LCON (Ludicrously Compact Object Notation)

LCON, short for Ludicrously Compact Object Notation, is a human-writable data serialization format designed as a more compact and readable alternative to JSON and YAML. It was created to serve as a syntax for Lisp-like programming languages while maintaining direct compatibility with JSON's data structures. The format relies heavily on significant whitespace and inferred punctuation, such as colons and braces, to reduce visual noise.

Originally developed by Adam R. Nelson in 2014, the project is open-source and hosted on platforms like GitHub under the BSD-2-Clause license. While it shares some aesthetic similarities with YAML, it avoids YAML's complex extra data features in favor of a lean, 'ludicrously' small footprint. It is primarily used by developers in JavaScript and TypeScript environments seeking a more ergonomic way to write configuration or data files.