void
+  dump_quoted_target_name (json::stream_serializer& j,
+                           const target& t,
+                           target_name_cache& tc)
+  {
+    auto i (tc.find (&t));
+    if (i == tc.end ())
+      i = tc.emplace (&t, quoted_target_name (t, false /* relative */)).first;
+
+    j.value (i->second);
+  }
+
+  void
+  dump_display_target_name (json::stream_serializer& j,
+                            const target& t,
+                            bool rel)
+  {
+    // Note: see the quoted version above for details.
+
+    target_key tk (t.key ());
+
+    dir_path o;
+    if (rel && !tk.out->empty ())
+    {
+      o = relative (*tk.out);
+      if (o.empty ())
+        o = dir_path (".");
+      tk.out = &o;
+
+      rel = false;
+    }
+
+    // Change the stream verbosity to print relative if requested and omit
+    // extension.
+    //
+    ostringstream os;
+    stream_verb (os, stream_verbosity (rel ? 0 : 1, 0));
+    os << tk;
+    j.value (os.str ());
+  }
+
+  static void
+  dump_value (json::stream_serializer& j, const value& v)
+  {
+    // Hints.
+    //
+    // Note that the pair hint should only be used for simple names.
+    //
+    optional<bool> h_array;
+    optional<bool> h_pair; // true/false - second/first is optional.
+
+    if (v.null)
+    {
+      j.value (nullptr);
+      return;
+    }
+    else if (v.type != nullptr)
+    {
+      const value_type& t (*v.type);
+
+      auto s_array = [&j] (const auto& vs)
+      {
+        j.begin_array ();
+        for (const auto& v: vs) j.value (v);
+        j.end_array ();
+      };
+
+      auto s_array_string = [&j] (const auto& vs)
+      {
+        j.begin_array ();
+        for (const auto& v: vs) j.value (v.string ());
+        j.end_array ();
+      };
+
+      // Note: check in the derived-first order.
+      //
+      if      (t.is_a<bool>           ()) j.value (v.as<bool> ());
+      else if (t.is_a<int64_t>        ()) j.value (v.as<int64_t> ());
+      else if (t.is_a<uint64_t>       ()) j.value (v.as<uint64_t> ());
+      else if (t.is_a<string>         ()) j.value (v.as<string> ());
+      else if (t.is_a<path>           ()) j.value (v.as<path> ().string ());
+      else if (t.is_a<dir_path>       ()) j.value (v.as<dir_path> ().string ());
+      else if (t.is_a<target_triplet> ()) j.value (v.as<target_triplet> ().string ());
+      else if (t.is_a<project_name>   ()) j.value (v.as<project_name> ().string ());
+      else if (t.is_a<int64s>         ()) s_array (v.as<int64s> ());
+      else if (t.is_a<uint64s>        ()) s_array (v.as<uint64s> ());
+      else if (t.is_a<strings>        ()) s_array (v.as<strings> ());
+      else if (t.is_a<paths>          ()) s_array_string (v.as<paths> ());
+      else if (t.is_a<dir_paths>      ()) s_array_string (v.as<dir_paths> ());
+      else
+      {
+        // Note: check in the derived-first order.
+        //
+        if      (t.is_a<name>      ()) h_array = false;
+        else if (t.is_a<name_pair> ())
+        {
+          h_array = false;
+          h_pair = true;
+        }
+        else if (t.is_a<process_path_ex> ())
+        {
+          // Decide on array dynamically.
+          h_pair = true;
+        }
+        else if (t.is_a<process_path> ())
+        {
+          h_array = false;
+          h_pair = true;
+        }
+        else if (t.is_a<cmdline>      () ||
+                 t.is_a<vector<name>> ())
+        {
+          h_array = true;
+        }
+        else if (t.is_a<vector<pair<string, string>>>           () ||
+                 t.is_a<vector<pair<string, optional<string>>>> () ||
+                 t.is_a<vector<pair<string, optional<bool>>>>   () ||
+                 t.is_a<map<string, string>>                    () ||
+                 t.is_a<map<string, optional<string>>>          () ||
