1 files changed, 32 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/helpers.go b/helpers.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..93d0a73
--- /dev/null
+++ b/helpers.go
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+package zoopb
+
+// functions to import and export the protobuf
+// data to and from config files
+
+import (
+	"google.golang.org/protobuf/encoding/protojson"
+	"google.golang.org/protobuf/encoding/prototext"
+	// "google.golang.org/protobuf/proto"
+)
+
+// human readable JSON
+func (p *Packages) FormatJSON() string {
+	return protojson.Format(p)
+}
+
+// apparently this isn't supposed to be used?
+// https://protobuf.dev/reference/go/faq/#unstable-text
+// this is a shame because this is much nicer output than JSON Format()
+func (p *Packages) FormatTEXT() string {
+	return prototext.Format(p)
+}
+
+// marshal
+func (p *Packages) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
+	return protojson.Marshal(p)
+}
+
+// unmarshal
+func (p *Packages) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) error {
+	return protojson.Unmarshal(data, p)
+}