+                 t.is_a<map<string, optional<bool>>>            () ||
+                 t.is_a<map<project_name, dir_path>>            ())
+        {
+          h_array = true;
+          h_pair = true;
+        }
+        else if (t.is_a<map<optional<string>, string>>          () ||
+                 t.is_a<vector<pair<optional<string>, string>>> ())
+        {
+          h_array = true;
+          h_pair = false;
+        }
+
+        goto fall_through;
+      }
+
+      return;
+
+    fall_through:
+      ;
+    }
+
+    names storage;
+    names_view ns (reverse (v, storage, true /* reduce */));
+
+    if (ns.empty ())
+    {
+      // When it comes to representing an empty value, our options are: empty
+      // array ([]), empty object ({}), or an absent member. The latter feels
+      // closer to null than empty, so that's out. After some experimentation,
+      // it feels the best choice is to use array unless we know for sure it
+      // is not, in which case we use an object if it's a pair and empty
+      // string otherwise (the empty string makes sense because we serialize
+      // complex names as target names; see below).
+      //
+      if (!h_array || *h_array)
+      {
+        j.begin_array ();
+        j.end_array ();
+      }
+      else
+      {
+        if (h_pair)
+        {
+          j.begin_object ();
+          j.end_object ();
+        }
+        else
+          j.value ("");
+      }
+    }
+    else
+    {
+      if (!h_array)
+        h_array = ns.size () > 2 || (ns.size () == 2 && !ns.front ().pair);
+
+      if (*h_array)
+        j.begin_array ();
+
+      // While it may be tempting to try to provide a heterogeneous array
+      // (i.e., all strings, all objects, all pairs), in case of pairs we
+      // actually don't know whether a non-pair element is first or second
+      // (it's up to interpretation; though we do hint which one is optional
+      // for typed values above). So we serialize each name in its most
+      // appropriate form.
+      //
+      auto simple = [] (const name& n)
+      {
+        return n.simple () || n.directory () || n.file ();
+      };
+
+      auto s_simple = [&j] (const name& n)
+      {
+        if (n.simple ())
+          j.value (n.value);
+        else if (n.directory ())
+          j.value (n.dir.string ());
+        else if (n.file ())
+        {
+          // Note: both must be present due to earlier checks.
+          //
+          j.value ((n.dir / n.value).string ());
+        }
+        else
+          return false;
+
+        return true;
+      };
+
+      for (auto i (ns.begin ()), e (ns.end ()); i != e; )
+      {
+        const name& l (*i++);
+        const name* r (l.pair ? &*i++ : nullptr);
+
+        optional<bool> hp (h_pair);
+
+        if (!hp && r != nullptr && simple (l) && simple (*r))
+          hp = true;
+
+        if (hp)
+        {
+          // Pair of simple names.
+          //
+          j.begin_object ();
+
+          if (r != nullptr)
+          {
+            j.member_name ("first");  s_simple (l);
+            j.member_name ("second"); s_simple (*r);
+          }
+          else
+          {
+            j.member_name (*hp ? "first" : "second"); s_simple (l);
+          }
+
+          j.end_object ();
+        }
+        else if (r == nullptr && s_simple (l))
+          ;
+        else
+        {
+          // If complex name (or pair thereof), then assume a target name.
+          //
+          dump_quoted_target_name (j,
+                                   names_view (&l, r != nullptr ? 2 : 1),
+                                   false /* relative */);
+        }
+      }
+
+      if (*h_array)
+        j.end_array ();
+    }
+  }
+#endif
+
   enum class variable_kind {scope, tt_pat, target, rule, prerequisite};
 
   static void
@@ -127,6 +444,68 @@ namespace build2
     }
   }
 
+#ifndef BUILD2_BOOTSTRAP
+  static void
+  dump_variable (json::stream_serializer& j,
+                 const variable_map& vm,
+                 const variable_map::const_iterator& vi,
+                 const scope& s,
+                 variable_kind k)
+  {
+    // Note: see the buildfile version above for comments.
+
+    assert (k != variable_kind::tt_pat); // TODO
+
+    const auto& p (*vi);
+    const variable& var (p.first);
+    const value& v (p.second);
+
+    lookup l (v, var, vm);
+    if (k != variable_kind::prerequisite)
+    {
+      if (var.override ())
+        return; // Ignore.
+
+      if (var.overrides != nullptr)
+      {
+        l = s.lookup_override (
+          var,
+          make_pair (l, 1),
+          k == variable_kind::target || k == variable_kind::rule,
+          k == variable_kind::rule).first;
+
+        assert (l.defined ()); // We at least have the original.
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Note that we do not distinguish between variable/value type.
+    //
+    // An empty value of a non-array type is represented as an empty object
+    // ({}).
+    //
+#if 0
+    struct variable
+    {
+      string           name;
+      optional<string> type;
+      json_value       value; // string|number|boolean|null|object|array
+    };
+#endif
+
+    j.begin_object ();
+
+    j.member ("name", var.name);
+
+    if (l->type != nullptr)
+      j.member ("type", l->type->name);
+
+    j.member_name ("value");
+    dump_value (j, *l);
+
+    j.end_object ();
+  }
+#endif
+
   static void
   dump_variables (ostream& os,
                   string& ind,
@@ -143,6 +522,20 @@ namespace build2
     }
   }
 
+#ifndef BUILD2_BOOTSTRAP
+  static void
+  dump_variables (json::stream_serializer& j,
+                  const variable_map& vars,
+                  const scope& s,
+                  variable_kind k)
+  {
+    for (auto i (vars.begin ()), e (vars.end ()); i != e; ++i)
+    {
+      dump_variable (j, vars, i, s, k);
+    }
+  }
+#endif
+
   // Dump target type/pattern-specific variables.
   //
   static void
@@ -248,10 +641,27 @@ namespace build2
     }
   }
 
+  // Similar to target::matched() but for the load phase.
+  //
+  static inline bool
+  matched (const target& t, action a)
+  {
+    // Note: running serial and task_count is 0 before any operation has
+    // started.
+    //
+    if (size_t c = t[a].task_count.load (memory_order_relaxed))
+    {
+      if (c == t.ctx.count_applied () || c == t.ctx.count_executed ())
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    return false;
+  }
+
   static void
-  dump_target (optional<action> a,
-               ostream& os,
+  dump_target (ostream& os,
                string& ind,
+               optional<action> a,
                const target& t,
                const scope& s,
                bool rel)
@@ -260,6 +670,9 @@ namespace build2
     // scope. To achieve this we are going to temporarily lower the stream
     // path verbosity to level 0.
     //
+    // @@ Not if in src and out != src? Otherwise end up with ../../../...
+    //    See JSON version for the state of the art.
+    //
     stream_verbosity osv, nsv;
     if (rel)
     {
@@ -321,32 +734,26 @@ namespace build2
     // If the target has been matched to a rule, we also print resolved
     // prerequisite targets.
     //
-    // Note: running serial and task_count is 0 before any operation has
-    // started.
-    //
     const prerequisite_targets* pts (nullptr);
     {
       action inner; // @@ Only for the inner part of the action currently.
 
-      if (size_t c = t[inner].task_count.load (memory_order_relaxed))
+      if (matched (t, inner))
       {
-        if (c == t.ctx.count_applied () || c == t.ctx.count_executed ())
-        {
-          pts = &t.prerequisite_targets[inner];
+        pts = &t.prerequisite_targets[inner];
 
-          bool f (false);
-          for (const target* pt: *pts)
+        bool f (false);
+        for (const target* pt: *pts)
+        {
+          if (pt != nullptr)
           {
-            if (pt != nullptr)
-            {
-              f = true;
-              break;
-            }
+            f = true;
+            break;
           }
-
-          if (!f)
-            pts = nullptr;
         }
+
+        if (!f)
+          pts = nullptr;
       }
     }
 
@@ -510,10 +917,318 @@ namespace build2
       stream_verb (os, osv);
   }
 
+#ifndef BUILD2_BOOTSTRAP
+  static void
+  dump_target (json::stream_serializer& j,
+               optional<action> a,
+               const target& t,
+               const scope& s,
+               bool rel,
+               target_name_cache& tcache)
+  {
+    // Note: see the buildfile version above for comments.
+
+    // Note that the target name (and display_name) are relative to the
+    // containing scope (if any).
+    //
+#if 0
+    struct prerequisite
+    {
+      string name; // Quoted/qualified name.
+      string type;
+      vector<variable> variables; // Prerequisite variables.
+    };
+
+    struct loaded_target
+    {
+      string           name; // Quoted/qualified name.
+      string   display_name;
+      string           type;
+      //string         declaration;
+      optional<string> group; // Quoted/qualified group target name.
+
+      vector<variable> variables; // Target variables.
+
+      vector<prerequisite> prerequisites;
+    };
+
+    // @@ TODO: target attributes (rule_hint)
+
+    struct prerequisite_target
+    {
+      string name; // Target name (always absolute).
+      string type;
+      bool adhoc;
+    };
+
+    struct operation_state
+    {
+      string rule; // null if direct recipe match
+
+      optional<string> state; // unchanged|changed|group
+
+      vector<variable> variables; // Rule variables.
+
+      vector<prerequisite_target> prerequisite_targets;
+    };
+
+    struct matched_target
+    {
+      string           name;
+      string   display_name;
+      string           type;
+      //string         declaration;
+      optional<string> group;
+
+      optional<path> path; // Absent of not path-based target, not assigned.
+
+      vector<variable> variables;
+
+      optional<operation_state> outer_operation; // null if not matched.
+      operation_state           inner_operation; // null if not matched.
+    };
+#endif
+
+    j.begin_object ();
+
+    j.member_name ("name");
+    dump_quoted_target_name (j, t, rel /* relative */);
+
+    j.member_name ("display_name");
+    dump_display_target_name (j, t, rel /* relative */);
+
+    j.member ("type", t.type ().name);
+
+    // @@ This value currently doesn't make much sense:
+    //
+    //    - why are all the system headers prereq-new?
+    //
+    //    - why is synthesized obje{} prereq-new?
+    //
+#if 0
+    {
+      const char* v (nullptr);
+      switch (t.decl)
+      {
+      case target_decl::prereq_new:  v = "prerequisite-new";  break;
+      case target_decl::prereq_file: v = "prerequisite-file"; break;
+      case target_decl::implied:     v = "implied";           break;
+      case target_decl::real:        v = "real";              break;
+      }
+      j.member ("declaration", v);
+    }
+#endif
+
+    if (t.group != nullptr)
+    {
+      j.member_name ("group");
+      dump_quoted_target_name (j, *t.group, tcache);
+    }
+
+    if (a)
+    {
+      const string* v (nullptr);
+
+      if (t.is_a<dir> () || t.is_a<fsdir> ())
+      {
+        v = &t.dir.string ();
+      }
+      else if (const auto* pt = t.is_a<path_target> ())
+      {
+        const path& p (pt->path ());
+
+        if (!p.empty ())
+          v = &p.string ();
+      }
+
+      if (v != nullptr)
+        j.member ("path", *v);
+    }
+
+    // Target variables.
+    //
+    if (!t.vars.empty ())
+    {
+      j.member_begin_array ("variables");
+      dump_variables (j, t.vars, s, variable_kind::target);
+      j.end_array ();
+    }
+
+    // Prerequisites.
+    //
+    if (!a)
+    {
+      const prerequisites& ps (t.prerequisites ());
+
+      if (!ps.empty ())
+      {
+        j.member_begin_array ("prerequisites");
+
+        for (const prerequisite& p: ps)
+        {
+          j.begin_object ();
+
+          {
+            // Cobble together an equivalent of dump_quoted_target_name().
+            //
+            prerequisite_key pk (p.key ());
+            target_key& tk (pk.tk);
+
+            // It's possible that the containing scope differs from
+            // prerequisite's. This, for example, happens when we copy the
+            // prerequisite for a synthesized obj{} dependency that happens to
+            // be in a subdirectory, as in exe{foo}:src/cxx{foo}. In this
+            // case, we need to rebase relative paths to the containing scope.
+            //
+            dir_path d, o;
+            if (p.scope != s)
+            {
+              if (tk.out->empty ())
+              {
+                if (tk.dir->relative ())
+                {
+                  d = (p.scope.out_path () / *tk.dir).relative (s.out_path ());
+                  tk.dir = &d;
+                }
+              }
+              else
+              {
+                if (tk.dir->relative ())
+                {
+                  d = (p.scope.src_path () / *tk.dir).relative (s.src_path ());
+                  tk.dir = &d;
+                }
+
+                if (tk.out->relative ())
+                {
+                  o = (p.scope.out_path () / *tk.out).relative (s.out_path ());
+                  if (o.empty ())
+                    o = dir_path (".");
+                  tk.out = &o;
+                }
+              }
+            }
+
+            // If prerequisite paths are absolute, keep them absolute.
+            //
+            ostringstream os;
+            stream_verb (os, stream_verbosity (1, 0));
+
+            if (pk.proj)
+              os << *pk.proj << '%';
+
+            to_stream (os, pk.tk.as_name (), quote_mode::effective, '@');
+
+            j.member ("name", os.str ());
+          }
+
+          j.member ("type", p.type.name);
+
+          if (!p.vars.empty ())
+          {
+            j.member_begin_array ("variables");
+            dump_variables (j, p.vars, s, variable_kind::prerequisite);
+            j.end_array ();
+          }
+
+          j.end_object ();
+        }
+
+        j.end_array ();
+      }
+    }
+    else
+    {
+      // Matched rules and their state (prerequisite_targets, vars, etc).
+      //
+      auto dump_opstate = [&tcache, &j, &s, &t] (action a)
+      {
+        const target::opstate& o (t[a]);
+
+        j.begin_object ();
+
+        j.member ("rule", o.rule != nullptr ? o.rule->first.c_str () : nullptr);
+
+        // It feels natural to omit the unknown state, as if it corresponded
+        // to absent in optional<target_state>.
+        //
+        if (o.state != target_state::unknown)
+        {
+          assert (o.state == target_state::unchanged ||
+                  o.state == target_state::changed ||
+                  o.state == target_state::group);
+
+          j.member ("state", to_string (o.state));
+        }
+
+        if (!o.vars.empty ())
+        {
+          j.member_begin_array ("variables");
+          dump_variables (j, o.vars, s, variable_kind::rule);
+          j.end_array ();
+        }
+
+        {
+          bool first (true);
+          for (const prerequisite_target& pt: t.prerequisite_targets[a])
+          {
+            if (pt.target == nullptr)
+              continue;
+
+            if (first)
+            {
+              j.member_begin_array ("prerequisite_targets");
+              first = false;
+            }
+
+            j.begin_object ();
+
+            j.member_name ("name");
+            dump_quoted_target_name (j, *pt.target, tcache);
+
+            j.member ("type", pt.target->type ().name);
+
+            if (pt.adhoc ())
+              j.member ("adhoc", true);
+
+            j.end_object ();
+          }
+
+          if (!first)
+            j.end_array ();
+        }
+
+        j.end_object ();
+      };
+
+      if (a->outer ())
+      {
+        j.member_name ("outer_operation");
+        if (matched (t, *a))
+          dump_opstate (*a);
+        else
+          j.value (nullptr);
+      }
+
+      {
+        action ia (a->inner_action ());
+
+        j.member_name ("inner_operation");
+        if (matched (t, ia))
+          dump_opstate (ia);
+        else
+          j.value (nullptr);
+      }
+    }
+
+    j.end_object ();
+  }
+#endif
+
   static void
-  dump_scope (optional<action> a,
-              ostream& os,
+  dump_scope (ostream& os,
               string& ind,
+              optional<action> a,
               scope_map::const_iterator& i,
               bool rel)
   {
@@ -588,21 +1303,25 @@ namespace build2
     // disabled amalgamation will be printed directly inside the global
     // scope).
     //
-    for (auto e (p.ctx.scopes.end ());
-         (i != e &&
-          i->second.front () != nullptr &&
-          i->second.front ()->parent_scope () == &p); )
+    for (auto e (p.ctx.scopes.end ()); i != e; )
     {
-      if (vb || rb || sb)
+      if (i->second.front () == nullptr)
+        ++i; // Skip over src paths.
+      else if (i->second.front ()->parent_scope () != &p)
+        break; // Moved past our parent.
+      else
       {
-        os << endl;
-        vb = rb = false;
-      }
+        if (vb || rb || sb)
+        {
+          os << endl;
+          vb = rb = false;
+        }
 
-      os << endl; // Extra newline between scope blocks.
+        os << endl; // Extra newline between scope blocks.
 
-      dump_scope (a, os, ind, i, true /* relative */);
-      sb = true;
+        dump_scope (os, ind, a, i, true /* relative */);
+        sb = true;
+      }
     }
 
     // Targets.
@@ -624,7 +1343,7 @@ namespace build2
       }
 
       os << endl; // Extra newline between targets.
-      dump_target (a, os, ind, t, p, true /* relative */);
+      dump_target (os, ind, a, t, p, true /* relative */);
       tb = true;
     }
 
@@ -635,59 +1354,245 @@ namespace build2
        << ind << '}';
   }
 
+#ifndef BUILD2_BOOTSTRAP
+  static void
+  dump_scope (json::stream_serializer& j,
+              optional<action> a,
+              scope_map::const_iterator& i,
+              bool rel,
+              target_name_cache& tcache)
+  {
+    // Note: see the buildfile version above for additional comments.
+
+    const scope& p (*i->second.front ());
+    const dir_path& d (i->first);
+    ++i;
+
+#if 0
+    struct scope
+    {
+      // The out_path member is relative to parent scopes. It is empty for the
+      // special global scope. The src_path member is absent if the same as
+      // out_path (in-source build or scope outside of project).
+      //
+      string           out_path;
+      optional<string> src_path;
+
+      vector<variable> variables; // Non-type/pattern scope variables.
+
+      vector<scope> scopes; // Immediate children.
+
+      vector<loaded_target|matched_target> targets;
+    };
+#endif
+
+    j.begin_object ();
+
+    if (d.empty ())
+      j.member ("out_path", ""); // Global scope.
+    else
+    {
+      const dir_path& rd (rel ? relative (d) : d);
+      j.member ("out_path", rd.empty () ? string (".") : rd.string ());
+
+      if (!p.out_eq_src ())
+        j.member ("src_path", p.src_path ().string ());
+    }
+
+    const dir_path* orb (relative_base);
+    relative_base = &d;
+
+    // Scope variables.
+    //
+    if (!p.vars.empty ())
+    {
+      j.member_begin_array ("variables");
+      dump_variables (j, p.vars, p, variable_kind::scope);
+      j.end_array ();
+    }
+
+    // Nested scopes of which we are an immediate parent.
+    //
+    {
+      bool first (true);
+      for (auto e (p.ctx.scopes.end ()); i != e; )
+      {
+        if (i->second.front () == nullptr)
+          ++i;
+        else if (i->second.front ()->parent_scope () != &p)
+          break;
+        else
+        {
+          if (first)
+          {
+            j.member_begin_array ("scopes");
+            first = false;
+          }
+
+          dump_scope (j, a, i, true /* relative */, tcache);
+        }
+      }
+
+      if (!first)
+        j.end_array ();
+    }
+
+    // Targets.
+    //
+    {
+      bool first (true);
+      for (const auto& pt: p.ctx.targets)
+      {
+        const target& t (*pt);
+
+        if (&p != &t.base_scope ()) // @@ PERF
+          continue;
+
+        // Skip targets that haven't been matched for this action.
+        //
+        if (a)
+        {
+          if (!(matched (t, a->inner_action ()) ||
+                (a->outer () && matched (t, *a))))
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        if (first)
+        {
+          j.member_begin_array ("targets");
+          first = false;
+        }
+
+        dump_target (j, a, t, p, true /* relative */, tcache);
+      }
+
+      if (!first)
+        j.end_array ();
+    }
+
+    relative_base = orb;
+    j.end_object ();
+  }
+#endif
+
   void
-  dump (const context& c, optional<action> a)
+  dump (const context& c, optional<action> a, dump_format fmt)
   {
     auto i (c.scopes.begin ());
     assert (i->second.front () == &c.global_scope);
 
-    // We don't lock diag_stream here as dump() is supposed to be called from
-    // the main thread prior/after to any other threads being spawned.
-    //
-    string ind;
-    ostream& os (*diag_stream);
-    dump_scope (a, os, ind, i, false /* relative */);
-    os << endl;
+    switch (fmt)
+    {
+    case dump_format::buildfile:
+      {
+        // We don't lock diag_stream here as dump() is supposed to be called
+        // from the main thread prior/after to any other threads being
+        // spawned.
+        //
+        string ind;
+        ostream& os (*diag_stream);
+        dump_scope (os, ind, a, i, false /* relative */);
+        os << endl;
+        break;
+      }
+    case dump_format::json:
+      {
+#ifndef BUILD2_BOOTSTRAP
+        target_name_cache tc;
+        json::stream_serializer j (cout, 0 /* indent */);
+        dump_scope (j, a, i, false /* relative */, tc);
+        cout << endl;
+#else
+        assert (false);
+#endif
+        break;
+      }
+    }
   }
 
   void
-  dump (const scope* s, optional<action> a, const char* cind)
+  dump (const scope* s, optional<action> a, dump_format fmt, const char* cind)
   {
-    string ind (cind);
-    ostream& os (*diag_stream);
-
+    scope_map::const_iterator i;
     if (s != nullptr)
     {
       const scope_map& m (s->ctx.scopes);
-      auto i (m.find_exact (s->out_path ()));
+      i = m.find_exact (s->out_path ());
       assert (i != m.end () && i->second.front () == s);
-
-      dump_scope (a, os, ind, i, false /* relative */);
     }
-    else
-      os << ind << "<no known scope to dump>";
 
-    os << endl;
+    switch (fmt)
+    {
+    case dump_format::buildfile:
+      {
+        string ind (cind);
+        ostream& os (*diag_stream);
+
+        if (s != nullptr)
+          dump_scope (os, ind, a, i, false /* relative */);
+        else
+          os << ind << "<no known scope to dump>";
+
+        os << endl;
+        break;
+      }
+    case dump_format::json:
+      {
+#ifndef BUILD2_BOOTSTRAP
+        target_name_cache tc;
+        json::stream_serializer j (cout, 0 /* indent */);
+
+        if (s != nullptr)
+          dump_scope (j, a, i, false /* relative */, tc);
+        else
+          j.value (nullptr);
+
+        cout << endl;
+#else
+        assert (false);
+#endif
+        break;
+      }
+    }
   }
 
   void
-  dump (const target* t, optional<action> a, const char* cind)
+  dump (const target* t, optional<action> a, dump_format fmt, const char* cind)
   {
-    string ind (cind);
-    ostream& os (*diag_stream);
+    const scope* bs (t != nullptr ? &t->base_scope () : nullptr);
 
-    if (t != nullptr)
+    switch (fmt)
     {
-      dump_target (a,
-                   os,
-                   ind,
-                   *t,
-                   t->base_scope (),
-                   false /* relative */);
-    }
-    else
-      os << ind << "<no known target to dump>";
+    case dump_format::buildfile:
+      {
+        string ind (cind);
+        ostream& os (*diag_stream);
 
-    os << endl;
+        if (t != nullptr)
+          dump_target (os, ind, a, *t, *bs, false /* relative */);
+        else
+          os << ind << "<no known target to dump>";
+
+        os << endl;
+        break;
+      }
+    case dump_format::json:
+      {
+#ifndef BUILD2_BOOTSTRAP
+        target_name_cache tc;
+        json::stream_serializer j (cout, 0 /* indent */);
+
+        if (t != nullptr)
+          dump_target (j, a, *t, *bs, false /* relative */, tc);
+        else
+          j.value (nullptr);
+
+        cout << endl;
+#else
+        assert (false);
+#endif
+        break;
+      }
+    }
   }
 }
diff --git a/libbuild2/dump.hxx b/libbuild2/dump.hxx
index 4e08634..1a1a080 100644
--- a/libbuild2/dump.hxx
+++ b/libbuild2/dump.hxx
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@
 #ifndef LIBBUILD2_DUMP_HXX
 #define LIBBUILD2_DUMP_HXX
 
+#ifndef BUILD2_BOOTSTRAP
+#  include <libbutl/json/serializer.hxx>
+#endif
+
 #include <libbuild2/types.hxx>
 #include <libbuild2/forward.hxx>
 #include <libbuild2/utility.hxx>
@@ -14,6 +18,8 @@
 
 namespace build2
 {
+  enum class dump_format {buildfile, json};
+
   // Dump the build state to diag_stream. If action is specified, then assume
   // rules have been matched for this action and dump action-specific
   // information (like rule-specific variables).
@@ -22,13 +28,30 @@ namespace build2
   // appropriate indication.
   //
   LIBBUILD2_SYMEXPORT void
-  dump (const context&, optional<action>);
+  dump (const context&, optional<action>, dump_format);
+
+  LIBBUILD2_SYMEXPORT void
+  dump (const scope*, optional<action>, dump_format, const char* ind = "");
 
   LIBBUILD2_SYMEXPORT void
-  dump (const scope*, optional<action>, const char* ind = "");
+  dump (const target*, optional<action>, dump_format, const char* ind = "");
 
+#ifndef BUILD2_BOOTSTRAP
+  // Dump (effectively) quoted target name, optionally relative (to the out
+  // tree).
+  //
+  LIBBUILD2_SYMEXPORT void
+  dump_quoted_target_name (butl::json::stream_serializer&,
+                           const target&,
+                           bool relative = false);
+
+  // Dump display target name, optionally relative (to the out tree).
+  //
   LIBBUILD2_SYMEXPORT void
-  dump (const target*, optional<action>, const char* ind = "");
+  dump_display_target_name (butl::json::stream_serializer&,
+                            const target&,
+                            bool relative = false);
+#endif
 }
 
 #endif // LIBBUILD2_DUMP_HXX
diff --git a/libbuild2/parser.cxx b/libbuild2/parser.cxx
index 6f212da..3e8b30a 100644
--- a/libbuild2/parser.cxx
+++ b/libbuild2/parser.cxx
@@ -4702,8 +4702,10 @@ namespace build2
 
     if (ns.empty ())
     {
+      // Indent two spaces.
+      //
       if (scope_ != nullptr)
-        dump (scope_, nullopt /* action */, "  "); // Indent two spaces.
+        dump (scope_, nullopt /* action */, dump_format::buildfile, "  ");
       else
         os << "  <no current scope>" << endl;
     }
@@ -4721,8 +4723,10 @@ namespace build2
 
         const target* t (enter_target::find_target (*this, n, o, l, trace));
 
+        // Indent two spaces.
+        //
         if (t != nullptr)
-          dump (t, nullopt /* action */, "  "); // Indent two spaces.
+          dump (t, nullopt /* action */, dump_format::buildfile, "  ");
         else
         {
           os << "  <no target " << n;
diff --git a/libbuild2/rule.cxx b/libbuild2/rule.cxx
index c5366a6..5d456d5 100644
--- a/libbuild2/rule.cxx
+++ b/libbuild2/rule.cxx
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ namespace build2
   }
 
   const file_rule file_rule::instance;
-  const rule_match file_rule::rule_match ("file", file_rule::instance);
+  const rule_match file_rule::rule_match ("build.file", file_rule::instance);
 
   // alias_rule
   //
diff --git a/libbuild2/target.cxx b/libbuild2/target.cxx
index 6d083d9..5859e61 100644
--- a/libbuild2/target.cxx
+++ b/libbuild2/target.cxx
@@ -38,7 +38,9 @@ namespace build2
     if (!name->empty ())
     {
       v = *name;
-      target::combine_name (v, ext, false /* @@ TODO: what to do? */);
+      // @@ TMP: see also other calls to combine_name() -- need to fix.
+      //
+      target::combine_name (v, ext, false /* @@ TMP: what to do? */);
     }
     else
       assert (!ext || ext->empty ()); // Unspecified or none.
diff --git a/libbuild2/variable.hxx b/libbuild2/variable.hxx
index b137789..3220a62 100644
--- a/libbuild2/variable.hxx
+++ b/libbuild2/variable.hxx
@@ -944,7 +944,7 @@ namespace build2
   // pair of two empties).
   //
   // @@ Maybe we should redo this with optional<> to signify which half can
-  //    be missing?
+  //    be missing? See also dump_value(json).
   //
   template <>
   struct LIBBUILD2_SYMEXPORT value_traits<name_pair>
@@ -1213,6 +1213,8 @@ namespace build2
   // value type objects for the same traits type (and we use their addressed
   // as identity; see cast(const value&) for an example).
   //
+  // NOTE: REMEMBER TO UPDATE dump_value(json) IF CHANGING ANYTHING HERE!
+  //
   extern template struct LIBBUILD2_DECEXPORT value_traits<strings>;
   extern template struct LIBBUILD2_DECEXPORT value_traits<vector<name>>;
   extern template struct LIBBUILD2_DECEXPORT value_traits<paths>;